PEOPLE
Director
Mahbubur R. Meenar, Ph.D., GISP
Dr. Meenar is an Assistant Professor of Planning in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability at Rowan University. He examines the connection between human and spatial dimensions (e.g., natural and built environments) in developing plans for sustainable and resilient communities, focusing on the nexus of land, water, and food. His research interests also include the use of geo-spatial and other technologies in participatory spatial planning. His work has been published in leading journals, including Journal of American Planning Association, Environmental and Planning A, Journal of Planning Literature, Landscape and Urban Planning, Local Environment,, and Environmental Management. Dr. Meenar currently teaches Environmental and Sustainability Planning, GIS, Geovisualization, and Community Planning & Site Design.
Research interests: built environment, green infrastructure, food environment, environmental health, urban regeneration & sustainable development, participatory planning, digital civic engagement, smart cities, geo-spatial planning, social equity
Affiliated Faculty
Sarah Bauer, Ph.D.
Asst. Prof., Civil & Environmental Engineering
Research Interests: water-energy nexus, pollution prevention, renewable energy technologies
Jordan Howell, Ph.D., MBA
Asso. Prof., Sustainable Business
Research Interests: waste management, environmental policy & governance, sustainable business
Dara LoBuono, Ph.D., RD
Asst. Prof., Health & Exercise Science
Research Interests: nutrition assessment, nutrition for older adults, nutrition for adults with disability, digital health
Megan Bucknum
Senior Lecturer, Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
Research Interests: food systems planning, collaborative planning, oral history
Ted Howell, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Writing Arts
Research Interests: environmental humanities, climate change fiction, community writing, the Anthropocene
Leslie Spencer, Ph.D.
Professor, Health Promotion & Wellness
Research Interests: motivational Interviewing and health behavior change, student success coaching, fitness for people with IDD
Mireille Bright, Ph.D., MPH, RDN
Lecturer, Nutrition
Research Interests: community nutrition, nutrition & minority health, health promotion
Kevin Keenan, Ph.D.
Asso. Prof. and Chair, Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
Research Interests: urban policy, hazards, vulnerability, and resilience, urban violence, planning
Zachary Christman, Ph.D.
Asso. Prof., Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
Research Interests: GIS, remote sensing, environmental change, population health
Jennifer Kitson, Ph.D.
Asso. Prof., Art
Research Interests: public art, senses and the city, sustainable urbanism, historic preservation
Melanie Stewart
Associate Dean, College of Performing Arts;
Professor, Theatre & Dance
Research Interests: creative placemaking, creation and performance of movement driven theatre, medical improvisation
Current Lab Members
Casey Bourke, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Environmental & Sustainability Studies
Alex Cervantes, Major - GIS, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning
Oludayo Ibikunle, Major - Chemical Engineering
Kenny Marte, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Minor - GIS, Sustainable Built Environments, Spanish
Jack Meyers, Major - GIS, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning
Sarah Sosa, Major - Biological Science, Minor - GIS, Environmental Science
Christopher Tirri, Graduate Student, Urban & Regional Planning
Past Members / Alumni
Arianna Adan, Major - Journalism
Noah Berkowitz, Major - GIS, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning
Matthew Bettin, Major - Environmental Studies, Minor - Biology, GIS
Taryn Brickner, Major - GIS, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning
Christopher Campbell, Major - GIS, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning, History
Michelle Contarino, Graduate Student, Psychology
Carlos Cruz-Gallo, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, GIS
Santino D'Agostino, Major - Journalism
Gabrielle Davis, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Environmental & Sustainability Studies
Marie DiLeonardo, Major - Spanish, Subject Matter Education K-12
Samantha Dimeglio, Major - Environmental Studies, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning, GIS
Lea Donaghy, Major - Psychology
Joseph Foti, Major - Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management
Shantae Henry, Major - Public Health
Robert Kearney, Major - Geography, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning, GIS
Amy Mann, Major - English
Donald Morrison, Major - GIS
Devon Moulton, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Minors - Environmental Science, Environmental & Sustainability Studies, Geography, Sustainable Built Environments
Devon Nealer, Graduate Student, Urban & Regional Planning
Brianna Pellegrino, Graduate student, Nutrition and Dietatics
Giavanni Rizzo, Major - Community and Environmental Planning, Environmental & Sustainability Studies
Cassandra Rodriguez, Major - Community & Environmental Planning
Kira Rose, Major - Civil & Environmental Engineering
Samain Sabrin, Graduate Student, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Cassie Shugart, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Geography
Herivin Simmasalam, Major - GIS, Minor - Geography
Ben Stephens, Major - Geography, Minor - GIS
Jake Vitagliano, Major - Community & Environmental Planning
Kristina Wallace, Major - GIS, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning
Dylan Williams, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Minor - GIS, Sustainable Built Environments
Hunter Swanson, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Minor - GIS
Meghan Wren, Major - Community & Environmental Planning
Past & Present Consultants
Margaret DelPlato, Economic development planner, public administration specialist | Robert Gladfelter, Landscape designer | Jason Hachadorian, Urban planner | Kyle Hearing, Urban planner | Jenna Otto, Landscape designer | Cassie Shugart, Urban planner | August Tarrier, Editor | Shane Walsh, Physical geographer | Cerulean, LLC | Econsult Solutions Inc.
Past & Present Collaborators
Deepti Adlakha, Ph.D. (North Carolina State University) | Nader Afzalan, Ph.D. (University of Redlands) | Saleh Ahmed, Ph.D. (Boise State University) | Sanjana Ahmed (Delft University of Technology) | Ashraful Alam, Ph.D. (University of Otago, New Zealand) | Ayman Ali, Ph.D. (Rowan University) | Leonard Bonarek (Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia) | Helen Cole, Ph.D. (Barcelona Laboratory for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability) | Bradley Flamm, Ph.D. (West Chester University of Pennsylvania) | Amir Hajrasouliha, Ph.D. (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo) | John Hasse, Ph.D. (Rowan University) | Sally Harrison (Temple University) | Megan Heckert, Ph.D. (West Chester University of Pennsylvania) | Dara LoBuono, Ph.D. (Rowan University) | Lynn Mandarano, Ph.D. (Temple University) | Alfonso Morales, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin – Madison) | Smitha Mysore (SJB School of Architecture and Planning, Bangalore, India) | Shahinoor Rahman, Ph.D. (New Jersey City University) | John Sorrentino, Ph.D. (Temple University) | Robert Whyte (Robert Whyte Design)
Past & Present Organizational Partners & Collaborators
Acenda Integrated Health
Bullock Garden Project Inc.
Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority
Camden Fire Works
Camden Urban Agriculture Collaborative
Creative Glassboro
Glassboro Borough
Heart of Camden
Mosaic Family Success Center
New Kensington Community Development Corporation
Parkside Business and Community in Partnership
The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking
