Dr. Sandoval’s research is situated within intersections of urban planning, immigration, and community change. As an urban planning scholar, he examines the links between immigrant communities, transnationalism, and placemaking. Drawing on detailed case studies spanning traditional immigrant gateways and emerging immigrant’ destinations he explores how urban planning interventions shape immigrant neighborhoods and in turn, how immigrants are reshaping cities. Dr. Sandoval’s current multiple site case study in California examines the role of ethnic community identity in unifying neighborhood activists, local politicians, and transnational business leaders, in resisting large-scale environmental redevelopment projects that may cause displacement through gentrification. Dr. Sandoval’s second line of research inquiry is a multicity case study in Oregon examining immigrant integration efforts.
