Dr. Kristen Hunter

Biography

Kristen Hunter is a dedicated educator with decades of experience in collegiate, graduate, and executive education. Since 2010, she has taught real estate finance and urban development at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Her teaching includes courses in Public Private Development, collaborating with Professor Jerold S. Kayden, the Founding Director of the Master of Real Estate Program. Kristen’s research focuses on the efficacy of Massachusetts’ Community Preservation Act-funded subsidies aimed at expanding affordable housing options across municipalities with various fiscal and institutional capacities, socioeconomic profiles, and land-use regulatory environments. Her research interests also extend to public-private partnerships, infrastructure finance, public finance, institutional non-profit development, and socially responsible investment. Notable projects include the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project and contributions to the ULI Guide to Professional Real Estate Development. Kristen’s academic credentials are extensive; she received a Doctor of Design in Real Estate Finance and Urban Development and a Master of Design Studies with distinction from the Graduate School of Design, where she earned the Gerald M. McCue Medal for the highest overall academic record. She has been recognized with the Alumni Council Unsung Hero Award and served as the class marshal for her Master in Design Studies program.

Research Interests