The Humphrey School of Public Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Yingling Fan, PhD, as the School's new associate dean for faculty, effective August 28. She succeeds Professor Abimbola Asojo, who is leaving the University to become dean of Morgan State University's School of Architecture and Planning.
As associate dean, Fan will be part of the School’s leadership team, playing a crucial role in setting faculty recruitment and retention strategies, contributing to the strategic direction of the School, and representing the School within the University of Minnesota community.
"Dr. Fan brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to this pivotal role, and we are confident that she will make significant contributions to our School," said Dean Nisha Botchwey. "Her visionary leadership will undoubtedly enhance our academic pursuits and further strengthen our commitment to excellence in public affairs education and research."
Fan has been a faculty member in the School's urban and regional planning area since 2008, and led the PhD program from 2019 to 2022. In that role, Fan was an integral part of the School's academic community, guiding the strategic direction, academic personnel management, and curriculum planning for the growing PhD program.
"This opportunity is truly a dream come true for me. Having spent 15 years at the Humphrey School, I have developed deep connections and commitments to its exceptional faculty, staff, and students," said Fan. "The School is not just my workplace, but also my nurturing home where I have flourished personally and academically. It is a tremendous honor to be entrusted with this role, allowing me to give back to the Humphrey School community that has given me so much. I am eager to contribute further to the success of this world-class institution in this new capacity."
Transportation and planning expert
Fan's research focuses on urban land use, transportation planning, and the impacts of urban planning on human health and social equity. Her influential work spans a wide range of topics, including public transportation development, emotional well-being in cities, and community-engaged transportation equity research.
She is a leading thinker on putting human well-being and people’s lived experience at the center of urban policy and planning for building sustainable, healthy, and just communities.
In addition to her academic accomplishments, Fan is a successful inventor and entrepreneur. She is the lead inventor of the Daynamica technology, an innovative app-based system that measures and shapes human behavior and well-being. The technology was granted a US Patent in 2017, and the following year Fan co-founded Daynamica, Inc., a company serving academic researchers and government agencies that are interested in human data in daily life settings.
She also holds significant editorial leadership positions, serving as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Transport and Land Use from 2019 to 2022, and as a managing editor of the Urban Studies journal since 2020.
"We are fortunate to have Dr. Fan's continued dedication and contributions as we navigate the exciting future of our School," said Botchwey.
