Dr. Mariela Alfonzo

Dr. Mariela Alfonzo is the Founder and CEO of State of Place, an innovative company established in September 2011 that utilizes AI-driven urban design software to support effective and accountable citymaking decisions aimed at enhancing walkability, sustainability, and community value. As President, Urban Design Researcher, and Consultant at Urban Imprint since March 2005, Dr. Alfonzo focuses on the interactions between the built environment and human activity to create evidence-based urban planning solutions. Additionally, Dr. Alfonzo serves as a Research Assistant Professor at New York University, emphasizing urban design's impact on health outcomes in rapidly urbanizing regions, particularly in China. Previous academic roles include a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in Shanghai and a Research Fellow/Adjunct Professor at Polytechnic Institute of NYU, alongside a post-doctoral tenure at Virginia Tech. Dr. Alfonzo holds a PhD in Urban Planning/Design from UC Irvine and a BA in Psychology and Architecture from the University of Miami.