Welcoming Our New Faculty

As we begin the academic year, the Department of Geography & Planning is excited to welcome three new faculty members to the St. George campus. 

Caitlin Cunningham is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto (St. George). She teaches courses on Geographic Information Science and Systems, including Digital Earth (GGR172), Geographic Information and Mapping I (GGR272) and II (GGR273), Advanced GIS (GGR373), and GIS Research Project (GGR462). Outside of the classroom she is broadly interested in how spatial analysis can be uses to better understand the world and help solve the problems that vex us.

Caitlin's PhD research focused on more-than-human cities, and considered how cities can be built so that all urban residents are able to thrive, regardless of species membership. She examined how different spatial patterns within cities affect wildlife populations, and where, when, and how human-wildlife interactions are occurring.

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I am interested in exploring the human dimensions of climate change to uncover the various connections between environmental change and social equity. My work considers how local governments can advance climate action that is both ambitious and equitable. Beyond my research, my practical experience implementing poverty reduction and climate action strategies spans South America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.

I'm an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto, and Associate Director of the Mobilizing Justice project (https://mobilizingjustice.ca/). I hold a PhD in Transportation Engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. During 2018-2019, I was a postgraduate researcher at the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds (2018-2019) and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Sustainable Urban Development (CEDEUS) in 2020-2021. I also served as the research coordinator of the Suburban Mobilites Cluster (2021-2023) (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/suburban-mobilities/).