Prof. Geeta Mehta

Prof. Geeta Mehta is an adjunct professor of architecture and urban design at Columbia University in New York, where she teaches seminars and design studios that have worked in India, China, Austria, France, Ukraine, Colombia, Brazil, Jamaica, Ghana and Kenya.

Prof. Mehta is the founder and president of the non-profit Asia Initiatives, where she has developed the concept of Social Capital Credits (SoCCs). This breakthrough virtual currency for social good is currently in operation in five sites in India, Ghana and Costa Rica, incentivizing projects in healthcare, education, waste management, tree planting, neighborhood improvements and river restoration. Geeta is also the co-founder of “URBZ: User Generated Cities,” a Mumbai-based organization that highlights the potential of underserved communities to transform themselves into vibrant neighborhoods by improving public spaces and through art, cultural activism and home improvements.

The co-author of several books and other publications with Columbia University’s Urban Design Studio, Prof. Mehta received her education from the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi and then at Columbia University, and earned her Ph.D. in Urban Engineering from the University of Tokyo. She is also the past president of the American Institute of Architects’ Japan Chapter.