John R. Mullin

John R. Mullin, PhD, is an emeritus professor of regional planning and the Associate Director of the Center for Economic Development at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was the former Vice-Chancellor for Community Outreach and former Dean of the Graduate School. He is a charter fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners. 

Professor Mullin's research and professional interests focus upon industrial revitalization, port development and downtown planning. A Fulbright Scholar, he has written more than 100 book chapters, book reviews, technical reports, journal articles, and conference proceedings. He is a retired Brigadier General from the Army National Guard.           

Professor Mullin currently teaches a seminar titled, Introduction to New England Town Planning (391AH), each semester in the Honors College at UMass Amherst. During the spring semester of 2025, he served as a dissertation committee member and architecture studio critic. In his capacity as Associate Director of the Center for Economic Development, he continues to provide technical assistance on economic development to cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Most recently, he served as a planning advisor to the Town of Orange, MA concerning the revitalization of the foundry at the Rodney Hunt Factory. 

Concerning scholarly research, Professor Mullin has recently had articles accepted for publication in the Journal of Maine History, Journal of Eighteenth Century Studies, Journal of Planning Practice and Research, and the Journal of the Society of Industrial Archeology. He is now undertaking research concerning the potential planning impacts of small modular nuclear reactors on host communities.    

• Honors Seminar 391AH: Introduction to New England Town Planning