Chelsea Beytas

Chelsea arrived at Cleveland State’s Levin College after her academic tracts in health science and public health sparked her fascination with the extensive impacts of the built environment. She currently works as a graduate assistant preparing data sets that will be used to analyze changes in recorded arrest and crime counts from law enforcement policy reform. She looks forward to improving public health outcomes and creating vibrant and thriving neighborhoods in cities through implementing dynamic urban planning and development projects.

Adrienne Hankton

Adrienne received both Bachelor of Science of Architecture and Environmental Design (1997) and Bachelor of Architecture degree (2001) from Kent State University. She is now pursuing the Master of Urban Planning and Development degree from Cleveland State University. In the near future, her aspirations will be to prepare for her licensure exams. She hopes to combine Architecture and Planning backgrounds as she continues her endeavors at Robert P. Madison International.

Dan Kennedy

After receiving degrees in Finance and Italian from the Ohio State University, Dan moved overseas where he taught ESL and worked in community development. Dan’s passion for Historic Preservation and Sustainable Development led him back to Cleveland, where he is currently obtaining his Masters in Urban Planning and Development. Dan works for the City of Cleveland Department of Economic Development where he is a part of the Brownfield and Special Projects team.

Alexandra Malkin

Alexandra holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado and decided to trade the Rocky Mountain views for her deep roots in this rock-n-roll city. She currently does real estate research at Cleveland State and works as an economic development intern with the City of Beachwood. Upon graduating from the MUPD program, Alex plans to participate in continued development efforts in Cleveland. She is most passionate about sustainability and embracing an urban resiliency framework, and having a good laugh.

Maureen Riley

Maureen will be graduating in December of 2019 with her Masters of Urban Planning and Development with a certificate in Economic Development as well. She received her Bachelor's Degree in 2017 from Cleveland State University in Urban Studies with a minor in Environmental Studies. For the past year, Maureen has worked for Tremont West Development Corporation as the AmeriCorps VISTA Member. In her spare time, Maureen enjoys traveling, eating, and cuddling with her dog, Roxy.

Dro Sohrabian

Dro is a Graduate Assistant at the Center for Economic Development, and recently completed an internship with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Dro will graduate with his Master’s of Urban Planning and Development in May 2019 with a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. He has been the Treasurer of the Cleveland State Chapter of the American Planning Association since September 2018 and also serves as the Student Representative for the APA Cleveland Chapter. Dro seeks to provide data-driven strategies to enhance the vitality and sustainability of the City of Cleveland through improved access to public transportation, reduced reliance on automobiles, and efficient and equitable land use policy.

Peter Wallish

Prior to enrolling at Cleveland State University, Peter was the Director of Rural Community and Economic Development and Director of the Nevada Main Street Program for the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). Before joining the GOED, Peter served as the Redevelopment Manager for the City of El Paso, Texas. While there, he was responsible for redevelopment activities, which included the administration of Redevelopment and Real Estate Services, as well as the Historic Preservation Division. He also served as the Economic Development Administrator for the City of Reno, Nevada. Peter earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno.

James Burrows

James is a lifelong Clevelander from the Old Brooklyn Neighborhood and a graduate of South High in Slavic Village. He works at his alma mater, John Carroll University in the Mail Center for nearly 22 years. He got into Urban Planning because through his appreciation of his hometown and would like to improve the surrounding area much as possible, by means of working for a Community Development Corporation or on a Planning Commission.

Chris Heitmann

Chris is an urban planner and community development practitioner focused on co-creating vibrant, sustainable and equitable neighborhoods. He has researched, planned and implemented a range of place-based, collaboratively planned revitalization projects across the country, from public markets and farmers markets, to parks and civic squares, to commercial corridors and neighborhood Main Street districts. Chris is currently volunteering for the Future Heights CDC on the Cedar Lee Mini-Park in Cleveland Heights and pursuing a Masters of Urban Planning & Development degree at the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University in between schlepping his teenage daughters around town.

Matthew Keri

Matthew is a lifelong Cleveland resident who has a development background which includes time in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. He is currently employed as a development coordinator at PIRHL Affordable Housing Developers. Looking forward to graduation in December, Matthew hopes to continue to do more to help develop his home town.

Sam Malone

Sam is a Masters of Urban Planning and Development student with a certification in GIS. She is a Cleveland Native with a passion for community development and equity planning. Samira was recently selected as the 2019/2020 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship, where she will be working on strategic planning as a staff member at Midtown Cleveland, Inc.

Tom Sacharski

Tom Sacharski is a Cleveland native and works as Assistant Director of Property Management for the Coral Company. After finishing his Master of Urban Planning and Development, Tom would like to focus on Real Estate Development in a part of the country with a warmer climate.

David Swirsky

David has worked in the non-profit field, in Akron, for the past 5 years in various positions related to arts, placemaking, and community development. He is currently an intern for Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, a CDC in Akron that is focused on revitalizing the Kenmore Boulevard mixed-use district. David will likely stay in Akron for the time being because the community development field is starting to bloom and opportunities are opening around him.

Nick Zingale

Nick was born and raised in the Cleveland area and returned a few years ago after spending several years in Central Ohio and a year abroad. He has a background in accounting and currently works for the City of Cleveland in the Economic Development department. His goals are to contribute to infill development, adaptive reuse, and economic growth in Cleveland.

Jennifer Chandler

Jennifer works as a Neighborhood Development Specialist for the City of Cleveland Department of Community Development. She will graduate with her Master’s of Urban Planning and Development in May 2019, with concentrations in Housing and Neighborhood Development, Real Estate Development and Finance, and Geographic Information Systems. Jennifer has been the President of the Cleveland State Chapter of the American Planning Association for the past two years, and interned at both Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission during her graduate studies. Jennifer aspires to improve the quality of life of all Cleveland residents through equitable and sustainable neighborhood and economic development, the creation of walkable, transit-oriented communities, and the provision of safe and affordable housing.

Nate Hoover

Nate is currently working as a Research Coordinator at the commercial real estate firm Newmark Knight Frank. He will graduate in May 2019 with a Master's in Urban Planning and Development. After graduating, he would like to continue expanding his skills and work towards becoming a small scale real estate developer.

Justin Kran

Justin is currently employed as a Service Planning Intern for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. He will graduate in graduate in May 2019 from the Cleveland State Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs with a Master of Urban Planning and Development. He is currently seeking a position that will fulfill his passion to improve the quality of urban life through sustainable development and community engagement.

Johnathan Miller

Johnathan is a research analyst at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) where he is responsible for the publication of quarterly and annual research reports for Northern Ohio. Prior to JLL Johnathan was a technician for Solar Testing Laboratories, Inc., a geotechnical and environmental engineering firm where he conducted environmental site analysis. He currently holds two certifications, one with the Ohio Department of Transportation and another with the American Concrete Institute. In his free time Johnathan enjoys playing hockey and being outdoors.

Jonathan Short

Jonathan is a JD/MUPD duel degree student, attending Cleveland Marshall College of Law and the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs. He will be working for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland after graduating in May 2019. Jonathan plans to focus his work on Landlord Tenant issues and Land Use designations in northeast Ohio.

Sara Tillie

Sara received her Bachelor’s degree in Medical Anthropology and her Master’s degree in Public Health from Case Western Reserve University. She currently works for a local health department, focusing on active transportation and community planning. In the future she hopes to continue exploring the connection between chronic disease prevention and livable communities.