Di Wu

Di Wu is a Master of Science candidate in Historic Preservation at the University of Pennsylvania. With a background in architecture and visual studies from the University of Toronto, her work explores the intersection of cultural identity, immigrant communities, and urban history. Her thesis focuses on Toronto’s Chinatown, examining how preservation policies and grassroots activism shape cultural continuity in diasporic spaces. Through fieldwork, archival research, and oral history, she documents both the material and intangible dimensions of heritage. Beyond her academic work, Di is also an independent photographer interested in visual storytelling. She aims to pursue research that bridges public history and design with community-based practice.