Bio
Dr. Thomas J. Vicino is the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where he is also jointly appointed as Full Professor in the Department of Political Science and the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. Previously, Dr. Vicino was the Chair of the Department of Political Science from 2017 to 2019; and from 2011 to 2017, he served as the Director of the Master of Public Administration Program, which is a nationally-ranked program accredited by NASPAA. In 2014, Dr. Vicino was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Brazil, where he was a visiting professor in the Graduate Program in Social Sciences at Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Previously, he served on the faculty at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts and the School of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Dr. Vicino brings a passion for inclusive excellence to his various roles in higher education across 20 years as an academic administrator, researcher, teacher, mentor, and strategic planner. With over a decade of progressively responsible and successful experience as an academic leader, his work focuses on advancing educational opportunities through interdisciplinary research, experiential education, innovative programs, global citizenship, and lifelong learning with a record of building collaborative partnerships and civic engagement. He weaves a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout his work to support faculty, staff, and students.
Dr. Vicino has dedicated his career to advancing the next generation of scholars and service professionals. As the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Governing Board of the Urban Affairs Association, Dr. Vicino led the foremost international professional organization for urban scholars, researchers, and public service professionals. In this role, he steered efforts to enhance financial management practices; expand programmatic activities and initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; and guide the Association’s response to the global pandemic. In addition, he has served in various leadership roles in the American Political Science Association and the Latin American Studies Association. He is also an active member in the professional communities of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.
As an interdisciplinary scholar trained in Public Policy, Dr. Vicino’s work is motivated by a dedication to shape and improve the public good. Throughout his career, he has taught and mentored scores of undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of Political Science, Public Policy, and Urban Studies. Fluent in Portuguese, he is a strong advocate for global experiential education. For over a decade, he has led a study abroad program, “The Twenty-First Century City,” in some of the world’s most dynamic cities—from Rio de Janeiro, to Tokyo, to London.
An internationally-recognized scholar of Urban Affairs, Dr. Vicino specializes in the political economy of cities and suburbs, focusing on issues of metropolitan development, housing, and demographic analysis. He is the author of five books, including: Suburban Crossroads: The Fight for Local Control of Immigration Policy (2013) and Transforming Race and Class in Suburbia: Decline in Metropolitan Baltimore (2008) and co-author of Global Migration: The Basics (2014) as well as the bestselling book Cities and Suburbs: New Metropolitan Realities in the US (2010). Most recently, he is the co-editor, with Bernadette Hanlon, of the book The Routledge Companion to the Suburbs (2019). He has also published numerous book chapters, essays, reviews, and research articles in leading peer-reviewed journals. He serves on various editorial boards including Journal of Race, Ethnicity and the City and Urban Planning.
A first-generation college student, Dr. Vicino holds a PhD and MPP in Public Policy from the School of Public Policy at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Additionally, he holds a BSc, cum laude, with departmental honors in Political Science and Communication Studies, from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. In 2002, he received the Frazer D. White Award for Excellence in Communication Studies.
In his spare time, he enjoys traveling to new cities and exploring good Italian food. As a student at the University of Miami, he played the trumpet in the iconic Frost Band of the Hour marching band. He was born in the District of Columbia.
Download a PDF of Dr. Vicino’s curriculum vitae.
