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HELLO 👋

Welcome! I’m Dr. Sadhana Manthapuri (సాధనా మంతపురి) — an urban development specialist with a strong passion for sustainable growth, inclusive planning, and economic development.

My work is driven by a deep belief in building cities that are not only environmentally resilient but also economically vibrant and socially equitable. With a background in sustainable development and urban economics, I focus on integrating innovative, data-informed strategies into urban planning to foster inclusive prosperity and long-term resilience.

I am particularly committed to exploring the intersection of economic development and urban policy—advocating for infrastructure and planning solutions that create equitable opportunities, strengthen local economies, and empower communities. Through research, policy engagement, and hands-on implementation, I aim to support cities in navigating the complex challenges of urbanization while promoting environmental stewardship and community well-being.

I earned a PhD in Planning, Governance, and Globalization from Virginia Tech, where my research advanced a novel analytical framework for decoding the urban DNA of cities—an integrative approach to understanding the structural and dynamic forces behind urban growth, transformation, and decline.

My doctoral work interrogated the multidimensional interactions among infrastructure systems, economic trajectories, and socio-political configurations that underpin urban change. Through this research, I generated actionable insights for policymakers and planners aimed at fostering equitable, adaptive, and sustainability-oriented urban development. By aligning theoretical innovation with applied analysis, my work contributes to the evolving discourse on urban evolution resilience and long-term economic vitality.

As an urban development consultant, my interests revolve around contributing to three main pillars of sustainable development : Community, Economy, and Environment. I enjoy working on complex data models, that can significantly contributed to policy and strategic decisions in urban development.

Know more about my work by looking at the projects and research pages.

Feel free to get in touch with me for any additional support or potential collaboration opportunities.