Bio

Sana Ahrar is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at North Carolina State University, where she teaches in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Her research examines housing, urban transformation, and the interaction between formal planning and informal development, using qualitative and participatory methods. Her recent work focuses on informal urbanism, particularly how middle-class communities in the Global South move between formal and informal housing markets, and how community-driven practices shape urban environments.

Sana is a registered architect in India and her research has been published in peer-reviewed venues and presented at various international conferences. She regularly reviews for international conferences and journals, and sits on jury panels for design competitions. She has been recognized for her research with awards such as the Michael Brill Research Grant in Urban Communication and Community Design, the Waddell Biggart Graduate Fellowship, and the ARCC King Student Medal for Excellence in Architectural and Environmental Design Research.

Before joining NC State, she completed her Ph.D. in Architecture at Penn State University in 2025. At Penn State, she taught theory and studio courses, contributed to the launch of Hyphen, the Department of Architecture’s academic journal, and held leadership positions focused on student support, well-being, and engagement. She holds a Master’s degree in Urban Regeneration and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from India.

Area(s) of Expertise

Housing;
Informal urbanism;
Community-engaged research;
Urban design and urban regeneration;
Urban morphology and socio-spatial analysis.