Work with thought leaders and academic experts from University of Maryland, College Park

Jesse Saginor, PhD, AICP

Associate Professor at University of Maryland
Experience

University of Maryland

Associate Professor / August, 2023Present

Research Expertise
Affordable housing
economic development
environmental contamination
proptech
real estate
About
Dr. Jesse Saginor is a renowned urban planner with over 15 years of experience in the field. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Affairs from Cleveland State University and is a certified member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Dr. Saginor's expertise lies in sustainable development, smart growth, and transportation planning. Currently, he serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, where he teaches courses on urban planning, environmental policy, and community development. In addition to his academic role, Dr. Saginor is also an active consultant for various government agencies and private organizations, providing expert guidance on urban planning projects. Dr. Saginor's research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and he has presented at conferences both nationally and internationally. His work has been recognized by the American Planning Association, and he has received awards for his contributions to the field of urban planning. With his extensive education and experience, Dr. Saginor is a sought-after expert in the field of urban planning. He is passionate about creating sustainable and livable communities and continues to make significant contributions to the field through his research, teaching, and consulting work.

See Full Profile

Madlen Simon

Hyattsville, Maryland, United States of America
Professor of Architecture with expertise in design thinking for innovation and entrepreneurship, collaborating in diverse teams, architecture and neuroscience.
Experience

University of Maryland

Professor / March, 2019Present

Associate Professor / March, 2007March, 2019

Visiting Associate Professor / July, 2006March, 2007

Kansas State University

Assistant/Associate Professor / August, 1992August, 2007

Temple University

Adjunct Associate Professor / August, 1991June, 1992

About
Madlen Simon AIA is an experienced architect, researcher, educator, and scholar in the area of design - design thinking, design education, design of buildings, and the application of design to issues such as sustainability and community health. Professor Simon graduated from Princeton University with Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture. Professor Simon began her academic career in 1991, after 14 years practicing architecture in two world-renowned architecture firms, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Edward Larrabee Barnes Associates, as well as leading her own firm, Simon Design. Simon's broad experience in design practice ranges in scale from corporate campus master planning to product design, with a particular focus on residential architecture. At the University of Maryland, she is Professor in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Professor Simon’s research and teaching centers on design thinking, the iterative process of integrating human experience into problem solving and finding innovative approaches to support how people use and interact with their environment. She has led dozens of community-based master planning and design projects funded by communities and non-profit organizations, and undertaken with graduate students and faculty colleagues, bridge between teaching, research, and practice, including “A New Vision for Midtown” for the College Park City-University Partnership and “Glen Echo Park Master Plan” for the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. She was co-Principal Investigator on WaterShed, the University of Maryland's first prize-winning entry into the Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon 2011. In 2015, Simon established ARCH601 *Topical Studio: Bridging the Gap*, a Global Classrooms Initiative course in collaboration with Al-Nahrain University in Baghdad, which was awarded *Architect Magazine’s* Studio Prize in 2019. Her recent research, in collaboration with Assistant Professor Ming Hu, combines an immersive virtual environment (VR) and electroencephalogram (EEG) as a promising tool to evaluate alternative options during the early design stage of a project. This work is funded by an AIA Upjohn Research Initiative Grant.

See Full Profile

Elizabeth Groff

Professor, Criminal Justice, Temple University
Education

University of Maryland, College Park

PhD, Geography / 2006

College Park, Maryland, United States of America

University of Maryland, College Park

MA, Criminology and Criminal Justice / 2005

College Park, Maryland, United States of America

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

MA, Geography / 1994

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

BS, Geography / 1992

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
Research Expertise
crime and place
crime prevention
policing
agent-based modeling
Law
And 14 more
About
Elizabeth Groff is a professor of Geography and Criminology at Temple University. She holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Maryland, College Park (2006), and MA degrees in both Geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1994) and Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland, College Park (2005). Her expertise combines detailed analysis of physical landscapes, geographical research, geographic information systems analysis, and popular culture. Her research interests include urban security and crime mapping, the social and economic aspects of urban development, the socio-political dynamics of aging and changing metropolitan regions, and the intersections of race, gender, and place. She has published numerous articles and has presented at various conferences throughout the country.

See Full Profile

Magdalena Masello, DVM, PhD

North Carolina
Veterinarian | PhD | Data Scientist
Experience

Dairy Health and Management Services (DHMS)

Research Data Scientist / November, 2023Present

• Focus: use data to surface insights and patterns that can assist producers in making informed decisions that prioritize sustainable practices. Create and deliver engaging reports and presentations to clients and senior leadership.

