Richard Tardanico is Associate Professor of Global and Sociocultural Studies at Florida International University's Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. His research examines how real estate speculation transforms urban landscapes and impacts marginalized communities. Tardanico's current investigations focus on racialized displacement in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood amid large-scale development pressures. His publications analyze community resistance strategies and the socioeconomic impacts of mega-real estate projects. Recent work documents how speculation fragments urban space and intensifies social inequalities.
Anne Gray Fischer is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, specializing in histories of policing, gender, and racial justice. Her research examines how law enforcement shapes urban inequality and social hierarchies. She is the author of 'The Streets Belong to Us,' which analyzes police power in U.S. cities from the mid-20th century. Her current project, 'Going Ballistic,' traces feminist gun politics and debates on violence, self-defense, and bodily autonomy. She is a 2024-2025 Laurance S. Rockefeller Visiting Faculty Fellow at Princeton University. Her teaching emphasizes critical historical inquiry and connects past injustices to contemporary issues, empowering students to engage as scholars and advocates.
Dr. Sarah A Cordes is an Associate Professor in the Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies department at Temple University's College of Education and Human Development . Her research integrates education policy, urban policy, and economics to address educational inequities tied to geography, housing, and school choice. She uses large administrative datasets to analyze issues such as charter school expansion, transportation equity, and racial homeownership gaps. Research Focus: Her work emphasizes connections between residential location and school attendance, with current projects exploring transportation barriers in school choice, teacher turnover in traditional public schools due to charter competition, and racial disparities in homeownership and academic outcomes. She has secured funding from the Institute of Education Sciences, Russell Sage Foundation, and others. Teaching: She teaches graduate courses such as Current Issues and Policies and Education Policy Analysis , emphasizing applied quantitative methods and policy frameworks. Grants & Funding: Her research has been supported by grants from the Institute for Education Sciences, William T. Grant Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, and Pennsylvania Department of Education. Key Themes in Publications: Recent work highlights the intersection of housing policy and education equity, with articles on school bus transportation inequities, charter schools' effects on segregation, and cyber vs. brick-and-mortar charter school outcomes. She consistently advocates for policies that mitigate systemic inequities in urban education systems.
Dawn Biehler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography & Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2007. Her research focuses on urban and feminist political ecology, environmental justice, and the historical and contemporary relationships between humans and non-human animals in urban spaces. Biehler is the author of Pests in the City: Flies, Bedbugs, Cockroaches, and Rats (2013) and Animating Central Park: A Multispecies History (2024). She also leads projects on urban mosquito ecology, citizen science, and environmental health disparities in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., emphasizing participatory approaches to address ecological and social inequities. Her work integrates historical analysis with contemporary community engagement, such as her research on mosquito management in low-income urban neighborhoods and her exploration of how marginalized communities navigate environmental hazards. Biehler teaches courses on environmental justice, health geographies, and gendered spatial practices. She actively advises graduate and undergraduate students in qualitative and mixed-methods research, fostering scholarship on topics like housing justice, urban green spaces, and multispecies histories. In 2025, Biehler will present a talk on Animating Central Park at Red Emma’s in Baltimore, discussing how the park’s history reflects struggles over power, identity, and multispecies coexistence. Her research underscores the interconnectedness of ecological and social justice issues in urban environments.
Stefano Magrini is a Full Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice's Department of Economics. His research examines economic policy, regional and urban economics, income inequality, and spatial econometrics. Recent publications analyze urban growth patterns, regional convergence/divergence dynamics, inequality measurement, and pandemic economic impacts using advanced spatial and statistical methodologies.
Stephen White is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Carleton University, where he has been employed since 2015. Previously, he held academic positions at the University of Ottawa and the University of Regina. He obtained his BA from Memorial University, MA from Wilfrid Laurier University, and PhD from the University of Toronto. His research specializes in three interconnected domains: Canadian and comparative public opinion dynamics Political behavior and electoral participation patterns Immigrant political incorporation processes with particular focus on how ethnocultural diversity shapes political engagement in multilevel governance systems. White's publications exhibit consistent thematic focus on immigrant political adaptation, voter behavior, and diversity politics, with methodological emphasis on longitudinal analysis and comparative frameworks. Recent works explore how residential patterns affect racialized communities' political engagement and how generational/period effects influence immigrant voting trajectories. No scientific awards or student advising relationships are documented in available sources. Similarly, no information about research grants, laboratory affiliations, or team collaborations is present in the provided materials.
