Nia Paz-Diaz

Project Coordinator

Before joining Incite, Nia Paz-Diaz held various research positions, including data analysis, urban planning, housing advocacy, environmental justice, and mapmaking. At the Office of the NYS Attorney General, she advocated for NYC's disadvantaged communities through spatial analysis and housing policy research. While at Barnard College, she served as a researcher for the Undesign the Redline exhibit, documenting the history of structural racism and inequality in New York City with a focus on redlining's enduring impact on Black and brown communities.

She specializes in GIS and merges quantitative and qualitative data to create compelling research projects for social action. Her experience in urban planning includes developing innovative transit and bike plans for cities across America using GIS. Additionally, her research experience extends to astrophysics, where she utilized Python programming to locate and analyze dwarf galaxies and conducted historical research interviews for NASA's upcoming book on the Explorers Satellite.

She completed her BA at Barnard College in Urban Studies with a concentration in Environmental Science and a minor in Astronomy. Her thesis examined the intersection of ethnic enclave gentrification, displacement, and modes of community care in Little Havana, Miami, Florida. Driven by her commitment to mutual aid and community development, Nia worked with the Housing Equity Project at Columbia, advancing housing advocacy and providing essential resources to individuals experiencing homelessness in Morningside Heights, New York. 

Beyond her research, Nia is a passionate film photographer whose work focuses on queer identities and the transformative power of human connection. Her photography has been featured in various literary arts magazines and art shows.