Serena Alexander, PhD

Serena Alexander is an Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of Urban Online at San José State University. Her research predominantly focuses on developing and implementing cutting-edge strategies to address climate change and climate justice. Examples of her recent work include harnessing the greenhouse gas emissions and mobility equity potential of autonomous vehicles and on-demand mobility, and harmonizing climate change mitigation and adaptation in transportation and land-use planning. Dr. Alexander has published many peer-reviewed journal articles and technical reports and presented her research at national and international conferences. She is currently establishing the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) and Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) collaboration platform to serve as a repository of best practices of climate action planning across the globe. Before joining the SJSU faculty, Dr. Alexander conducted community economic development and environmental policy research at the Center for Economic Development and the Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center at Cleveland State University, where she also received her doctorate in Urban Studies (Specialization in Urban Policy and Development). She holds master’s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and Architectural Engineering from Azad University of Tehran.

MTI Research Spotlight Shines on Climate Resiliency in Transportation