National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA),

Researcher / March, 2023April, 2024

• Design and execute clinical studies focused on animal health and productivity. • Analyze data using SAS, R, or Python. • Write scientific articles, protocols, grant proposals, SOPs, and other technical documentation.

Zoetis

Scientist / September, 2021February, 2023

• Lead, execute, and monitor multidisciplinary projects aimed at developing and validating cutting-edge biotechnologies that improve animal health, welfare, and productivity. • Write scientific protocols and white papers. • Design and lead clinical studies to test the quality and safety of biodevice prototypes before going to market in accordance with GMP. • Conduct validation and testing for design changes (ECRs) of components, device sub-systems, or full bio-mechanical devices, both in-house and at commercial production test sites.

University of Maryland

Postdoctoral Research Associate / January, 2021September, 2021

• Provide guidance to graduate students on how to improve their scientific writing skills and effectively execute experiments. • Write and edit scientific articles and book chapters to ensure their accuracy and clarity. • Identification of factors leading to immune dysfunction and chronic inflammation in peripartum dairy cows. • Investigate the mechanisms underlying bovine immune responses against pathogens.

Cornell University

Teaching Assistant / May, 2016August, 2020

Delivered lectures and hands-on labs on the basics of bovine and equine biology, management, and care.

Research Expertise
Animal welfare & productivity
Biodevices
Livestock Intelligence
Animal Science and Zoology
Data Science
And 2 more
About
Over the past decade, I have gained extensive expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing while working across a range of academic, pharmaceutical, and research institutions—both in the United States and Uruguay. Throughout my career, I have worked with multiple multidisciplinary teams, which has significantly enhanced my ability to conduct research in complex environments while encouraging teamwork to develop cutting-edge biotechnologies.

See Full Profile

Morgan Edwards

Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin--Madison and Director of the Climate Action Lab
Experience

University of Wisconsin--Madison

Assistant Professor / August, 2020Present

University of Maryland

President's Postdoctoral Fellow / July, 2018June, 2020

Research Expertise
Climate Policy
Energy Systems
Industrial Ecology
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
And 12 more
About
Morgan Edwards is an Assistant Professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin--Madison and affiliated faculty with the Nelson Institute Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment, Energy Analysis and Policy Program, Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies, Institute for Research on Poverty, and Data Science Institute. Her research focuses on modeling the role of technology in addressing the threat of climate change and assessing policies to accelerate equitable energy transitions. Her current projects include modeling the role of climate-tech in meeting net zero targets, evaluating the equity impacts of building electrification policies, and assessing pathways to transition natural gas infrastructure. She holds a PhD in Data, Systems, and Society from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a SM in Technology and Policy from MIT, and a BS in Environmental Science and Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to coming to Madison, she was a President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland.

See Full Profile

Shawn Tsai, PhD

Ph.D. in Food Science and Food microbiology
Education

University of Maryland, College Park

Ph.D., Nutrition and Food Science / June, 2023

College Park, Maryland, United States of America

National Taiwan University

MS, Institute of Food Science and Technology / August, 2018

Taipei

National Taiwan University

BS, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture / August, 2013

Taipei
Research Expertise
Food Science
Molecular Biology
Biotechnology
Genetics
Biochemistry
And 3 more
About
Dr. Shawn Tsai is a dedicated and passionate scientist with a strong background in nutrition and food science. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture from National Taiwan University in 2013 and his Master of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from the same university in 2018. In 2023, he completed his Ph.D. in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. During his graduate studies, Dr. Tsai conducted research on the impact of diet on chronic diseases, with a focus on the role of phytochemicals in preventing and treating obesity and diabetes. His work has been published in several reputable journals and has been presented at various conferences. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Tsai joined the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a postdoctoral researcher. In this role, he continues his research on nutrition and chronic diseases, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between gut microbiome and health outcomes. Dr. Tsai is a dedicated researcher and is committed to using his expertise and skills to improve public health. He is also a strong advocate for promoting science-based nutrition education and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and exploring new cuisines.

