Dr. Mai Nguyen

Biography

Mai Thi Nguyen is a Professor of Urban Studies and Planning and the Director of the Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego. Arriving at UC San Diego in 2021, she previously held academic appointments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and San Francisco State University. She holds a PhD in Urban Planning from the University of California, Irvine, as well as a Master's degree in Sociology from Pennsylvania State University. Renowned as an award-winning public scholar, researcher, and educator, Dr. Nguyen has received numerous teaching excellence awards throughout her career. Her research focuses on social and spatial equity, examining critical planning policy topics related to housing, land use, and climate change. She is passionate about designing equitable and resilient cities. In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Nguyen has served in major leadership positions within professional associations, including as the Board Chair of the Urban Affairs Association and President of the Faculty Women’s Interest Group within the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. She is also the founder and a moderator of the 'Planners 2040' Facebook discussion group, which boasts a membership of 2400 planners globally. At UC San Diego, she leads the Design Lab, a multidisciplinary unit dedicated to harnessing the power of design thinking and research for societal transformation. The Design Lab was the lead organization for the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 initiative.

Research Interests