CC+S Leadership

Deborah McKoy

CC+S Executive Director, PhD and MPA

Deborah L. McKoy (she/her) is a Research Professor of City and Regional Planning and Executive Director and Founder of the UC Berkeley Center for Cities + Schools at the Institute of Urban and Regional Development. Her research and teaching focus on the intersection of educational reform, urban & metropolitan planning, community development, and public policy. Central to her work is the critical role young people play in urban and metropolitan change and transformation.

For over two decades, Deborah’s work has bridged the worlds of research, policy, and practice, including a wide range of professional experiences: Consultant to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Chief of Economic Development at the NYC Housing Authority; Director of Refugee Services for CAMBA, a NYC non-profit organization; and Consultant to the United Nations Education For All initiative. Deborah has published numerous articles and reports for academic and peer-reviewed journals and her work and teaching have won a range of awards. She recently published the well-received book, Planning Cities With Young People and Schools: Forging Justice and Generating Joy with Amanda Eppley and Dr Shirl Buss, by Routledge Press.

Contact: debmckoy@berkeley.edu