Malini is associate professor in Resilient and Regenerative Design, associate dean for Research, Creative Scholarship and Engagement, College of Design, and director of the Master of Science in Research Practices program in the School of Architecture, College of Design at the University of Minnesota. A licensed architect in the state of Minnesota, she is a 2018 recipient of the Young Architect Award from the American Institute of Architects.
Malini also received the 2018 Outstanding Educator Award from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at North Dakota State University (NDSU).
She is the project lead of efargo, a partnership between the City of Fargo, North Dakota State University and two Fargo-based utility companies that is seeking innovative ways to reduce citywide energy use. Under her direction, the partnership developed interactive games to teach people about carbon emissions and help them reduce energy use in the real world – work that started with Malini’s Bush Fellowship in 2014. The project has won numerous awards, including the 2022 R+D Award from Architect Magazine. The City of Fargo also won national recognition from the Georgetown University Energy Prize in 2017.
Malini has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mumbai, a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in Design from Carnegie Mellon University.
OTHER SERVICE
- American Institute of Architects, Minnesota and Minneapolis Chapters
- Public Art St Paul