Research

Research Identity & Expertise

What drives governance in the face of rapid societal and technological change? How do we create effective systems to address emerging challenges when traditional institutions fall short? These are the questions at the heart of my research. I believe that the ways we govern, through institutions, policies, and collective decision-making, shape the trajectory of our societies, profoundly influencing equity, sustainability, and resilience.

As a scholar of public administration, policy, and urban planning, I am passionate about understanding and addressing the dynamics of governance in fragmented or underdeveloped contexts. My research explores how governance systems emerge, evolve, and institutionalize during socio-technical transitions, such as renewable energy adoption, artificial intelligence regulation, and environmental restoration. I examine the critical roles nonprofits and collaborative actors play in bridging institutional voids, driving innovation, and fostering equitable, sustainable outcomes.

My work is grounded in the belief that effective governance requires more than just reactive policies; it demands proactive, inclusive, and adaptive systems that address complexity while prioritizing equity and sustainability. By integrating theoretical innovation with real-world applications, I aim to contribute to solutions that empower individuals, organizations, and communities to navigate the challenges of our rapidly changing world.

Through my research, teaching, and engagement with policymakers and community organizations, my ultimate goal is to help build governance systems that are not only functional but also fair and forward-looking. By uncovering the mechanisms behind governance evolution, I strive to support the development of systems that respond to today’s challenges while laying the groundwork for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Papers Under Review

Jangjoo, S. (2024). Public Integrity and the Compromised Lives of Citizen Spouses in Mixed-Status Families: Introducing Unintended Policy Impact Analysis Framework (UPIAF). Administration and Society. 

Jangjoo, S., & Tang, T. (2024). Clean Energy Transitions from the Ground Up: Building a Framework for Local Action Despite Limited State Support. Cities.

Jangjoo, S., Askari, S., & Doaee, A. (2024). The Effect of Built Environment and Sense of Community on Community Wellbeing in Apartment Complexes: A Gender-Based Analysis. Cities.

Jangjoo, S., & Maleki Najafabadi, E. (2024). Unlocking Knowledge Potential: The Role of IT Infrastructure Capabilities in Knowledge Management Practices of NGOs. Information and Management. 

Maktabifard, Z., Sadeghi, A. R., & Jangjoo, S. (2024). From Distribution of Urban Parking Lots to Spatial Justice: Developing a Model for Spatial Distribution Analysis Using Spatial Statistics. Scientific Reports.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Jangjoo, S., Hajipoor, K., & Lotfi, S. (2024). Empowering Cities through Eventful City Planning: A Toolkit for Enhancing Destination Competitiveness. Tourism Planning & Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2024.2371835 

Sadeghi, A. R., Baghi, E. S. M. S., Shams, F., & Jangjoo, S. (2023). Women in a safe and healthy urban environment: environmental top priorities for the women’s presence in urban public spaces. BMC women's health, 23(1), 163. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02281-8 

Sadeghi, A. R., & Jangjoo, S. (2022). Women's preferences and urban space: Relationship between built environment and women's presence in urban public spaces in Iran. Cities, 126, 103694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103694 

Sadeghi, A. R., Ebadi, M., Shams, F., & Jangjoo, S. (2022). Human-built environment interactions: the relationship between subjective well-being and perceived neighborhood environment characteristics. Scientific reports, 12(1), 21844. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25414-9 

Lotfi, S., Sholeh, M., Hajipoor, K., Jangjoo, S., & Fallah Manshadi, A. (2022). Event-Led Regeneration in Reconnecting the Ritual-Religious Structure of Historic Cities (Case Study: Inter-Connected Structure of Historic Shiraz). Geography and Urban Space Development, 9(3), 171-193. https://doi.org/10.22067/jgusd.2022.47725.0 

Jangjoo, S., Hajipoor, K., & Lotfi, S. (2021). Providing Eventful City Planning Strategies Based on the Principles of Enhancement of Destination Competitiveness, Case Study: Shiraz, Iran. Journal of Tourism and Development, 10(3), 97-115. https://doi.org/10.22034/jtd.2020.239083.2079 

Sadeghi, A. R., Khakzand, M., & Jangjoo, S. (2019). Historical analysis of the role of bazaar on the formation of iranian islamic urban forms; case study: Shiraz, Iran. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 12(26), 89-101. https://doi.org/10.22034/aaud.2019.89058 

Working Papers

Translating Performance Between Funders and Nonprofits - with David Berlan and Gary VanLandingham. Paper presented at ARNOVA 2024. Ready for submission to PPMR.

Nonprofit Roles in Collaborative Multi-level Environmental Governance Systems: Integrating Systems Thinking and Network Analysis. Proposal accepted to ASPA 2025.

Are Small Nonprofits Stepping Stones or Springboards? A Multi-Dimensional Study of Turnover Intentions and Perceived Fit Discrepancy - with Lauren Azevedo. Paper presented at ARNOVA 2024.

How Do Cities Work Around State Barriers? Uncovering Policy Innovation Mechanisms in Local Renewable Energy Transitions.

Fostering Women's Sense of Community through the Quality of Built Environment in Community Parks - with Amirhossein Doaee.

Dissertation Papers

Essay 1: Renewable Energy Transitions from the Ground Up: Introducing Resource-Sensitive Policy Innovation for Local Action Despite Limited State Support. Under Review in Cities Journal.

Essay 2: Governance Evolution Framework: Institutionalizing Governance in Socio-Technical Transitions Across Institutional Voids. Working Paper.

Essay 3: Filling Institutional Voids: Nonprofits and Their Transformative Role in Governance and Institutionalization. Working Paper.

Personal Projects

Proposing an EV Policy Stringency Index: A State-Level Analysis of Electric Vehicle Adoption and Equity. Umbrella Project Proposal Developed: Working First Paper.

Grants

Chesapeake Bay Program Decision-Support System, NSF Growing Convergence Research Project (2024)

Florida Nonprofit Coalition for Clean Energy Transition, Florida Solar for All (FSFA) (2024)