Matthew Jelacic

Matthew Jelacic is an award-winning designer, educator, and development theorist, known for his collaborative work across various disciplines to address global issues, specifically focusing on community engagement, human shelter, settlements, and climate change.

His expertise lies in interdisciplinary research, with specializations in climate change adaptation, design thinking, engineering, social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and historical scholarship. Matthew has a track record of working with diverse clients, including governments, Native American communities, NGOs, corporations, and academic institutions.

With a strong academic background, Matthew has numerous publications, awards, and fellowships to his credit. He is recognized for his innovative curriculum design and course delivery. His teaching roles have spanned environmental design, engineering for developing communities, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.

Matthew Jelacic holds a Master of Architecture (MArch) degree from Harvard University, a Certificate in Forced Migration and Human Rights from the University of Oxford, and a BArch in Architecture from Pratt Institute.

Throughout his career, Matthew has served in various key positions, such as Global Climate Change Migration and Urbanization Expert, Infrastructure Policy Advisor at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Franklin Fellow at USAID's Private Capital & Micro-Enterprise Team/E3, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities, Scholar in Residence at The Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center, Assistant Professor of Environmental Design at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Adjunct Professor at Pratt Institute, and Principal at Design & Construction.