Personal profile
Research profile
Janni Sorensen holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois–Champaign Urbana and is Landinspektør from AAU 1997. She is engaged in research in the areas of planning in urban areas and in coastal transition. Before coming to AAU she worked as an associate professor at UNC Charlotte. In 2008 she established the Charlotte Action Research Project (CHARP). Her research agenda is focused on neighborhood scale participatory urban planning and community organizing. Dr. Sorensen’s work has led to many journal articles and several grants from local government and foundations that have supported her ongoing work in Charlotte neighborhoods. In 2017 she received the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) “Excellence and Innovation Award for the Civic Learning and Community Engagement Award.” And in 2018 she received the UNC Charlotte Bonnie E Cone distinguished professorship in Community Engagement.
Education/Academic qualification
Regional Planning, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Award Date: 1 Jun 2007
landinspektør
Award Date: 1 Jul 1997
External positions
Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
2008 → …
assistant director, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2005 → 2008
PhD candidate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1998 → 2007
Keywords
- Geography and Geology
- Sociology and Social Conditions
- Environment
- Politics and Administration
- Problem Based Learning
- Traffic and Transportation
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Collaborations from the last five years
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Housing affordability and justice in a welfare state - An approach to spatial planning and community engagement to enhance housing equality and affordability for the middle- and working class in Copenhagen
Thunberg, K. B. (PI), Sørensen, J. (Supervisor) & Sørensen, M. T. (Supervisor)
01/08/2024 → 31/07/2027
Project: PhD Project
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EmpowerUs: Socio-economic Empowerment of coastal communities as Users of the Sea to ensure sustainable coastal development
Ounanian, K. (PI), Jacobsen, R. B. (Project Applicant), Sørensen, J. (Other) & Ekstedt, J. (Other)
01/10/2022 → 30/09/2025
Project: Research
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Planning, governance and public participation under influence of the COVID-19 pandemic
Lissandrello, E. (PI), Sørensen, J. (PI), Olesen, K. (PI), Steffansen, R. N. (PI) & Nørgaard, L. S. (Project Participant)
01/03/2021 → 01/08/2023
Project: Research
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Reflection interviews to secure observation data and facilitate peer debriefing
Solnør, S. M. & sorensen, J., 17 Sept 2026, Handbook of Inclusive Methodologies: How methods and methodologies contribute to equitable coastal transition through empowerment and inclusivity. Zenodo, p. 57-60 4 p.Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Coastal Transition Mechanisms: How to better integrate Europe's coastal communities and the Blue-Green Transition
Ounanian, K., Ekstedt, J., sorensen, J., Houbak, K. S., Jacobsen, R. B., Spiering, S. M., Hadjimichael, M., Svels, K., Halse, Å. & Bratt, C., 18 Sept 2025, 5 p.Research output: Book/Report › Report › Research
Open Access -
Contrasting inclusionary housing initiatives in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway: how the past shapes the present
Granath Hansson , A., Sorensen, J., Nordahl, B. & Sørensen, M. T., 3 Apr 2025, In: Housing Studies. 40, 4, p. 892-913 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Participation through photography: altering the photovoice method to enable inclusion across Europe
Ekstedt, J., Ounanian, K., Sørensen, J. & Jacobsen, R. B., 17 Sept 2025, Handbook of Inclusive Methodologies: How methods and methodologies contribute to equitable coastal transition through empowerment and inclusivity. Gustavsson, M., Solnør, S. & Rønningen, K. (eds.). Zenodo, p. 52-56 5 p.Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Downloads (Pure) -
Rise of the Rhizome: Conceptualizing how coastal communities enact change via transition mechanisms
