Our Team
Aditi Nair
Graduate Research Assistant / The New School
Aditi is a Community Architect and Urbanist from India. She has previously worked with Urbz, Nivasa Ngo, MESN and MHSCity lab on housing issues in urban and rural areas across India. She is passionate about Housing rights and Access in low income neighborhoods, Rental laws, Housing policy and regulations. She is currently pursuing the Design and Urban Ecologies program, to gain a nuanced understanding of shelter needs around the world. In her free time Aditi is mostly seen conversing with imaginary worlds run by all genders and aspires to be there one day.
Graduate Research Assistant / The New School
Aditi is a Community Architect and Urbanist from India. She has previously worked with Urbz, Nivasa Ngo, MESN and MHSCity lab on housing issues in urban and rural areas across India. She is passionate about Housing rights and Access in low income neighborhoods, Rental laws, Housing policy and regulations. She is currently pursuing the Design and Urban Ecologies program, to gain a nuanced understanding of shelter needs around the world. In her free time Aditi is mostly seen conversing with imaginary worlds run by all genders and aspires to be there one day.
Angel Acosta
Organizing Committee / Columbia University
Angel Acosta is pursuing a doctorate degree in Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. He studied anthropology and leadership at SUNY Plattsburgh. For the last ten years, he has worked in the field of college access, preparing underserved youth for higher education through the nonprofit College for Every Student. His academic research focuses on contemplative practices, critical pedagogy and youth leadership development. He is currently an education consultant and former Trustee for the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. He is currently researching and facilitating seminars on restorative circles and the power of centering healing in public education.
Organizing Committee / Columbia University
Angel Acosta is pursuing a doctorate degree in Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University. He studied anthropology and leadership at SUNY Plattsburgh. For the last ten years, he has worked in the field of college access, preparing underserved youth for higher education through the nonprofit College for Every Student. His academic research focuses on contemplative practices, critical pedagogy and youth leadership development. He is currently an education consultant and former Trustee for the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. He is currently researching and facilitating seminars on restorative circles and the power of centering healing in public education.
Aubrey Murdock
Organizing Committee / University of Orange
Aubrey Murdock (MS, Design & Urban Ecologies, BA, Film & Video Production) is CoDirector & Lead Designer for the University of Orange. She focuses on the intersection of art, design, media and civic education. Her work includes a short film about Serial Forced Displacement: The Domino Effect, a multi-media site-based storytelling project: Hidden Treasure of Our Orange, and researching urbanization & collaborative natural resource management practices in her hometown of Casper, Wyoming.
Organizing Committee / University of Orange
Aubrey Murdock (MS, Design & Urban Ecologies, BA, Film & Video Production) is CoDirector & Lead Designer for the University of Orange. She focuses on the intersection of art, design, media and civic education. Her work includes a short film about Serial Forced Displacement: The Domino Effect, a multi-media site-based storytelling project: Hidden Treasure of Our Orange, and researching urbanization & collaborative natural resource management practices in her hometown of Casper, Wyoming.
Dominic Moulden
Organizing Committee / OneDC
A native of East Baltimore, Dominic has extensive experience in community organizing and affordable housing development. He has been the Resource Organizer for Organizing Neighborhood Equity – ONE DC (and its predecessor Manna Community Development Corporation) since 1997. Throughout his career, Moulden has led programs designed to encourage democratic social and economic development in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest, DC. Moulden has strengthened relationships with other non-profits; brought neighborhood people into dialogue with one another and with those who represent diverse interests in the community, including developers, unions, employers, and politicians; and engaged for-profit developers to ensure their projects contain adequate community benefits. He has spoken in higher education institutions and at conferences on a variety of economic and social justice topics, including housing, workplace democracy, community development and revitalization, faith and justice, and leading change. Moulden participated in executive education through the Washington Urban League, Tufts University, Leadership Washington, and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. As a photographer, his portraits are intended to remind Black people of their beauty, against the forces of forgetfulness--ie, colonialism and racism. Moulden’s work has also been exhibited at Artspace (Washington, DC), Studio 21 Gallery (Washington, DC), MICA Place (Baltimore, MD) and was shortlisted for the Baltimore Museum of Art’s new Interactive Exhibition Gallery. He was a collaborator in Spotless, an exhibition on whitewashing and gentrification, at Hamiltonian Gallery (Washington, DC).