Nikki Luke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, specializing in urban political ecology, energy justice, and the intersection of race, gender, and labor in urban contexts. Her research examines how power structures shape energy governance and impact marginalized communities, with a regional focus on the US South. Education: Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Georgia. Her work bridges critical urban theory, environmental justice, and labor studies to analyze systemic inequities in energy systems. She is particularly interested in advancing community-driven solutions to energy poverty and advocating for socially just energy transitions. Research Themes: Articles highlight topics like racial capitalism's role in energy policy (2024), reparations frameworks in urban contexts (2023), and the gendered dimensions of energy poverty (2022). Her work frequently critiques existing power structures while proposing transformative policy alternatives. Advising & Grants: While specific students/grants are not listed, her CV notes engagement with community organizations and advocacy for disadvantaged workers in renewable energy sectors. She has collaborated on initiatives linking clean energy access to labor rights. Labs/Teams: Active in UTK's Human Geography research cluster, focusing on urban sustainability and equity. Collaborates with regional NGOs on energy justice projects.
Madhuri Sharma is a Professor of Human Geography and Sustainability at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research focuses on racial/ethnic diversity, segregation, housing markets, gendered economic disparities, and urban sustainability across the US and developing nations. She holds a PhD from Ohio State University and teaches courses like Urban Economic Geography and Society/Spaces of South Asia. Her work employs mixed methods including GIS, qualitative interviews, and statistical analysis. Key research themes include urban residential segregation dynamics, informal economies in India, gendered socio-economic inequalities, and pandemic impacts on marginalized groups. She collaborates internationally on issues like slum communities, sustainable urban development, and labor rights. Her recent studies analyze rent burden in US cities, gender disparities in earnings, and climate resilience strategies. Prof. Sharma advises graduate students on topics such as urban poverty, informal sector work, and spatial inequality. She has published extensively on topics ranging from handloom weavers' livelihoods in India to racial homeownership barriers in the American Southeast. Her work emphasizes equity-oriented urban policies and community-driven solutions. Education: PhD in Geography, Ohio State University Key Collaborations: Researchers in India, Bangladesh, Kuwait, and Southeast Asia Teaching: Undergraduate and graduate courses in economic geography, urban studies, and South Asian studies Grants: Focus on urban resilience, poverty analysis, and gendered labor studies Her research laboratories and teams address interdisciplinary challenges such as urban sustainability, spatial justice, and global development disparities. Current projects include analyzing post-pandemic urbanization trends and developing metrics for equitable housing policies.
Francesco Carota is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Kansas’ School of Architecture & Design, and an Affiliate Researcher at Polytechnic University of Turin’s China Room research group. His work bridges academic research, professional practice, and public outreach, focusing on architecture’s role in urban development processes in China and globalizing contexts. He co-edited China Goes Urban. The City to Come and has curated exhibitions on Chinese urbanization, including the Italian Pavilion at Shenzhen Design Week 2018 and Singapore Design Week 2023. As a licensed architect and cofounder of Calibro Zero Srl, he integrates design innovation with scholarly inquiry. Carota’s research emphasizes the Belt and Road Initiative’s architectural implications, global-local design collaborations, and urban regeneration strategies. He explores how spatial governance shapes social dynamics, as seen in his studies on Chinese gated communities during the pandemic. His teaching integrates digital tools (e.g., parametric modeling, physical-virtual design ateliers) to enhance pedagogical practices. Publications span academic journals and edited volumes, with a focus on China’s housing market evolution, Trieste’s industrial port transformations, and design methodologies. His curatorial work translates complex urban theories into accessible exhibitions, while his professional practice applies academic insights to real-world projects. He holds a Ph.D. and maintains a transnational academic network, balancing institutional affiliations in the U.S. and Italy. His work is featured in Domus, d+a Design, Archdaily, and Vogue, reflecting his commitment to bridging disciplinary and cultural divides.
Simone Scarpa is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work, Umeå University, Sweden. He holds a Docent research qualification and specializes in areas including social inequality, public health, migration policy, and welfare state dynamics. His work bridges sociological analysis with policy evaluation, focusing on topics like mortality disparities, substance use disorders, and urban segregation. His research affiliations include participation in three key groups: Community Work, Social Sustainability, and Preventive Social Work Harmful Use and Dependence on Alcohol and Other Drugs Work, Inequality, and Integration Scarpa's recent studies highlight trends in educational inequalities linked to mortality, the impact of housing policies on immigrant integration, and the interplay between addiction severity and employment outcomes. His work often employs registry data for rigorous analysis of social issues. Notable themes include post-crisis fiscal policy, the dualization of welfare systems, and the spatial manifestations of inequality in Swedish metropolitan areas. His publications reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary research, addressing both theoretical and applied aspects of social work and public health. Ongoing projects explore how austerity measures, migration policies, and urban development shape social outcomes in Sweden and beyond.