See Full Profile

Shonna Waters

Arlington, VA
CEO + Cofounder, Professor, Work Psychologist
Education

University of Minnesota

Ph.D., Industrial-Organizational Psychology / July, 2007

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America

University of Maryland, College Park

B.A., Psyychology / December, 2002

College Park, Maryland, United States of America

Georgetown University

Certificate in Leadership Coaching / May, 2015

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States of America
Research Expertise
applying scientific insights to solve business challenges
History and Philosophy of Science
Psychiatry and Mental health
Pharmacology
Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
And 6 more
About
Shonna is the CEO + Coufounder of Fractional Insights, a expert advisory and research firm and is a part-time professor at Georgetown University. An award-winning organizational psychologist and executive, Shonna is a recognized thought leader in HR, psychology, and business. With a background in consulting and executive leadership roles, Shonna has advised organizations on people strategy and transformation across various sectors. At BetterUp, she stood up and led teams in behavioral science, strategic partnerships and alliances, and executive advisory, driving research-backed insights to enhance organizational performance. She received her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology and Statistics from the University of Minnesota. She is the author of two award-winning books -- The Practical Guide to HR Analytics and The Coaching Shift: How A Coaching Mindset and Skills Can Change You,Your Interactions, and the World Around You. She has published peer-reviewed journal articles, handbook chapters, magazine and blog articles, as well as over 60 technical reports. Her insights have been featured in prestigious publications like the Handbook on the Practice of Industrial / Organizational Psychology, Talent Management Handbook, Handbook of Employee Selection, Psychological Bulletin, Personnel Psychology, Human Performance, and International Journal of Selection and Assessment. She has also been cited in renowned media outlets such as CNBC, Fast Company, Forbes, and Axios. <br>

See Full Profile

Todd Steven Burroughs, Ph.D.

Ph.D. With Liberal Arts/History/Writing Experience
Education

University of Maryland, College Park

Ph.D, Journalism / August, 2001

College Park, Maryland, United States of America
About
Todd Steven Burroughs is a journalist, historian and popular culture geek. He believes [this](https://drumsintheglobalvillage.com/2014/01/10/asante-sana-amiri-baraka-2-of-3/). A Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, he is a lifelong student of the history of Black media. He is the author of *[Warrior Princess: A People’s Biography of Ida B. Wells ](https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Princess-Peoples-Biography-Wells/dp/1937306607/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)*and *[Marvel’s Black Panther, A Comic Book Biography, From Stan Lee to Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://www.amazon.com/Marvels-Black-Panther-Biography-Ta-Nehisi/dp/193730664X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521482094&sr=8-1&keywords=marvel%27s+black+panther+comic+book+biography),* both published by [Diasporic Africa Press.](https://dafricapress.com/) His audiobook, *[Son-Shine On Cracked Sidewalks,](http://imixwhatilike.org/2014/06/30/sonshineoncrackedsidewalks/)* is about the 2014 Newark, N.J. mayoral election. He is a co-author with Herb Boyd of the book *[Civil Rights: Yesterday and Today](http://www.amazon.com/Civil-Rights-Yesterday-Today-Herb/dp/1450810306/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297948869&sr=1-1)*, and one of four primary authors of the book *[Civil Rights Chronicle](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785349243/103-9352499-8007813?v=glance&n=283155)*, both published by Legacy Publishing/Publications International. He is the co-editor with Dr. Jared Ball, full professor at Morgan State University’s Africana Studies Department, of the book *[A Lie of Reinvention: Correcting Manning Marable’s Malcolm X](http://www.amazon.com/Lie-Reinvention-Correcting-Manning-Marables/dp/1574780492/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331818236&sr=8-1)*, published by Black Classic Press. He is a contributor to several other books, including *[Race And Resistance: African-Americans in the Twenty-First Century](http://amazon.com/gp/product/0896086526/103-9352499-8007813?v=glance&n=283155)* (South End Press), *[Putting The Movement Back Into Civil Rights Teaching](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1878554182/sr=1-1/qid=1153872722/ref=sr_1_1/103-9352499-8007813?ie=UTF8&s=books)* (Teaching for Change and PRRAC), *[The Fifties Chronicle](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1412711878/103-9352499-8007813?v=glance&n=283155)* (Legacy/Publishing/Publications International), and the *[Ethnic Media In America](http://amazon.com/gp/product/0757509185/sr=1-1/qid=1153843686/ref=sr_1_1/103-9352499-8007813?ie=UTF8&s=books)* scholarly anthology series (Kendall/Hunt). He is writing a book about *[Freedomways](http://www.blackpast.org/aah/freedomways-1961-1985)*[ magazine](http://www.blackpast.org/aah/freedomways-1961-1985) and hopes to one day write a monograph on WABC-TV’s [Gil Noble](http://blackagendareport.com/content/black-was-color-his-tv-tube-asante-sana-gil-noble-and-wabc-tv%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9C-it-is%E2%80%9D) and [his television program, ](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Gil+Noble+Like+It+IS&oq=Gil+Noble+Like+It+IS&gs_l=youtube.4..35i39l2j0.2727.5947.0.6288.20.20.0.0.0.0.113.1300.18j2.20.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.HGyAyqfAcrs)*[Like It Is](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Gil+Noble+Like+It+IS&oq=Gil+Noble+Like+It+IS&gs_l=youtube.4..35i39l2j0.2727.5947.0.6288.20.20.0.0.0.0.113.1300.18j2.20.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.HGyAyqfAcrs)*. In 2020 he just finished a full draft of *Talking Drums and Raised Fists: [Mumia Abu-Jamal,](https://owd.tcnj.edu/~kpearson/Mumia/index.htm) A Biography Of A Voice*, and published in 2022 *[The Trials of Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Biography in 25 Voices,](https://dafricapress.com/The-Trials-of-Mumia-Abu-Jamal-A-Biography-in-25-Voices-p471101280)* a collective biography of the imprisoned journalist. He has written for magazines such as *[The Source](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Source_(magazine))*, *[ColorLines](http://www.colorlines.com/)*, *Black Issues Book Review* and *[The Crisis](http://www.thecrisismagazine.com/)*, websites such as *[The Root](https://www.theroot.com/search?blogId=1635821517&q=Todd%20Steven%20Burroughs%20&timestamp=1596981569173)*, *[NewsOne.com](http://newsone.com/)*, *[Ebony](http://www.ebony.com/search/Todd+Steven+Burroughs#axzz2gVoZmfOS)*[.com](http://www.ebony.com/search/Todd+Steven+Burroughs#axzz2gVoZmfOS) and *[BlackAmericaWeb.com](http://www.blackamericaweb.com/)*, newspapers such as *[The New York Amsterdam News](http://www.amsterdamnews.org/news/default.asp)* and *The* (Newark, N.J.) *Star-Ledger*, and for wire services such as [The NNPA News Service](http://www.nnpa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=44), [Capital News Service](http://www.merrill.umd.edu/cns) (of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism) and the Knight-Ridder Wire. He began his career as a correspondent for The New Jersey edition of *[The Afro-American](http://www.afro.com/)* newspaper chain in 1985. He currently writes for *[imixwhatilike.org](https://imixwhatilike.org/),* Ball’s long-running multimedia website, and is thinking about writing longform journalism for *[Medium.com](https://medium.com/)*.

