Urban Affairs Association Recognizes Georgia State Faculty at Annual Meeting

ATLANTA — Georgia State University faculty members Cathy Yang Liu, Deirdre Oakley and Thomas J. Vicino have been inducted into the Urban Affairs Association’s Distinguished Service Honor Roll.

They were recognized for their significant contributions to the practice of urban affairs during the annual Conference on Urban Affairs in Vancouver, British Columbia, in late April.

The Urban Affairs Association is the premiere international professional organization for urban scholars, researchers, policy analysts and public service professionals. Many of its academic members vote in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings poll, which recently placed the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ urban policy program as the third best in the nation.

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized alongside such dedicated colleagues,” said Vicino, dean of the Andrew Young School. “The Urban Affairs Association has been an intellectual home for many of us in the field of urban studies. This recognition reflects not just individual efforts, but the collective impact of our community at Georgia State.”

Vicino, a professor of urban studies, joined the Andrew Young School as dean in 2024. Liu is chair of the school’s Department of Public Management Policy and Oakley is a professor of sociology in the College of Arts & Sciences.

The Distinguished Service Honor Roll recognizes impactful leaders who have contributed outstanding service to the Urban Affairs Association over multiple years. In addition to this honor, Georgia State faculty members make their mark on the field of urban affairs through the association in other ways:

• Liu was elected chair of the Governing Board and chief executive officer, a position equivalent to president. In prior years, Andrew Young School Professor John C. Thomas and Vicino have served in this role.
• Liu is also senior associate editor of the Journal of Urban Affairs, the association’s flagship journal.
• Vicino serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Race, Ethnicity and the City, the association’s newest journal.
• Oakley serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Urban Affairs and previously held the role of managing editor.
• Jean-Paul Addie, an associate professor of urban studies in the Andrew Young School, is editor of “Rights to the City,” the official book series of the Urban Affairs Association.