Dr. John Zinda

Associate Professor

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Biography

John Zinda is an Associate Professor in the Department of Global Development at Cornell University, where he serves as the Director of the Polson Institute. His academic work focuses on understanding how communities, particularly those affected by flooding, confront risk and engage with policies related to environmental issues. He collaborates with community organizations and state governments to analyze social disparities and the collective actions that emerge in response to flood risks. In China, Zinda has worked alongside ecologists and anthropologists to explore the interactions between people and landscapes in the context of rural development and biodiversity conservation. His teaching encompasses environmental sociology, risk disaster studies, and spatial thinking, aiming to connect students' conceptual understandings to real-world ecological challenges. Zinda's research interests include environmental sociology, risk disaster, environmental justice, and political ecology. He holds a Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Research Interests

Courses

GDEV 3240: Environmental Sociology GDEV 3140: Spatial Thinking, GIS, Related Methods GDEV 6210: Fundamentals Environmental Sociology DSOC 6340: Risk Disaster

Requirements for Cornell University

Master Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Listening
Required:15
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Portfolio (SlideRoom)
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Transcripts
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Department of Architecture