Catherine L. Ross, Ph.D.

Image

Catherine L. Ross, Ph.D.

Dr. Catherine L. Ross is a Regents’ Professor and Harry West Professor of City and Regional Planning and Civil and Environmental Engineering and director of the Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (CQGRD) at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has published extensively and is an internationally known transportation and urban planner. Dr. Ross is one of the world’s experts on megaregions and sustainability – bringing together regions and cities on transportation, water, energy, land development and health creating places that compete in a global world. Her book, "Megaregions and Global Competitiveness" (2009), is a leading reference on these emerging geographies. Her extensive research on regional resilience and sustainability focuses on water, energy, transportation, economic development and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS).

She is a member of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), former Urban Land Institute Fellow and past president of the National Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP). Ross has served on numerous National Academies committees, including the Transportation Research Board Executive Committee, University Transportation Centers Program and on the board of directors of the ENO Transportation Foundation. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Kent State University in 1971, a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in city and regional planning from Cornell University, and completed post-doctorate work at the University of California, Berkeley.

In July 2009, she was consulted in establishing the first-ever White House Office of Urban Affairs. She currently serves as vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the Auto Club Group (American Automobile Association (AAA).