{"id":408,"date":"2013-09-18T13:35:31","date_gmt":"2013-09-18T13:35:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pixelgrade.com\/demos\/lens\/?page_id=45"},"modified":"2026-08-27T00:31:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T00:31:49","slug":"about-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.gsd.harvard.edu\/mci\/about-2\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

About the MCI<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Mexican Cities Initiative (MCI) at the Harvard Graduate School of Design is an emerging platform for experimental ideas and actionable knowledge to help guide the transformation of Mexico\u2019s complex urban landscapes over the next decades. Drawing on the generous support of Mr. Rolando Uziel, a GSD Alumni, and under the faculty guidance of Diane Davis, Charles Dyer Norton Professor of Regional Planning and Urbanism, the MCI supports a public archive of Mexico-based research conducted at the GSD and elsewhere, a network of partnerships in and beyond Mexico, and an annual summer fellowship for innovative student research.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Advisory Board<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"Diane<\/a><\/figure>
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Diane Davis | Faculty Director<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PhD, Charles Dyer Norton Professor of Regional Planning and Urbanism, Harvard Graduate School of Design<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Davis’s research interests include the politics of urban development policy, socio-spatial practice in conflict cities, the relations between urbanization and national development, comparative international development.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Advisory<\/a><\/figure>
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Jose Castillo | Advisory Board Member<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jose Castillo is an architect living and working in Mexico City. He holds a degree in architecture from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City as well as an MArch and a DDes degree from Harvard University\u2019s GSD.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Advisory<\/a><\/figure>
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Gabriella G\u00f3mez-Mont | Advisory Board Member<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gabriella G\u00f3mez-Mont founded and directed Laboratorio para la Ciudad (2013 \u2013 2018), the award-winning experimental and creative office of the Mexico City government, reporting to the Mayor. She is now working with several cities across the world and in the process of launching Experimentalista: a novel type of creative studio specialized in cities, public imagination and system change..<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Advisory<\/a><\/figure>
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Mauricio Ben\u00edtez Iturbe | Advisory Board Member<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mauricio Ben\u00edtez is the Program Director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies\u2019 Mexico Office. The Center works to increase knowledge of the cultures, economies, histories, environment, and contemporary affairs of past and present Latin America. Previously, Mauricio was an assistant professor of Political Science at Chapman University and taught comparative, Mexican, and territorial politics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Advisory<\/a><\/figure>
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Carlos Zedillo Velasco | Advisory Board Member<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carlos Zedillo is Head of the Research Center for Sustainable Development at INFONAVIT. As an active professor, Carlos has taught at Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, and Anahuac University in Mexico City. He has been a guest critic at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and the University of Michigan.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Advisory<\/a><\/figure>
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Nora Libertun de Duren | Advisory Board Member<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nora is an expert in Housing and Urban Development at the Inter-American Development Bank (IBD). She holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from MIT, a Master\u2019s in Urban Design from Harvard\u2019s GSD, and a Master in Architecture from the University of Buenos Aires. Nora has taught urban planning and international development at Columbia, MIT, Harvard, and the University of Buenos Aires. Previously, she was the Director of Planning for New York City\u2019s Department of Parks and Recreation.
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Advisory<\/a><\/figure>
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David G\u00f3mez \u00c1lvarez | Advisory Board Member<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

David G\u00f3mez \u00c1lvarez is a management and public policy specialist with 25 years of professional experience. He has a diploma in development planning from MIT, a doctorate in Public Administration NYU, a master\u2019s degree in Public Policy from the London School of Economics (LSE), and a Bachelor in Politics and Public Administration by El Colegio de M\u00e9xico (Colmex). He is currently a research professor at Universidad de Guadalajara, executive director of Transversal think tank, as well as a member of the Citizen Participation Committee of the Jalisco State Anti-Corruption System. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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