Ellen’s roots at Temple University run deep. In 2010, she received her B.A. in English from the University and now she is pursuing her Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning. Though she was raised in Blue Bell, PA, she lived in North Philadelphia during her undergraduate years. It was during those years that she discovered her passion for the city.
Her vision as a planner is to revitalize decaying urban neighborhoods through creative community development and to restore the quality of life for residents. In the past, she has served on the SEPTA Youth Advisory Council as the Chair of Outreach and Communications. Currently, she is the Middle School Program Coordinator for the Asian Arts Initiative where she oversees the operations of an after-school arts program in a South Philadelphia public school. Looking forward to graduating in the spring of 2013, she hopes to become a professional planner who brings renewal and hope to the lives of people through the built environment.
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham hails from Raleigh, North Carolina. She attended N.C. State University where she received her B.A. in History with a focus on Africana and Latin American histories. While there, Lindsey took a summer semester to study Mexican history and art in Morelos, Mexico, before graduating in December 2007. Prior to her arrival in Philadelphia, she worked for her alma mater’s Music Department as Concerts Coordinator. While working full-time at N.C. State, Lindsey also completed a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management to prepare her for a career in the public and nonprofit sector.
At Temple University, Lindsey’s particular interest is transportation planning, specifically non-motorized transportation. Her interest in non-motorized transportation is exemplified as she is the Coordinator for Bike Temple, Temple’s only bicycling advocacy and awareness program. She is also a student member of the APA and participates in the APAPA-Southeast Mentor Program. Lindsey is pursuing a planning degree because she is fascinated with the dynamics of transportation and envisions a future where transportation can become truly sustainable. Upon graduation in 2013, she hopes for a career in transportation planning in the public or nonprofit sector. Her passion lies in working with people and motivating them to better themselves and their surroundings. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys traveling, hula hoop, and exploring the vibrant city of Philadelphia.
Tekeste Negash
Tekeste Negash is originally from Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, and grew up in Atlantic County, NJ. As an undergraduate student at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, he majored in Political Science with minors in Spanish and Economics. While at Stockton, he interned for South Jersey Regional Development, as a researcher for planners. It was this internship that sparked his interest in the dynamic field of planning.
After graduation, he ventured to Washington, D.C., and was an education advocacy intern. He later became a community organizer in Seattle, WA, through AmeriCorps. After his volunteer year he stayed in Seattle and worked with low-income and homeless men and women, as well as East African/South East Asian at-risk youth in the city. This work ignited his interest in community and regional development; leading him to Temple’s School of Environmental Design. He is certain that this degree will provide him with the tools needed to work with energy and international development planning.
Korene E. J. Smith
Korene E. J. Smith is a proud Howard University Alumni. While there, she received her BBA in Marketing. Many factors contributed to her enrolling in Temple University’s M.S. in Community and Regional Planning program. As an undergraduate, she dedicated two of her spring breaks to assist in rebuilding New Orleans, LA. Volunteering in the city truly changed her life. As a native of Detroit, MI, Korene also witnessed the negative effects of urban sprawl and poor land-use practices. Her experiences inspired her to work in a realm where she can positively affect the development and revitalization of communities. She strongly believes that in order to succeed, we must reach back and pull forward.
Korene went on to intern with the Washington, D.C., Deputy Mayor’s Office of Planning and Economic Development and the Office of Planning. After graduation, she enrolled in the Minority Resource Institute and explored real estate and economic development. With strong interest in affordable housing, historic preservation and smart growth, Korene is excited to explore the various aspects of planning. She is a student member of the American Planning Association and is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Cristina Bass
Cristina Bass joined the Community and Regional Planning graduate program at Temple University’s Harrisburg Campus in the spring of 2012. She has a B.A. in English from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Currently, she is an advertising representative for The Patriot-News Co. in Harrisburg, PA. Prior to working in advertising, Cristina was an editorial assistant for the paper’s metro and community news sections.
Although her work experience is primarily in media, her passion lies in community redevelopment. Cristina gained interest in the Community and Regional Planning program after graduating from the Martin Luther King Leadership Institute in 2009 as part of the organization’s inaugural class. The institute has given voice to such novel entities as Harrisburg’s own “Blueprint for Prosperity,” which involves the cooperation of various anchor institutions to uplift the progress of the overall community. Throughout Cristina’s career, she has volunteered for numerous neighborhood organizations within the cities of Harrisburg and Atlanta, thus sparking a keen interest in helping people.
While in the program, Cristina plans to concentrate on social and community development on a large scale. By cultivating an extensive amount of knowledge and skills of planning practices within these areas, Cristina hopes to one day become a consultant for major cities who are in need of addressing an array of issues facing the general public.
Christina Mortensen
Christina Mortensen is a graduate (May 2012) of the Master’s in Community and Regional Planning program, having attended courses at the Harrisburg Campus. In 2009, she obtained her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Temple University and has her Bachelors in Social Work and Bachelors of Hispanic and Latino studies from Cedar Crest College. Her studies in the MSW program focused on social equity, housing, and community organizing within low-income communities. These interests continue in the Community and Regional Planning Program.
