Publication Date: August 31, 2023

Dr. Vanessa Guerra has joined VTIPG as a Non-Resident Research Associate. She is presently serving as an Assistant Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning for the University of Virginia School of Architecture. Her research focuses on urban interventions to promote social inclusion, resilience, and sustainable development in cities and regions of the Global South. Her teaching focus intersects with her research interests in urban informality, spatial justice, resilient cities, co-production, and cognitive urbanism. Prior to joining UVA in 2021, Vanessa served as a research associate and the Interim Program Director of Rhizome LLC for the Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies and as a consultant to the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank in Washington, D.C. She has presented her work at conferences and exhibitions across the United States, Europe, and South America, including the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale, a TEDx event in Quito, Cityworks (Xpo) in Roanoke, and Oxford Talks at the Transport Studies Unit at the University of Oxford.

Vanessa completed her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech in 2020 and VTIPG Director Max Stephenson, Jr. served on her dissertation committee. Her dissertation entitled, “Informal Car SHARE’s Contribution to Urban Resilience in Quito, Ecuador” focused on that option as a means to provide transportation to underserved populations in that metropolitan area. Since her graduation, Dr. Guerra has been an active member of the Virginia Tec-based Maré research group in which several professors and graduate students affiliated with the Institute are also involved. She will continue to be engaged in that research initiative in her new role.

Dr. Stephenson commented, “I am delighted that Dr. Guerra is able to affiliate with the Institute in this way. She is a creative and thoughtful young scholar and I look forward to her contributions to future Institute research. I know from experience that she will add a great deal to our work.  I look forward very much to continuing to collaborate with her.”

For inquiries please contact Billy Parvatam.

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