Dr. Ming-Han Li, Executive Director
Dr. Ming-Han Li is the dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington as well as executive director of the Institute of Urban Studies. Previously, he served as director of the School of Planning, Design and Construction at Michigan State University. A fellow of both the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, he has authored, co-authored and edited more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings. He has also served on the Transportation Research Board Committee AKD40 Landscape and Environmental Design. Li was once honored as one of the top 25 most admired design educators in the US by DesignIntelligence. In 2023, Li received the prestigious Texas A&M School of Architecture Outstanding Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Texas A&M School of Architecture upon its alums.
Dr. Li’s unique strength is his interdisciplinary professional background. He is a certified planner, professional engineer and professional landscape architect, with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural engineering (National Taiwan University), master of science in civil engineering (The University of Texas at Austin), both master of landscape architecture and PhD in urban and regional sciences from Texas A&M University (TAMU).
Dr. Hannah Lebovits, Interim Director
Dr. Hannah Lebovits is an applied urban scholar living in Dallas, TX. She currently serves as the interim director of the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington where she works on addressing real-world problems in local communities across the North Texas region. Her work has appeared in academic publications, technical reports and local and national media outlets including Rolling Stone, ESPN, Bloomberg CityLab, South-by-Southwest, Dallas Magazine, Dallas Observer, Cleveland Scene, Haaretz, and others.
Previously, Hannah was an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs. While in that role, she taught hundreds of graduate students and earned recognition as an emerging voice in the field of urban governance. Hannah continues to serve as an adjunct professor teaching courses in digital governance, ethics in public administration, and intergovernmental relations.
Email Hannah: hannah.lebovits@uta.edu
Wanna Smith, Coordinator
Wanna Smith has spent nearly a decade dedicated to ensuring that the Institute of Urban Studies runs like a well-oiled machine. As the Institute’s primary special programs coordinator, Wanna is responsible for the day-to-day administrative efforts of the IUS. With training in applied technology and performance improvement as well as a background in public affairs, Wanna’s unique skill-set has contributed to the high-quality completion of dozens of IUS projects since 2015.
Email Wanna: wanna.smith@uta.edu
Kena Nicol, Graduate Fellow
Kena is a Graduate Fellow at the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning at the UTA College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Administration. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Global Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, where her focus was on science, technology, and the environment. Kena currently heads the Conservation, Historic Preservation, and Environmental Justice focus area at the IUS. Before joining the IUS, Kena worked as a GIS Analyst in both the public and private sectors, applying geospatial and demographic analysis to social barrier research, labor market and economic development research, and research for commercial real estate. Kena is excited to apply what she is learning in class to her work at the IUS and to create positive impacts in the communities we work with.
Email Kena: kena.nicol@uta.edu
Anahi Oceguera, Graduate Fellow
Anahi Oceguera is a Graduate Fellow with the Institute of Urban Studies. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her Bachelors of Science is in Criminal Justice from Tarleton State University. She currently works full time as a certified Juvenile Probation Officer in Johnson County. Anahi is very excited to apply knowledge in the field to a current project with Dallas County.
Email Anahi: anahi.oceguera@uta.edu
Daniela Pedraja, Graduate Fellow
Daniela is a Graduate Fellow at the University of Texas at Arlington’s Institute of Urban Studies. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Economic Data Analytics at UTA’s College of Business and holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from UTA. Before joining the IUS, Daniela represented UTA by serving as Student Body President, meeting with campus administration, hosting events, and positively impacting the student community. She is passionate about economic policy and hopes to work to help others better understand the financial and social impacts of economic development.
Email Daniela: daniela.pedraja@uta.edu
Destiny Polk, Graduate Fellow
Destiny Polk is a Graduate Fellow at the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, pursuing a Master of Public Administration with a focus on Community and Planning Development. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where her opportunity to study internationally sparked a strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration. Destiny’s research focuses on Housing for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care, a research initiative on sustainable, small-site housing solutions that prioritize accessibility and community engagement. Before joining the IUS, she worked as a Designer for a private firm, conducting design-driven spatial planning and analysis for commercial spaces in DFW. She is also the Events Coordinator for the UTA Student Planning Association. In addition to her academic pursuits, she engages in freelance work on residential projects and enjoys traveling. Inspired by the novel Women in Green: Voices of Sustainable Design, she is passionate about amplifying diverse perspectives in community planning and understanding limitations to sustainable solutions.
Email Destiny: destiny.polk@uta.edu