Currently Christina is licensed to practice social work in Pennsylvania and is the Director of Research & Communications with the National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter. This role gives her the opportunity to integrates core planning functions into her employment at NASW-PA by commenting on legislation surrounding housing and urban development on behalf of social workers, presents on community organizing/public participation techniques, and participates in statewide coalitions such as the Latino Housing Alliance. Christina strives to integrate professional planning and social work as she believes each profession is interconnected with a shared goal to enhance well-being and social equity.
In addition to her work with NASW-PA, Christina provides direct therapy to children and families living in public housing. This provides her with a unique perspective and deeper understanding of how large scale planning and implementation can impact low-income individuals.
All of her accomplishments have led her to becoming a Presidential Management Fellow,a prestigious two-year paid government fellowship that provides her with the opportunity to work with a variety of United States government agencies, such as the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce and Defense, Homeland Security and Housing and Urban Development. Christina is the second Presidential Management Fellow from Temple’s Community and Regional Planning program in two years — only one other planning program in the country can boast going two for two in 2011 and 2012.
Christina is a native of Harrisburg, where she continues to live and work today.
Megan is a first year graduate student in the CRP program who joined the Center for Sustainable Communities as a research assistant in spring 2011. She has been working on a variety projects involving the Wissahickon Creek Watershed and the Temple-Villanova Sustainable Stormwater Initiative.
Megan has a B.A. in architecture from Clemson University. As an intern with a non-profit environmental organization, she has done research on water and air pollution caused by Marcellus Shale drilling. Her planning interests include smart growth and water resource planning and management. In her free time Megan enjoys ultimate Frisbee, drawing, and camping.
Tom is a graduate student in the Community and Regional Planning program. He joined the CSC as a research assistant in the fall of 2011. He is working on various projects including the Temple-Villanova Sustainable Stormwater Initiative.
Tom has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Drexel University. As a professional civil engineer his experience includes site analysis and design, stormwater best management practice design, erosion and sedimentation control design and environmental and land-use permitting. Tom’s primary interests include water resource and environmental planning.
Andrew is a graduate student in Community and Regional Planning. He started at the Center for Sustainable Communities as a research assistant in Spring 2011. Andrew is primarily working on the Act 167 stormwater management plan for the Wissahickon Creek Watershed.
Andrew graduated from Temple University in 2006 with a B.A. in American History. He has experience working in the non-profit sector, primarily in healthcare and community outreach. He also has experience working in the museum and cultural arts industry. Andrew’s interests in city planning range from infrastructure management and water resources to regional development and open space conservation.
Past Research Assistants
Garrett Byma
Masters Program, Department of Community & Regional Planning
Garret Byma is currently a research assistant studying innovative transportation policies that support the development of a built environment that facilitates active living and healthier lifestyles.
Garret has a B.A. in Sociology from Calvin College. He spent the last 5 years in Chicago first working in the accounting department of a car dealership, then as customer service for the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.
Research Interests: Non-motorized transportation, emergency management
Masters Program, Department of Community & Regional Planning
Donna Fabry joined the CSC as a research assistant in Spring 2009. She is working on projects in support of the Temple-Villanova Sustainable Stormwater Initiative. She has a B.A. in Communications from Penn State.
Prior to joining the CSC, she worked at a county conservation district, where she produced reports and educational materials related to stormwater and water quality.
Research Interests: Environmental planning, conservation easements, and sustainable urban redevelopment
Masters Program, Department of Community & Regional Planning
Kyle is currently a graduate student in Community and Regional Planning at Temple University. He is also a Research Assistant for the Center for Sustainable Communities. He recently completed an internship for the Chester County Planning Commission where he worked on pedestrian oriented transportation projects.
Kyle has a degree in Geography from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. His research interests include sustainable transportation planning, GIS, urban revitalization, and sustainable
Research Interests: Sustainable transportation planning, GIS, urban revitalization, and sustainable development
Masters Program, Department of Community & Regional Planning
Chloe Maryam Maher became interested in planning and sustainability through a love of public transportation and an appreciation for the people, history, culture, and environment of the greater Philadelphia region. Chloe is currently working on a sustainability audit - collecting data to understand greenhouse gas emissions and wastewater and waste generation in Montgomery Township, PA.
Chloe has a B.A. in Music Theory from Oberlin College, and has worked for several non-profit organizations in the Philadelphia area. She wants to encouraging people to behave more sustainably through education and through providing transportation choices at the community and regional level. Chloe continues to perform as an amateur folk dance musician — www.chloemaryam.com.
Masters Program, Department of Community & Regional Planning
Georgia Price joined the CSC as a research assistant in Summer 2009. Originally from the Temple Harrisburg campus, Georgia is working on a greenhouse gas inventory for four municipalities in the Swarthmore area.
Georgia has a B.A. in Geology from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. She previously worked as an environmental project manager for a consulting firm in New York. Her interests include sustainable planning, land conservation and GIS.
Research Interests: Sustainable planning, land conservation, and GIS
Masters Program, Department of Community & Regional Planning
Sequoia is a graduate student in the CRP Department at Temple Ambler. He has a B.S. in Geography and GIS from West Chester University. He is currently fulfilling his RA position with the CSC where he is working on projects including the Temple-Villanova Sustainable Storm water Initiative.
Sequoia hopes to implement effective sustainable development practices through the utilization of permaculture, promotion of green energy sources and education of proper waste management. He believes in a necessary balance of nature and society
Research Interest: Sustainable development practices, ecological planning
