Ben Kubany

Originally from Maplewood, New Jersey, Ben is now a senior at Gallatin. He is pursuing a concentration in architecture and urban development studies, with a focus on North American cities and cities of the Global South. He has approached his studies through an equity lens, positing social and environmental justice as a central tenet of economic development and urban resilience. Some of Ben's favorite courses include Rosalind Fredericks, “The Political Economy of Development,” which introduced him to the histories and prevailing theories of economic development. As part of Louise Harpman's “Urban Design and Architecture Lab,” he was a member of the design and build team for an installation included in 2022 NYCxDesign. Outside of his coursework, Ben is working with Gianpaolo Baiocchi as a Research Assistant at the Urban Democracy Lab, where he focuses on the interplay between community land stewardship, private development, and social housing. He is also an Associate at James Lima Planning and Development, an equitable urban strategy consulting firm. Ben has been a researcher at the Center for an Urban Future, an NYC-based think tank focused on economic issues in NYC. He is the longest-serving student member of the Albert Gallatin Founders Fund, Gallatin’s student entrepreneurship fund.