Zhixi Zhuang

Dr. Zhixi Zhuang is a Registered Professional Planner (MCIP, RPP) and an Associate Professor at SURP, TMU. As the Academic Director of the Toronto Metropolitan Centre for Immigration and Settlement (https://www.torontomu.ca/centre-for-immigration-and-settlement/) and Founder and Director of DiverCityLab (www.divercitylab.com), her research explores the intersection of immigrant settlement, urban landscapes, and municipal policies in topics related to building welcoming infrastructure in non-traditional gateway cities, immigrant entrepreneurship and city building, ethnic place-making in ‘third places,’ migration and suburban transformation, and the role of municipal planning in immigrant settlement and integration. She has conducted mixed-method, arts-informed, and community-based research, effectively engaging immigrant community members and city building professionals to gain a holistic perspective on immigrant integration, place-making, civic engagement, and inclusive policy-making.