Ivis García holds a PhD in Urban Planning & Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In fall 2022, she assumed the role of Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. Throughout her career, García has taught graduate and undergraduate classes in community engagement in planning, planning communication, and studio courses in cities such as Chicago, Puerto Rico, and Salt Lake City.
García's research is focused on engagement, housing, and community development. She has been awarded more than $1 million in external research funding from the EPA, National Science Foundation, and the Natural Hazards Center. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, five book chapters, and 40 technical reports, including the first American Planning Association PAS Report on diversity, “Planning with Diverse Communities.” Additionally, García has presented over 60 keynote or invited talks, including funded addresses at Universidad de Guadalajara, Columbia University, and Georgia Tech. Furthermore, García has been recognized for her housing justice work in Puerto Rico with disaster victims with IRP’s Emerging Poverty Scholars and Ford Foundation Fellowships.