Community News submitted by: Cathy Liu, Georgia State University 2026 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS  Racial Equity in Technology Entrepreneurship (RETE) Workshop May 27-29, 2026, NYU Tulsa, Tulsa, OK The Racial Equity in Technology Entrepreneurship (RETE) Workshop is a premier gathering of researchers, thought leaders, and practitioners dedicated to advancing research on the intersection of race, technology, and...Read More

Dr. Tanvi Deshpande (University of Birmingham and London School of Economics and Political Science) has been selected to receive the 2026 Best Book Review in the Journal of Urban Affairs Award. Tanvi is the first recipient of this new annual award.  AWARD COMMITTEE ASSESSMENT Dr. Tanvi V. Deshpande has been selected to receive the Best...Read More

Dr. Edward Goetz (University of Minnesota) and Dr. Michael Owens (Emory University) have been selected to receive the 2026 Contribution to the Field of Urban Affairs Award.  This annual award honors an individual whose body of work has contributed to defining the field and furthering the intellectual and professional development of emerging scholars. AWARD COMMITTEE...Read More

Dr. Yasminah Beebeejaun (University College London), Dr. Ali Modarres (University of Washington Tacoma) and Dr. Deirdre Oakley (Georgia State University) have been selected as the 2026 recipients of the Scott Cummings Distinguished Editorial Service Award. This award was established in April 2021 to highlight the significant contributions made by individuals in service to UAA’s publications....Read More

Dr. Andrew Kahrl (University of Virginia) has been selected to receive the 2026 Best Book in the Field of Urban Affairs Award for The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Disposition in America (University of Chicago Press, 2024).  This annual award is given to a book that is well-written and based on rigorous...Read More

Bweza Itaagi (Sistas in the Village and Grow Greater Englewood) has been selected to receive the 2026 Community Activist Award. Since the late 1960s, the Urban Affairs Association (UAA) has served as a professional organization for scholars and practitioners seeking to advance social justice and policy equity through timely analyses and direct support of local...Read More

Akira Drake Rodriguez (University of Pennsylvania) has been selected to receive the 2026 Best Article in the Journal of Race, Ethnicity and the City Award for her paper “Reparative-advocacy planning to address racialized inequities in public school facilities”. This annual award gives recognition to a paper published in the Journal of Race, Ethnicity and the...Read More

Dr. AJ Kim (San Diego State University) has been selected to receive the 2026 Marilyn J. Gittell Activist Scholar Award. The award is co-sponsored by SAGE and the Urban Affairs Association (UAA). This annual award was established to highlight field-based urban scholarship and promote the dissemination of work by activist urban scholars. The inspiration for...Read More

Dr. Nima Dahir (The Ohio State University) has been selected to receive the 2026 Alma H. Young Emerging Scholar Award. This annual award is given to a promising Ph.D. candidate or early-career researcher whose work demonstrates a commitment to rigorous and impactful research and service. It was renamed in 2004 in honor of Alma H....Read More

Dr. Deland Chan (Chinatown Community Development Center) has been selected to receive the 2026 Janet Smith Emerging Activist Scholar Research Award. This award is sponsored by the Voorhees Family and Individual Donors. This annual award recognizes an emerging activist scholar whose research record shows a direct relationship between activism, scholarship, and engagement with community(ies). This...Read More

Community News submitted by: Corey Clawson, Global Urban Studies (GUS) PhD Program in Urban Systems at Rutgers University-Newark The Global Urban Studies (GUS) PhD Program in Urban Systems announces the opening of an accelerated admissions cycle, currently underway for Fall 2026 enrollment.  The program builds policy-oriented, interdisciplinary and global knowledge about cities through innovative curriculum and...Read More

Community News submitted by: Deirdre Oakley, Georgia State University Urban policy is not only written or legislated—it is performed. From public housing and greenspace initiatives to immigration policy and gentrification, policies rely on carefully constructed narratives and public performances that shape how people understand cities, who belongs in them, and who benefits from change. The Performative...Read More

Are you a recent PhD graduate? Thinking about career strategies? Seeking employment?  Here’s a unique opportunity to get advice from senior colleagues. Apply Now!  Group Speed Mentoring @ 2026 ICUA Application Deadline Extended to: January 27, 2026 Sponsored by: The Urban Affairs Association Date/Time: Thursday, April 30, 2026 (12:30PM – 1:30PM) Lunch Provided Location: Marriott...Read More

Community News submitted by: Hyojung Lee, Seoul National University Housing Studies invites submissions by February 1, 2026, for a workshop and special issue on the relationships between demographic dynamics and housing. The Special Issue will be edited by Arthur Acolin, Desen Lin, Kwan Ok Lee, and Susan Wachter and the workshop will be held on...Read More

Community News submitted by: Jose Melendez, University of Oregon PhD in Planning and Public Affairs Program Learn More at Our Open House on December 8, 2025  The PhD in Planning and Public Affairs Program at the University of Oregon’s School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management (PPPM) will hold a virtual open house on Monday,...Read More