Organizing Committee / OneDC
A native of East Baltimore, Dominic has extensive experience in community organizing and affordable housing development. He has been the Resource Organizer for Organizing Neighborhood Equity – ONE DC (and its predecessor Manna Community Development Corporation) since 1997. Throughout his career, Moulden has led programs designed to encourage democratic social and economic development in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest, DC. Moulden has strengthened relationships with other non-profits; brought neighborhood people into dialogue with one another and with those who represent diverse interests in the community, including developers, unions, employers, and politicians; and engaged for-profit developers to ensure their projects contain adequate community benefits. He has spoken in higher education institutions and at conferences on a variety of economic and social justice topics, including housing, workplace democracy, community development and revitalization, faith and justice, and leading change. Moulden participated in executive education through the Washington Urban League, Tufts University, Leadership Washington, and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. As a photographer, his portraits are intended to remind Black people of their beauty, against the forces of forgetfulness--ie, colonialism and racism. Moulden’s work has also been exhibited at Artspace (Washington, DC), Studio 21 Gallery (Washington, DC), MICA Place (Baltimore, MD) and was shortlisted for the Baltimore Museum of Art’s new Interactive Exhibition Gallery. He was a collaborator in Spotless, an exhibition on whitewashing and gentrification, at Hamiltonian Gallery (Washington, DC).
Erika Kitzmiller
Organizing Committee / Columbia University
Erika M. Kitzmiller is a historian of race, inequality, and education whose scholarship focuses on the historical processes and current reforms that contribute to and address inequality today. Her current book project, The Roots of Educational Inequality: Philadelphia and Germantown High School (under contract, University of Pennsylvania Press), traces the history of racial and educational inequality in Philadelphia and one of the city's neighborhood high schools, Germantown High School, over the course of the 20th century from the school's founding to its ultimate closure in 2013. Her scholarship has been supported with grants from the National Science Foundation, Harvard University's Hutchins Center, the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation, and Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her dual Ph.D. in History and Education and M.P.A. at the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. from Wellesley College. She lives in Morningside Heights with her husband and young children.
Organizing Committee / Columbia University
Erika M. Kitzmiller is a historian of race, inequality, and education whose scholarship focuses on the historical processes and current reforms that contribute to and address inequality today. Her current book project, The Roots of Educational Inequality: Philadelphia and Germantown High School (under contract, University of Pennsylvania Press), traces the history of racial and educational inequality in Philadelphia and one of the city's neighborhood high schools, Germantown High School, over the course of the 20th century from the school's founding to its ultimate closure in 2013. Her scholarship has been supported with grants from the National Science Foundation, Harvard University's Hutchins Center, the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation, and Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her dual Ph.D. in History and Education and M.P.A. at the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. from Wellesley College. She lives in Morningside Heights with her husband and young children.
Gahlia Eden
Documentation Lead
Gahlia Eden is a Filmmaker and Producer with an interest in community building through storytelling. She has studied Theater since she was a child and has worked professionally in production since 2010. In 2018 Gahlia Produced her first feature film “The Subject” starring Jason Biggs, Aunjanue Ellis, and Anabelle Acosta. Gahlia recently produced a short film titled “Meadow” which explores racial passing in an era of segregation. Current projects include the 400 Years of Inequality Documentary, as well as a doc collaboration with Dircelene Torres on ancestry, cultural retention, and exploration of lineage - post immigration, war, and genocide.
Gahlia served as the Studio Manager (2016-2018) and Managing Director (2018-2019) at Theaterlab NYC, and is co-creator of comedy film collective RuffCat TV.
Documentation Lead
Gahlia Eden is a Filmmaker and Producer with an interest in community building through storytelling. She has studied Theater since she was a child and has worked professionally in production since 2010. In 2018 Gahlia Produced her first feature film “The Subject” starring Jason Biggs, Aunjanue Ellis, and Anabelle Acosta. Gahlia recently produced a short film titled “Meadow” which explores racial passing in an era of segregation. Current projects include the 400 Years of Inequality Documentary, as well as a doc collaboration with Dircelene Torres on ancestry, cultural retention, and exploration of lineage - post immigration, war, and genocide.
