Shawn Rickenbacker
About Shawn Rickenbacker
A published and award-winning researcher, entrepreneur and educator, in the design, technology, urban design and development fields. As an experienced problem solver and technologist, I work at the convergence of urban data and built environment, leveraging their combined power to to inform policy and design. My work concentrates on the research, design and use of urban data to facilitate the development of more equitable and just environments that productively enhance human and social interaction and advancement. Through data fueled insights and high impact scalable innovations, he seeks to contribute high value, compelling solutions to intractable problems. I am passionate about creating transformative change by bringing together and managing cross disciplinary leaders and integrative design research teams representative of academia, industry, the non profit sector, government agencies and communities to effectively collaborate and respond to complex equitable and sustainable design and urban challenges. I have emerged in this role from a diverse geographic as well as professional background having held design positions in the US and London, presenting at professional and academic gatherings globally in Waterloo, Helsinki and Tokyo and conducting research in South Africa and Ghana. My work has been exhibited internationally and featured on Fast Company Co.Exist, CNN, The New York Times and GA Global Architecture among others. Currently I'am the Director of the J Max Bond Center for Urban Futures, a leading the City College of New York applied urban research center, where I also hold the position of Associate Professor of Architecture. Previously I was the Favrot Chair of Architecture at Tulane University, Gensler Distinguished Professor at Cornell University and Lead Researcher at Futures Lab, a Motorola Solutions funded research lab at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design and co-founder of Urban Data and Design. 2023 Principal Investigator, Uncertainty for Harlem Small Businesses 2021 Lead Researcher, Equitable Communities, Harlem, NY JP Morgan Chase Sponsor 2017 Favrot Chair, Architecture and Social Innovation, Tulane University 2017 Director, Breathing Architecture: The Future of Urban Air Quality, Cornell, Beijing City Lab, Gensler 2013 - 2015 Principal Researcher Motorola Solutions Grant: "Slim Cities: Mobile Technologies and Augmented Urban Space." 2012 Pop Tech Social Innovation Fellow, Urban Data & Design: Finalist