Dr. Alex Johnston

Biography

Alex Johnston is an Adjunct Practice Instructor at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, focusing on urban technology. His work addresses systemic challenges faced by mid-size cities that hinder economic growth, social mobility, and human connection. As the founder and CEO of Cities Reimagined, a human-centered design firm, he uses a blend of data and the lived experiences of residents to assist civic leaders in diagnosing and resolving urban issues. Before establishing Cities Reimagined in 2013, Alex worked in corporate philanthropy, local government, and global NGOs to design citizen-centered systems that foster trust and facilitate connections among people living in urban environments. His contributions in Detroit earned him the HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. Alex holds a Master’s in Cities with Honors from the London School of Economics, an MBA, and a certificate in Creative Cities from NYU. He is also a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Social Innovation at Babson College, where he collaborates with social entrepreneurs to tackle urban challenges related to social, economic, and environmental issues.

Research Interests

Courses