Adeel Lari was the director of the Institute for Urban and Regional Infrastructure Finance until June 2023, and was a leading researcher in transportation finance at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs since the early 2000's.  He joined the University after more than 30 years with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Lari has spent years studying, championing, and implementing innovative transportation initiatives in Minnesota. His initiatives have won numerous awards, including the President’s Modal Award from AASHTO and the Distinguished Project Award from the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships. 

He is also involved in the studies of autonomous vehicles and telework (work from home), especially equity implications.

Lari earned a master's degree in Civil Engineering (MSc) and a master of business administration (MBA) in real estate and urban land economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has earned certificates in mediation from the William Mitchell College of Law and in strategic public sector negotiations from Harvard University.