PEOPLE
Director
Mahbubur R. Meenar, PhD, 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, PhD
Asst. Prof., Civil & Environmental Engineering
Research Interests: water-energy nexus, pollution prevention, renewable energy technologies
Ted Howell, PhD
Lecturer, Writing Arts
Research Interests: environmental humanities, climate change fiction, community writing, the Anthropocene
Megan Bucknum
Lecturer, Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
Research Interests: food systems planning, collaborative planning, oral history
Kevin Keenan, PhD
Asso. Prof., Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
Research Interests: urban policy, hazards, vulnerability, and resilience, urban violence, planning
Melanie Stewart
Associate Dean, College of Performing Arts;
Professor, Theatre & Dance
Research Interests: creative placemaking, creation and performance of movement driven theatre, medical improvisation
Zachary Christman, PhD
Asso. Prof., Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
Research Interests: GIS, remote sensing, environmental change, population health
Jennifer Kitson, PhD
Asst. Prof., Art; and Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
Research Interests: senses and the city, sustainable urbanism, historic preservation
Jordan Howell, PhD
Asso. Prof., Management & Entrepreneurship; and Geography, Planning, & Sustainability
Research Interests: waste management, environmental policy & governance, sustainable business
Leslie Spencer, PhD
Professor, Health Promotion & Wellness Management
Research Interests: motivational Interviewing and health behavior change, student success coaching, fitness for people with IDD
Robert Whyte
Asst. Prof., Communication & Creative Arts
Research Interests: web and user eperience (UX) design, graphic design, digital media
Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students
Arianna Adan, Major - Journalism
Michelle Contarino, Major - Psychology
Santino D'Agostino, Major - Journalism
Gabrielle Davis, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Environmental & Sustainability Studies
Ben Stephens, Major - Geography, Minor - GIS
Hunter Swanson, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Minor - GIS
Devon Nealer, MS in Urban & Regional Planning
Christopher Tirri, MS in Urban & Regional Planning
Past Members / Alumni
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
Carlos Cruz-Gallo, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, GIS
Marie DiLeonardo, Major - Spanish, Subject Matter Education K-12
Samantha Dimeglio, Major - Environmental Studies, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning, GIS
Joseph Foti, Major - Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management
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
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
Kristina Wallace, Major - GIS, Minor - Community & Environmental Planning
Dylan Williams, Major - Community & Environmental Planning, Minor - GIS, Sustainable Built Environments
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 (Queen’s University Belfast, UK) | Nader Afzalan, PhD (University of Redlands) | Saleh Ahmed (University of Arizona) | Sanjana Ahmed (Delft University of Technology) | Ashraful Alam (University of Otago, New Zealand) | Leonard Bonarek (Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia) | Helen Cole, PhD (Barcelona Laboratory for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability) | Bradley Flamm, PhD (West Chester University of Pennsylvania) | Amir Hajrasouliha, PhD (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo) | John Hasse, PhD (Rowan University) | Sally Harrison (Temple University) | Megan Heckert, PhD (West Chester University of Pennsylvania) | Lynn Mandarano, PhD (Temple University) | Alfonso Morales, PhD (University of Wisconsin – Madison) | Smitha Mysore (SJB School of Architecture and Planning, Bangalore, India) | John Sorrentino, PhD (Temple University)
Past & Present Organizational Partners & Collaborators
Bullock Garden Project Inc.
Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority
Creative Glassboro
Glassboro Borough
Heart of Camden
New Kensington Community Development Corporation
The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking
