Dr. Katherine Idziorek

Katherine Idziorek (she/her/hers) is a community-engaged researcher and certified urban planner who joined UNC Charlotte’s Department of Geography and Earth Sciences in 2021. Katherine’s research examines the role of place-based resources and social networks in community-scale disaster preparedness. She approaches this work from an asset-based perspective, building upon unique community strengths and values to facilitate the development of strategies for improving community resilience and wellbeing. Katherine teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, with courses in community planning, spatial thinking, and cartographic design.

Before turning to a full-time academic career, Katherine practiced for eight years as a professional urban designer in Seattle, where she also served as co-president of the Uptown Alliance, a grassroots community advocacy organization. She completed an Interdisciplinary PhD in Urban Design and Planning as well as master’s degrees in architecture and urban planning at the University of Washington, and she holds a BS in Architecture from the University of Minnesota.