Samina Raja

Samina Raja was a Pakistani-American urban planner, food systems researcher, and health equity advocate. She was a professor of urban and regional planning at the University at Buffalo, where she founded and directed the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab. She was also the co-director of the Community for Global Health Equity and the associate dean for research and inclusive excellence at the School of Architecture and Planning. She focused on understanding the role of planning and policy in building sustainable food systems and healthy communities, especially in low-income and marginalized areas. She led several research projects, such as Growing Food Connections, a comprehensive five-year initiative funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to build capacity of local governments to strengthen food systems. She also collaborated with partners in India, Kenya, and Brazil to examine the impacts of urbanization and climate change on food security and health. She published widely in academic journals and books, and received numerous awards and honors for her work, such as the President's Pride of Performance, the Dale Scholar Prize for Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning, the Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Award, and the UB Distinguished Professor Award. She was a mentor and teacher to many students and colleagues, and a leader in shaping food systems policies for healthier communities in Western New York and beyond. She died of natural causes at her home in Buffalo on 8 October 2021. She was 51 years old. Her death sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from the academic community and beyond. She was praised for her passion, vision, and impact in advancing food justice and health equity. She was described as brilliant, inspiring, generous, and kind by her friends and family.