Vinit Mukhija

Vinit Mukhija is a Professor of Urban Planning at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), affiliated with the Luskin School of Public Affairs. He previously chaired the Department of Urban Planning and holds a courtesy appointment in Asian American Studies. His research focuses on housing, urban informality, and the built environment, with a particular emphasis on informal housing in both Global South and Global North contexts. He leads UCLA’s efforts to develop a new graduate program in real estate development, integrating equity, sustainability, and policy analysis.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Urban Development and Planning, MIT
• MUD (Urban Design), University of Hong Kong
• M.Arch., University of Texas at Austin
• B.Arch., School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi

Research Interests: His work examines informal housing in Mumbai, unpermitted U.S. housing (e.g., garage apartments, trailer parks), and strategies for equitable urban development. He advocates for urban design approaches that prioritize publicness and spatial justice, as detailed in his books Remaking the American Dream and Just Urban Design.

Awards:

• UCLA Teaching Awards (2007, 2009, 2013)

Advising & Community Work: He advises organizations like Pacoima Beautiful and serves on boards of urban nonprofits. His teaching includes courses on physical planning, informal cities, and urban design for justice.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects such as urban informality studies in Los Angeles and Vancouver, emphasizing community-driven solutions.