Ounanian, K., Spiering, S., Jacobsen, R. B., Sørensen, J., Ekstedt, J., Gustavsson, M., Bjørkan, M., Flannery, W. & Miller, A., 21 Nov 2025, SSRN: Social Science Research Network, 24 p.Research output: Working paper/Preprint › Preprint
Prizes
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2020 Best Article in the Journal of Urban Affairs Award
Sørensen, J. (Recipient), 7 May 2022
Prize: Research, education and innovation prizes
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University of North Carolina - Charlotte - Bonnie E Cone distinguised professorship in Community Engagement
Sørensen, J. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Research, education and innovation prizes
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American Association of State Colleges and Universities
Sørensen, J. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Conference prizes
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Campus award for excellence in public engagement
Sørensen, J. (Recipient), 2003
Prize: Research, education and innovation prizes
Activities
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Transition Mechanisms: conceptualizing how coastal communities enact change
Ounanian, K. (Lecturer), Jacobsen, R. B. (Lecturer), Sørensen, J. (Lecturer) & Ekstedt, J. (Lecturer)
26 Jun 2025Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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Voices of transitioning coastal communities told through photos
Ekstedt, J. (Lecturer), Sørensen, J. (Lecturer), Jacobsen, R. B. (Lecturer) & Ounanian, K. (Lecturer)
24 Jun 2025Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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Policies for affordable housing and affordability in Copenhagen
Thunberg, K. B. (Lecturer), Sørensen, M. T. (Lecturer) & Sørensen, J. (Lecturer)
6 Mar 2025Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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The Danish Planning Act's participation system – is it fit for purpose?
Nielsen, T. L. (Lecturer), Sørensen, J. (Lecturer), Sørensen, M. T. (Lecturer) & Thunberg, K. B. (Lecturer)
8 Sept 2023Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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PLAN Junior Researchers Network (External organisation)
Prall, M. C. (Chairperson), Bang, A. (Chairperson), Markman, A. O. (Member), Jensen, A. D. B. (Member), Hjermitslev, C. B. (Member), Knudsen, C. (Member), Moreno, D. (Member), Codotto, G. (Member), Routhe, H. W. (Member), Nørgaard, L. S. (Member), Poulsen, L. K. (Member), Retegui Schiettekatte, L. A. (Member), Winther, M. (Member), Howells, M. (Member), Johannsen, R. M. (Member), Otto, S. (Member), Dyremose, S. C. S. (Member), Christiansen, S. H. (Member), Boeve, T. M. (Member), Sørensen, J. (Member), Nielsen, T. L. (Member), Sørensen, A. R. K. (Member), Romme, A. (Member), Hundahl, C. G. (Member), Boess, E. R. (Member), Ekstedt, J. (Member), Rathcke, K. (Member), Olesen, S. N. R. (Member), Davila, J. G. (Member), Askeland, K. (Member), Diaby, L. F. (Member), Madsen, M. D. (Member), Clausen, N. R. (Member), Dahl, P. P. E. (Member), Drustrup, R. (Member), Nxasana, S. E. (Member), Christensen, T. K. (Member), Havas, V. (Member), Lancz, K. (Member), Kjærgaard, K. B. (Member), Bols, K. (Member), Deeg, A. (Member), Shikhare, R. (Member), An, N. (Member), Nikolic, J. (Member), Gustavsen, M. (Member), Tiwari, S. (Member), Zin, G. (Member), Nielsen, M. R. (Member), Lagodzka, E. K. (Member), Kyndi, T. (Member) & Çakan, Ç. (Member)
2023 → …Activity: Memberships › Membership of research networks or expert groups
Press/Media
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Nyt netværk vil styrke landinspektørernes grønne profil
Sørensen, M. T., Bodum, L., Hansen, C. J., sorensen, J. & Thunberg, K. B.
18/11/2025
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Stor branchenyhed - fem firmaer finansierer ph.d.-forløb på uddannelsen
01/10/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Forskning i Land Management & Governance har mange facetter
sorensen, J., Sørensen, M. T., Christensen, F. K., Jensen, B. H., Christensen, Å., Paasch, J. M. & Madsen, M. D.
13/06/2023
3 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Derfor føler borgere sig overhørt, når de protesterer
Sørensen, M. T., sorensen, J. & Hansen, C. J.
12/12/2021
5 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media