Dr. Mirle Rabinowitz Bussell

Biography

Mirle Rabinowitz Bussell is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at UC San Diego, where she serves as the Director of Undergraduate Education and is the founding Faculty Director of the Homelessness Hub. The Homelessness Hub, established in 2022, focuses on non-partisan research, education, and policy aimed at reducing homelessness in the San Diego region through critical and data-driven analysis. Her research intersects several areas including affordable housing, homelessness, community development, urban planning, real estate development, and the role of philanthropy in community economic development. Rabinowitz Bussell has co-authored and co-edited influential texts such as 'Catalysts for Change: 21st Century Philanthropy and Community Development' and has recently published 'A New Look at Place-Based Philanthropy: Insights from Canada and the U.S.' She has conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the Jewish Family Service of San Diego's Safe Parking Program, a critical service for individuals living in vehicles. Her work has contributed to policy reports and an upcoming journal article. A member of the NAIOP Research Foundation’s Distinguished Fellows Program, she has explored practices promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in commercial real estate. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on land use planning and urban design, along with experiential learning courses related to urban challenges in San Diego. Rabinowitz Bussell holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from UCLA, a Master’s in Regional Planning from Cornell University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture with a minor in City Planning from UC Berkeley.

Research Interests