Gahlia served as the Studio Manager (2016-2018) and Managing Director (2018-2019) at Theaterlab NYC, and is co-creator of comedy film collective RuffCat TV.
Jacqueline Castañeda
Graduate Research Assistant / The New School
Jacqueline is an urban thinker with an academic background in Architecture and Urban Design. She developed her career between Mexico and Italy, where she worked on urban planning and design, public spaces, sustainable mobility and participatory design.
As a creative urbanist, Jacqueline's passion focuses on designing strategies and projects with an integrated approach, using both everyday tools and breakthrough technologies to develop a balanced and equitable society and preserve our environment. Jacqueline is now based in Brooklyn, NYC where she co-founded CITAD, a design collective that aims to improve the urban experience for everyone. CITAD was a 2018 Public Access Design Fellow at the Center for Urban Pedagogy.
Graduate Research Assistant / The New School
Jacqueline is an urban thinker with an academic background in Architecture and Urban Design. She developed her career between Mexico and Italy, where she worked on urban planning and design, public spaces, sustainable mobility and participatory design.
As a creative urbanist, Jacqueline's passion focuses on designing strategies and projects with an integrated approach, using both everyday tools and breakthrough technologies to develop a balanced and equitable society and preserve our environment. Jacqueline is now based in Brooklyn, NYC where she co-founded CITAD, a design collective that aims to improve the urban experience for everyone. CITAD was a 2018 Public Access Design Fellow at the Center for Urban Pedagogy.
Maya Wiley
Co-Chair / Henry Cohen Professor of Urban Policy and Management, The New School
Maya Wiley is a nationally renowned expert on racial justice and equity. She has litigated, lobbied the U.S. Congress, and developed programs to transform structural racism in the U.S. and in South Africa. Ms. Wiley is currently the Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) – the independent oversight agency for the City’s Police Department.
Prior to her roles with The New School and the CCRB, Ms. Wiley served as Counsel to the Mayor of the City of New York from 2014-2016. As Mayor Bill de Blasio’s chief legal advisor and a member of his Senior Cabinet, Wiley was placed at the helm of the Mayor’s commitment to expanding affordable broadband access across New York City, advancing civil and human rights and gender equity, and increasing the effectiveness of the City's support for Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprises.
Before her position with the de Blasio Administration, Ms. Wiley was the Founder and President of the Center for Social Inclusion. She has also worked for the Open Society Foundation in the U.S. and in South Africa, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., the American Civil Liberties Union and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Co-Chair / Henry Cohen Professor of Urban Policy and Management, The New School
Maya Wiley is a nationally renowned expert on racial justice and equity. She has litigated, lobbied the U.S. Congress, and developed programs to transform structural racism in the U.S. and in South Africa. Ms. Wiley is currently the Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) – the independent oversight agency for the City’s Police Department.
Prior to her roles with The New School and the CCRB, Ms. Wiley served as Counsel to the Mayor of the City of New York from 2014-2016. As Mayor Bill de Blasio’s chief legal advisor and a member of his Senior Cabinet, Wiley was placed at the helm of the Mayor’s commitment to expanding affordable broadband access across New York City, advancing civil and human rights and gender equity, and increasing the effectiveness of the City's support for Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprises.
Before her position with the de Blasio Administration, Ms. Wiley was the Founder and President of the Center for Social Inclusion. She has also worked for the Open Society Foundation in the U.S. and in South Africa, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., the American Civil Liberties Union and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Michael Roberson
Organizing Committee / Union Theological Seminary NYC
Michael Roberson is a public health practitioner, advocate, activist, artist, curator and leader within the LGBTQ community, as well as an Adjunct Professor at The New School University/Lang College, NYC and Union Theological Seminary NYC. He co-created the nation’s only Black Research Group, the National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Group, The Federation of Ballroom Houses, The Arbert Santana Ballroom Freedom and Free School Project, as well as the co-organizer of the House Lives Matters Ballroom Leadership Development Initiative. He is also an international art and politics consultant and a member of the international sound art collective entitled “Ultra-red”. Michael has two Master degrees from Union Theological Seminary and as such is the Senior Scholar in Residence for the Center for Race, Religion and Economic Democracy. Additionally, Michael is also a consultant with Ryan Murphy Productions and Fox Studios working with the writers and casting of new television Golden Globe nominated series “Pose" about 1980’s NYC Ballroom and Club cultures.
