ACADEMIA

Academic Teaching & Public Joy Scholarship

Jay Pitter advances public joy as both a theoretical framework and a pedagogical practice, shaping how future planners, designers, and storytellers think about cities, space, and belonging. In her roles as educator, researcher, and collaborator, she develops and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses, leads research initiatives, and works alongside professors and academic partners to embed public joy into planning and design education.

Her participatory approach blends theory with lived experience and creative practice. Students and collaborators engage in joy-centered fieldwork—documenting sites through photography and audio, gathering stories and artifacts, exploring textiles, hosting storytelling circles, and sharing meals as part of the learning process. Courses and projects extend beyond the classroom through public-space excursions, collaborative work with architectural and planning firms, and direct engagement with communities.

Through this immersive and rigorous practice, Jay demonstrates that public joy is not soft or secondary—it is a robust pedagogy and a vital framework for shaping places and spaces.

Public joy is not superficial—we teach and advance it as a rigorous framework shaping places and futures.

Selected Academic Courses

University of Toronto−Geography and Planning (2019-2020)
Canadian Women and Cities PLA1149−GGR1149−GGR2149, MScPl, MA and PhD Reading Course
University of Detroit Mercy−School of Architecture (2019-2020)
Inclusive Placemaking and Planning for Equitable Cities MCD5200
Toronto Metropolitan University−School of Urban and Regional Planning (2017)
Multicultural Cities and Planning Policies PL8101
University of Guelph-Humber−Media Studies (2015)
Contemporary Narrative AHSS2030

WOMEN CITY BUILDERS KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & SUPPORT LUNCHEON

Hosted an inaugural women city builders celebration luncheon during tenure as the John Bousfield Distinguished Visitor in Planning

CORNELL AAP LECTURE AND WORKSHOP

Cornell University students unpack case studies related to Jay Pitter’s award-winning course

Ms. Pitter’s lecture was powerful, informational, and enlightening. Many of her research ideas and sharing that day prompted students to ask new questions such as, how do we advocate to create inclusive and equitable developments within the real estate industry? We can also ask ourselves, as the future responsible developers, how do we design a site that not only increases economical value, but responds to and enhances the sense of belonging for the existing community? As a final takeaway, she urged everyone to stop empowering people as people are already powerful, even students and young professionals alike. She stressed that it is the responsibility of this next generation to utilize that power to develop and design places and spaces where communities can realize their power and potential. Her lecture was followed by roaring applause and an extensive question and answer session.”

— Dahlia Idris, Master’s candidate at Cornell University

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PANEL

INAUGURAL INCLUSIVE PLACEMAKING COURSE

University of Detroit Mercy, School of Architecture & Community Development

BEING BLACK IN PUBLIC SURVEY

Initiated by Jay Pitter Placemaking and administered by the Institute for Social Research
Lead Investigator: Jay Pitter Co-Investigator: Professor L. Anders Sandberg
Academic Collaborator: Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University Collaborating Architecture Firm: Perkins&Will

Dear Ms. Pitter,

Congratulations!!!

You have been awarded the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change Dean’s Teaching Award for 2021!The purpose of this award is to recognize and celebrate teachers in EUC who challenge, motivate, and inspire students, and who innovate pedagogy and curriculum to enhance the quality of student learning....Students noted your profound knowledge and genuine spirit as fostering an environment that encouraged them to challenge norms and connect theory with practice.