Michael Rios

University of California, Davis

https://publicengagement.ucdavis.edu/

Biographical Abstracts

Michael Rios serves as vice provost of public scholarship at the University of California – Davis, where he leads university-wide efforts to recognize public scholarship in research and teaching, create community-engaged learning opportunities for students, and increase access to university resources for community partners. A faculty member since 2007, Rios is a professor in the Department of Human Ecology and faculty member in the Community Development, Education, and Geography graduate programs. His scholarship focuses on institutional change in higher education, community engagement, and community-driven placemaking. He has authored or co-authored numerous journal articles and book chapters and has co-edited several books, including Diálogos: Placemaking in Latino Communities (2013) and Community Development and Democratic Practice (2017).

Rios is co-founder of the University of California Community Engagement Network and is currently serving a three-year term (2024-27) on the executive committee of the Association of Public Land-grant University’s Commission on Economic and Community Engagement. He is past president of the Association for Community Design (2002-05) and co-recipient of the University of California’s inaugural Chancellor's Award for Community Partnerships (2002). Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and urban studies from Lehigh University, Master of Architecture and Master of City Planning degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in political geography from Pennsylvania State University.

Areas of Expertise

• Coalition building
• Cross-cultural engagement
• Placemaking