Fall 2021
This time of year good news typically comes in the form of "the semester is almost over!" We wanted to add some additional items to our list that we could celebrate. Join us in congratulating or being thankful for the support of the following items:
- Student Scott Bojanowski was awarded as a finalist in the One Drawing Challenge sponsored by Architizer.
- Students Rachel Barrett and Anuja Pai received an Urban Design Award for Dream/Unbuilt from the Greater Dallas Planning Council of Dallas. (Faculty Advisor Hyesun Jeong)
Architecture Student, Scott Bojanowski one of the Commended Entries for the Architizer's 3rd annual One Drawing Challenge. Architizer is saying that "these extraordinary drawings form a powerful reflection of our times, and prove that, while some of its greatest challenges burden the world in recent memory, the creativity of the architectural community remains undimmed."
Lenita Dunlap, Ph.D. Student and Graduate Research Assistant, will be honored with the United Nation’s Association Award this Saturday October 30, 2021. Dunlap proudly shares this special honor with the University because she created the awarded program with her “newly acquired research skills” from her Fall 2014 CAPPA courses.
Ladan Mozaffarian, Ph.D. Student of Urban Planning and Public Policy (UPPP), receives the 2021 William J. Pitstick Scholarship from the UMANT Executive Committee. Mozaffarian shares the achievement to thank Dr. Coursey for sharing the wonderful opportunity and providing support throughout the process.
Fernando Rojas Cervantes, architecture student and Fort Worth artist, wrote a first-person piece for Fort Worth Reportthat told his story and journey toward art. The story also appeared in Arlington’s Patch.com, sharing his experience moving from Mexico to the United States and his love for art.Fernando Rojas Cervantes has murals in San Antonio and Fort Worth and at the Trinity River trails.
Qian He, Ph.D. student selected and awarded a $4,000 Scholarship by the American Planning Association(APA) Foundation Scholarship. This award is given to diverse students who intend to pursue careers in planning and are enrolled in Planning Accreditation Board accredited planning programs.
Qian He is a Ph.D. Candidate in Urban Planning and Public Policy and an Instructor at the Department of Public Affairs and Planning. Her research focuses on environmental equity and community development through public transit, neighborhood safety, and public health. She is particularly interested in examining how urban planning policies shape health outcomes and the well-being of historically disadvantaged communities. Qian's dissertation explores the social determinants of mental health under the impacts of urban environments and social equity using longitudinal data from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan area with the Spatial-Econometric modeling techniques.
Summer 2021
Sally Ayuk, an Urban Planning and Public Policy student, has been accepted for the Walton Transportation Research Fellowship. Ayuk will be participating in a summer internship at the University of Texas at Austin Center for Transportation Research (CTR). The fellowship provides an opportunity for Ayuk to learn how public agencies decide on complex technological issues, which will culminate in the publication and presentation of a research paper relevant to the topic of transportation.
Angeles Margarida, a current Master of Landscape Architecture student, received the 2021 Bill Millsap Fellowship: The Art of Landscape Architecture from the Architecture and Design Foundation. The fellowship awarded Angeles with $2,500 to help facilitate a research project, an experiment, or a supplemental experience in art or creative landscape expression. The foundation chose Angeles amongst numerous and impressive applications for this year’s fellowship. Therefore, Angeles has been invited to a Recognition Breakfast with the Architecture and Design Foundation Board of Directors and the Scholarship Committee to celebrate her tremendous achievement.
Angeles Margarida (Landscape Architecture) collaborated with five DFW-based artists and The University of Texas at Arlington FabLab to create a project called “Empowering Artists Who have Experienced Homelessness Through Temporary Public Art in the City of Dallas, Texas.” Angeles’s goal sought to discover if temporary art can be used in the public landscape to empower homeless individuals. Angeles hoped that stories from artists who have experienced homelessness can alter misconceptions, influence creative solutions, and make an impact for homelessness. Margarida reported, “In the past, landscape architecture has divided and excluded communities by not including them in the process. This project, however, aims to unite, include and improve the quality of life of the homeless community in Dallas.” With the help of the FabLab, Angeles designed and built multiple large wall-like structures with the help of the FabLab, which assisted with significant woodwork and vinyl cutting. Margarida hopes to continue her work with a company that shares her values once she graduates.
Spring 2021
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has selected Amruta Sakalker as their Ecoleader Community Research Fellow! This fellowship focuses on advancing their equity and justice principles of NWF. Amruta Sakalker is a Ph.D. student in Urban Planning and Public Policy. Amruta is so excited to showcase CAPPA and UTA at this national forum of Ecoleaders. She shares her achievement with Meghna Tare (director of UTA's Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact) and Dr. Reyes-Sanchez, (Assistant Professor, Public Affairs and Planning) for their support and encouragement.
College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs student team won first place in the master plan category of the ninth annual EPA RainWorks Challenge, Chattanoogan.com reported. The UTA entry is titled "The Path Forward: Contain, Clean, and Connect." Here is the team's video about the project.
The national competition engages college students in the design of on-campus green infrastructure solutions to address stormwater pollution. First-place teams will receive a $7,000 student prize to be split among team members and a $3,000 faculty prize to support green infrastructure research and training.
Emily Brandt Public Administration and Public Policy Doctoral Student, selected as one of ten Public Administration Network (PATNet) Fellows for 2021. She is presenting a paper titled "Morally Conscious Decision Making: A Theoretical Analysis" at the upcoming Public Administration Theory Conference. The PATNet Fellowship includes:
- Fully paid conference registration.
- Membership to PA Theory Network.
- An invitation to participate in a pre-conference workshop to engage with senior scholars and craft a scholarly identity in PA Theory.
The Public Administration Theory Network's goal is to bring together people engaged in critical thinking about democracy, policy, and administration. Every year in late spring, the Network hosts a conference where scholars can discuss their work and hear from colleagues from all over the world.
Sindi Malelli announced as the winner of the CAPPA’s Student Sustainability Award for their winning design project “Greenland: Agriculture as a Driver of Independence” Sindi’s approach was innovative in its multilevel approach, making connections between Greenland’s dependence upon imported food and how responding to the increase in arable land due to a warming climate can change this dependence. A circular design that incorporates modules for hydroponic vertical farming, produce wash areas, produce storage, teaching kitchen, classroom, and local market was presented as a flexible template that could be replicated.
Ph.D. student Shadin Nimery announced as the winner of the inaugural 2021-2022 CAPPA JEDI Award. Through her ongoing research project, “WHAT ARE THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ON THE NOTION OF SMART CITY IN THE DFW METROPOLITAN AREA?” Nimery has offered a thorough analysis of a set of problematic JEDI issues, focusing upon the divide of internet access, particularly in the Dallas Metroplex of 7.5 million people.
The IUS recognizes Amruta Sakalker(UPPP Ph.D. student), Alan Klein (Director of the IUS), and Meghna Tare (Director of the Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact,UTA) for submitting their project “Upper Trinity River Water Quality Report Card” for the 2020 RCE North Texas Award. They received Honorable Mention for contributing to SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation. This award is given annually to RCEs that have made outstanding contributions to address local, sustainable development challenges in their regions.