PhD Student Profiles
Our students come from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, yet they all share an interest in using critical and engaged research to assess the relationship between communities and the built and natural environment. We train students with both academic and non-academic aspirations to become the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers, scientists, analysts and decision-makers.
Current Student Profiles
Amanda Rees
Education:
BA Anthropology, University of Colorado Denver
MA Geography and Spatial Science, University of Colorado Denver
Research interest:
Landscape equity, transportation infrastructure, highway redevelopment design and planning
Primary advisor(s)
Peter Anthamatten/Brian Page
LinkedIn Profile
Amy DePierre
Education:
BA Bio-Psychology, University of Nebraska Lincoln
MS Environmental Science, University of Colorado Denver
Research Interests:
Food systems, community development, urban ecology, human geography, small-scale agriculture
Primary advisor
Bryan Wee
LinkedIn Profile
Bhavana Medisetti
Education:
BTech Geoinformatics, Andhra University
MTech Remote Sensing and GIS, Andhra University
Research interests:
GIS in urban studies, urban revitalization, transportation + land use
Primary advisor(s)
Benjamin Crawford/Austin Troy
LinkedIn Profile
Dani Slabaugh
Education:
BA Hampshire College
MLA, California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Research Interests:
Community land trusts, climate change resilience, grassroots community-driven design, racial equity and disaster resilience/public health
Primary advisor
Jeremy Németh
LinkedIn Profile
Darcy Kitching
Education:
BA English, University of Colorado Denver
M.Ed., Loyola University Maryland
MURP, University of Colorado Denver
Research Interests:
Youth and family transportation, community development, regional mobility, community engagement, active transportation
Primary advisor
Carrie Makarewicz
LinkedIn Profile
Emilia Oscilowicz
Education:
BA Atmospheric Environments and Sustainable Geography, University of British Columbia
BA Atmospheric Environments and Sustainable Geography, University of British Columbia
MCRP Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia
Research interests:
Green gentrification, greening equity, climate justice, community participatory planning
Primary advisor(s)
Carrie Makarewicz/Jeremy Németh
Erin Nobler
Education:
BA Business Administration, Marquette University
MBA, University of Colorado Boulder
Research Interests:
Transportation planning, mobility, equity, energy, advanced transportation technologies
Primary advisor
Manish Shirgaokar
LinkedIn Profile
Hillary Quarles
Education:
BA English, Yale University
MLA Graduate School of Design, Harvard University
Research Interests:
Urban agriculture, food systems, food justice, public spaces
Primary advisor
Gregory Simon
Jade Orr
Education:
BA Humanities and Fine Arts, Concordia University Irvine
MLA at University of Southern California
Research interest:
Equitable development, gentrification, participatory spaces, social justice
Primary advisor
Jeremy Németh
Jenna McKnight
Education:
BS Journalism, Northern Arizona University
MA Arts Journalism, Syracuse University
Research Interests:
Architecture, digital media, photography
Primary advisor
Michael Jenson
Personal Website | LinkedIn Profile
Jennifer Newcomer
Education:
BA Environmental Design, University of New Mexico
MURP, University of Colorado Denver
Research Interests:
Child-friendly environments, neighborhood evolution, community resilience, housing affordability, household choice behavior
Primary advisor
Bryan Wee
LinkedIn Profile
Jonathan Burton
Education:
BA Geology, Brigham Young University
MIS Integrated Sciences, University of Colorado Denver
Research Interests:
Climate change, disaster mitigation, glaciology, hydrology, glacial lake outburst floods
Primary advisorFrederick Chambers/Lisa Kelley
LinkedIn ProfileWebsite
Laura Granja
Education:
BArch, Federal University of Juiz de Fora
MURP, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Research interest:
Housing policy, housing affordability, gentrification resistance, low-income settlements, community planning
Primary advisor(s)
Carrie Makarewicz/Jeremy Németh
LinkedIn Profile
Liz Dzwonczyk
Education:
BS Human Geography, United States Military Academy
MS Geography, Penn State University
MS International Relations, Troy University
Master of Operational Studies, US Army Command and General Staff College
Research interests:
Climate change and health, environmental health, health geography
Primary advisor(s)
Peter Anthamatten
Mahshid Gorjian
Education:
BFA, University of Art Tehran
MFA, Virginia Tech
Research interest:
Machine learning applications, computational geometry, digital fabrication, 3D modeling/sculpting/animation
Primary advisor:
Peter Anthamatten
Molly Wagner
Education:
BS Marketing Management, Virginia Tech University
MURP, University of Colorado Denver
Research interests:
Transportation planning and policy, mobility justice, health in the built environment
Primary advisor(s)
Manish Shirgaokar
LinkedIn Profile
Nolbert Chavez
Education:
BA Management, University of Phoenix
MA Political Science, University of Colorado Denver
Research interests:
Urban politics, political advocacy, community engagement
Primary advisor(s)
Jennifer Steffel Johnson
LinkedIn Profile
Ryanne Hilbert
Education:
BE Civil Engineering, Vanderbilt University
MCP City Planning, University of Pennsylvania
Research Interests:
Transportation planning and design, youth and family mobility, equitable transportation
Primary advisor
Carrie Makarewicz
LinkedIn Profile
Saba Fatima
Education:
BArch, Jawaharlal Nehru University Architecture and Fine Arts University
MArch Jawaharlal Nehru University Architecture and Fine Arts University
MS Architecture, University of Washington
Research interests:
Social production of space, spatial politics, post-conflict urbanisms, urban cultural history
Primary advisor(s)
Jeremy Németh
LinkedIn Profile
Portfolio
Shannon Sullivan
Education:
BA, Chinese Language and Literature/Asian Studies, Connecticut College
MS, Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan
MLA, University of Michigan
Research Interests:
Environmental psychology, sensory-inclusive design, human cognition
Primary advisor
Christopher Koziol
Shelley McMullen
Education:
BS Civil Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
MPA, University of Colorado Denver
MURP, University of Colorado Denver
Research Interests:
Disaster recovery planning, climate change adaption, community resilience, international development
Primary advisor
Deserai Crow/Andrew Rumbach
LinkedIn Profile
Shirin (Zahra) Namavar
Education:
MArch (Integrated Degree), Tehran University of Art
Research Interests:
Social sustainability in urban design, public places, architecture education, Islamic Persian architecture, design process
Primary advisor
Chris Koziol
LinkedIn Profile
Sneha Tallavajjula
Education:
BArch, Jawaharlal Nehru University Architecture and Fine Arts University
MArch Architecture and Urbanism, Manchester Metropolitan University/University of Manchester
Research interests:
Inclusive urban design, participatory planning, informal urbanism
Primary advisor(s)
Jeremy Németh
LinkedIn Profile
Steve King
Education:
BS Civil Engineering, United States Air Force Academy
MA Geography, Rutgers University
MA Christian Leadership Studies, Liberty University
Research interests:
Coastal erosion, beach geomorphology, Hawaiian microclimates, volcanism
Primary advisor(s)
Frederick Chambers