Martin Felsen is a Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture, where he also directs the M.Arch degree program. He co-founded UrbanLab, an architecture and urban design firm emphasizing technical innovation and interdisciplinary approaches to urban challenges. Educated at Virginia Tech (B.Arch) and Columbia University (M.S.-AAD), Felsen holds architecture licenses in multiple states and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Research Interests: Urban systems, computational modeling, sustainable infrastructure, and architectural theory. Awards: Latrobe Prize (AIA College of Fellows), Dubin Family Young Architect Award (2007), Architectural League of New York Emerging Voice (2010). Projects: UrbanLab has completed residential, commercial, and infrastructural projects, exhibited internationally, and developed NetLogo urban simulation models. Teaching includes advanced architecture studios and urbanism courses such as 'Intro to Urbanism' and 'Contemporary Urbanism.' Felsen’s work addresses urgent issues like water management, urban sprawl, and socio-economic disparities through data-driven design strategies.
Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Connecticut. Her research focuses on how institutional policies—state, corporate, and academic—affect the economic, social, and spatial mobility of immigrants and refugees. She employs computational and qualitative methods to analyze novel data sources, studying the institutional reproduction of inequality in global contexts. Her work bridges migration studies, race, gender, labor markets, and education policy. Education: Ph.D., Sociology, University of Pennsylvania (2021) M.A., Sociology, Columbia University (2015) B.A., Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania (2013) Her research explores migration policies' impacts on global talent circulation, skilled migrant labor markets, and the gendered outcomes of international education. She has collaborated with UNHCR, the Migration Policy Institute, and institutions like the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research. Her recent publications analyze return migration, refugee flow forecasting, and the role of organic data in migration studies. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with Brown University’s Population Studies and Training Center, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, and University of Pennsylvania’s Population Studies Center. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration across demography, computational social science, and policy analysis.
Marta Gutman is Dean of the Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York (CCNY) and Professor in its Architecture program since 2004. She also holds Professor appointments at the Graduate Center, CUNY, in Art History and Earth and Environmental Sciences. An architectural and urban historian, her work focuses on social justice, gender activism, and the intersection of architecture with marginalized communities, particularly children. PhD, University of California, Berkeley (2000) Master of Architecture, Columbia University (1981) Bachelor of Arts (Honors in Art), Brown University (1975) Her research spans public architecture , urban history , and childhood spaces , often linking local narratives to global socio-political contexts. Key publications include A City for Children (Spiro Kostof Award winner) and Just Space (forthcoming), analyzing racial inequality in New York’s public schools. Her recent articles explore boundaries in postwar cities and Harlem’s architectural resistance to systemic racism. Kenneth Jackson Award (2015) Spiro Kostof Book Award (2017) Distinguished CUNY Research Fellow (2018) Catherine W. Bishir Prize (2021) Gutman co-founded the journal PLATFORM and previously co-edited Buildings & Landscapes . She served as President of the Society for American City and Regional Planning History (2022). Her professional practice includes designing shelters and housing for vulnerable populations in New York City. Current projects focus on racial equity in modernist educational architecture.
Kyle Frederic Herkenhoff is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Minnesota and a Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. His research focuses on labor economics, market power, credit markets, and public policy. His work explores monopsony in labor markets, credit constraints affecting entrepreneurship, and the role of informal bankruptcy mechanisms. He has published in top journals including American Economic Review , Econometrica , and Journal of Political Economy . Research Highlights : Labor Market Power, Credit Access, Economic Policy Key Topics : Monopsony, Default as Insurance, Merger Guidelines, Patent Publication Effects Herkenhoff has received the UCLA Welton Prize for macroeconomic research. His recent papers examine private equity impacts on workers, welfare costs of credit card oligopoly, and optimal unemployment insurance design under informality.
Patrick Lopez-Aguado is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Santa Clara University's College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara and a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University. His research focuses on race and incarceration, juvenile justice, youth street cultures, and urban ethnography, with a notable book exploring how carceral systems impact high-incarceration neighborhoods. At SCU, he teaches courses such as Principles of Sociology, Criminal Justice System, and Sociology of Law. His work combines ethnographic methods with critical analyses of systemic inequality, particularly in urban contexts. Recent publications include critiques of gang enhancements in California sentencing and studies on gang identity formation in marginalized communities. Lopez-Aguado has been quoted in NPR and the East Bay Times, advocating for criminal justice reform, and contributed to policy evaluations like the Santa Barbara School District Gang Intervention Specialist Report. Outside academia, Lopez-Aguado enjoys traveling, horror films, and cultivating a cactus/succulent garden. He joined Santa Clara University in 2013 and resides in Mountain View, CA.
