Naka Matsumoto, PhD Student

Naka Matsumoto joined the program in 2009 as a Fulbright fellow. Prior to coming to the US, she received a Masters Degree in Environmental Design and Governance from Keio University in Japan. Her master's dissertation focused on urban revitalization and community participation in New York City. She also attended the State University of New York, Fashion Institute of Technology and studied in Interior Design and Rikkyo University in Japan where she received a Bachelors degree in Education.

Before turning to her career in academia, she worked as an architect to manage various projects in both private and public companies in Japan and Hong Kong. While working, she organized community meetings and became interested in how people can build desirable living environments. She is also interested in how diverse groups of people work together and how policy and physical environments help people to do so.

Naka Matsumoto
PhD Student
Urban Studies and Planning Program
School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
University of Maryland