Linna Zhu is a senior research associate in the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute. She conducts data-driven quantitative research on policy issues related to US mortgage finance, housing supply, and racial inequality. Zhu has published research articles on such topics as the Community Reinvestment Act, automated valuation models, artificial intelligence risk management, AAPI mortgage denial rates, small-dollar loans, housing supply, and local planning responses, aging in place, and household finances among older Americans. Her research has been published in leading academic and policy journals, such as Regional Science and Urban Economics and Cityscape. She serves on the advisory board of the Design Thinking Executive Program at the University of California, Riverside Extension. Zhu holds a BA in economics from Renmin University of China, an MS in Finance from Johns Hopkins University, and a PhD in public policy and management from the University of Southern California.
Urban experts are permitted and empowered to work and affiliate with outside organizations, whether serving on boards, volunteering their time, or providing advice and counsel. And Urban welcomes visiting scholars, nonresident or affiliated fellows who work for other organizations. These outside affiliations enrich our perspectives and our learning environment. We also require all paid and unpaid experts to disclose their affiliations to Urban leadership and follow rules governing their engagement to ensure transparency for audiences and independence of experts.