José Rubio-Zepeda, MSCRP, MA

José Daniel Rubio-Zepeda (he/him) is an urban planner, scholar, and higher education practitioner committed to expanding access, cultivating belonging, and strengthening communities. Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and raised in the United States, his work bridges migration, education, and civic engagement, with interests in student success, community empowerment, and participatory planning. At the Doerr School, José develops academic, professional, and community-building opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. He supports the Dean’s Graduate Scholars Program and the Sustainability Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, while advancing schoolwide initiatives that strengthen connection and belonging. Through the Access, Belonging & Community (ABC) Liaison Program, he collaborates with students and campus partners to create responsive programming and foster a more welcoming environment across the school.

Drawing on experiences across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, José brings a holistic and culturally responsive approach to leadership grounded in collaboration, humility, and joy. He earned dual master’s degrees in Community and Regional Planning and Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish, with a minor in International Studies with an emphasis in Latin America, from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

Outside of his professional life, José enjoys spending time with loved ones, running, dancing, practicing yoga, cooking, listening to music, and discovering new places.