See Full Profile

James E. Coolahan. Ph.D.

Ph.D. with 52 years of experience, now teaching in JHU graduate school in digital systems engineering
Education

University of Maryland, College Park

Ph.D., Computer Science / May, 1984

College Park, Maryland, United States of America
About
Dr. James E. Coolahan Chief Technology Officer Coolahan Associates, LLC 3013 Boones Lane Ellicott City, MD 21042 jim.coolahan@comcast.net 410-440-2425 (cell) SUMMARY Dr. James E. Coolahan is the Chief Technology Officer of Coolahan Associates, LLC, having retired from full-time employment at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) in December 2012 after 40 years of service. Within Coolahan Associates, Dr. Coolahan teaches short courses on digital engineering and on modeling and simulation (M&S) in systems engineering, and provides consulting services in the U.S. defense industry. He chaired the M&S Committee of the Systems Engineering Division of the National Defense Industrial Association from 2010 through 2016, and teaches courses in digital engineering and in modeling and simulation for systems engineering in the JHU Engineering for Professionals M.S. program in Systems Engineering, for which he also serves as Outreach Manager. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic University of America, respectively, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from JHU and the University of Maryland, respectively. Dr. Coolahan has a technical background in M&S, computer simulation systems/architectures, real-time data acquisition systems, systems and software engineering, aerospace engineering, and missile system test and evaluation (T&E). He has program management experience as a project manager, program manager, and program area manager; line supervisory experience as a group supervisor and a branch supervisor; and corporate staff experience. Dr. Coolahan also served as a member of the National Research Council (NRC) Committee on Modeling and Simulation Enhancements for 21st Century Manufacturing and Acquisition in 2000-2002.

See Full Profile

More Information About University of Maryland, College Park