Stephen earned a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Architecture. His research explores how affordable housing became a tool for neighborhood redevelopment in American inner cities. His dissertation focuses on the supply side of Chicago’s affordable housing market, drawing on interviews with developers to understand the barriers to affordable housing production.

Stephen is passionate about the social role of architecture and has contributed to several research projects examining grassroots architecture and community engagement. Prior to pursuing his doctoral studies, he worked professionally on community college, mission-critical, and residential projects.