Elizabeth Morton

Dr. Elizabeth Morton is a D.C.-based planning educator and consultant, specializing in urban design, historic preservation and placemaking. She has a special interest in documenting the cultural heritage of underrepresented groups and promoting and supporting longstanding independent businesses.

Dr. Morton taught graduate planning courses at Virginia Tech’s National Capital Region campus for 15 years and currently leads studios in GW’s Sustainable Urban Planning master’s program.

She has worked for a variety of arts and preservation organizations, and as a consultant has conducted studies for institutions such as the World Bank, UNESCO, the Metropolitan Institute, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Urban Arts, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Most recently, she was the Evaluation Consultant for the Beyond Granite initiative led by the Trust for the National Mall in partnership with the National Capital Planning Commission and National Park Service; Beyond Granite seeks to elevate underrepresented stories in Washington DC’s commemorative landscape.

Dr. Morton has a long track record of community service and leadership. She has been appointed to the Arlington County (VA) Planning Commission, the Arlington Public Art Committee, the McLean Revitalization Corporation, and numerous other advisory bodies. She has also recently served as an Expert Panel Member for the National Science Foundation (2022) and the Transportation Research Board (2018-2022).

Dr. Morton earned a Ph.D. (City Design & Development) from MIT, an MCRP (Housing & Real Estate) from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a B.A. (Art History and English) from Williams College.