Organizing Committee / Union Theological Seminary NYC
Michael Roberson is a public health practitioner, advocate, activist, artist, curator and leader within the LGBTQ community, as well as an Adjunct Professor at The New School University/Lang College, NYC and Union Theological Seminary NYC. He co-created the nation’s only Black Research Group, the National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Group, The Federation of Ballroom Houses, The Arbert Santana Ballroom Freedom and Free School Project, as well as the co-organizer of the House Lives Matters Ballroom Leadership Development Initiative. He is also an international art and politics consultant and a member of the international sound art collective entitled “Ultra-red”. Michael has two Master degrees from Union Theological Seminary and as such is the Senior Scholar in Residence for the Center for Race, Religion and Economic Democracy. Additionally, Michael is also a consultant with Ryan Murphy Productions and Fox Studios working with the writers and casting of new television Golden Globe nominated series “Pose" about 1980’s NYC Ballroom and Club cultures.
Mindy Fullilove, MD, Hon. AIA
Co-Chair / Professor of Urban Policy and Health, The New School
Mindy is a board-certified psychiatrist who explores the ties between environment and mental health. For the past 30 years, Mindy has been investigating how broken connections between different sections of cities harm public health and explores ways to reconnect them. Previously, Mindy taught at Columbia University and was a lecturer at Parsons. She has published numerous articles and six books including "Urban Alchemy: Restoring Joy in America's Sorted-Out Cities," "Root Shock: How Tearing Up City Neighborhoods Hurts America and What We Can Do About It," and "House of Joshua: Meditations on Family and Place."
Co-Chair / Professor of Urban Policy and Health, The New School
Mindy is a board-certified psychiatrist who explores the ties between environment and mental health. For the past 30 years, Mindy has been investigating how broken connections between different sections of cities harm public health and explores ways to reconnect them. Previously, Mindy taught at Columbia University and was a lecturer at Parsons. She has published numerous articles and six books including "Urban Alchemy: Restoring Joy in America's Sorted-Out Cities," "Root Shock: How Tearing Up City Neighborhoods Hurts America and What We Can Do About It," and "House of Joshua: Meditations on Family and Place."
Molly Rose Kaufman
Organizing Committee / University of Orange
Molly Rose Kaufman is a journalist, community organizer and youth worker. Her writing has appeared in YES! Magazine, Kinfolk Magazine and the New York Times. She is the cofounder and director of the University of Orange, a free people's urbanism school dedicated to education for equitable cities. She was a 2016 Civic Liberal Arts Fellow at the New School and a 2017 Next City Urban Vanguard Fellow. Current projects include writing a play about the history of community organizing in Orange, NJ.
Organizing Committee / University of Orange
Molly Rose Kaufman is a journalist, community organizer and youth worker. Her writing has appeared in YES! Magazine, Kinfolk Magazine and the New York Times. She is the cofounder and director of the University of Orange, a free people's urbanism school dedicated to education for equitable cities. She was a 2016 Civic Liberal Arts Fellow at the New School and a 2017 Next City Urban Vanguard Fellow. Current projects include writing a play about the history of community organizing in Orange, NJ.
Octavia Driscoll
Organizing Committee / The New School College of Performing Arts
Octavia Driscoll is a performing arts administrator and production manager working professionally and in academics for over 10 years. After working in regional theater around the country, she is now the Director of Production Management at The New School College of Performing Arts. Her work includes finding ways to expand opportunities for students interested in the world of the performing arts, particularly in the technical fields. Octavia is studying nonprofit management and committed to building equal opportunities for success within the arts community.
Organizing Committee / The New School College of Performing Arts
Octavia Driscoll is a performing arts administrator and production manager working professionally and in academics for over 10 years. After working in regional theater around the country, she is now the Director of Production Management at The New School College of Performing Arts. Her work includes finding ways to expand opportunities for students interested in the world of the performing arts, particularly in the technical fields. Octavia is studying nonprofit management and committed to building equal opportunities for success within the arts community.
Pam Shaw (1952 - 2019)
Logo Design & Advisor
The 400 Years of Inequality National Organizing Committee mourns the loss of Pamela Shaw, 67, of 295 Webster Avenue Jersey City, NJ, who died Tuesday, September 3, 2019 from metastasized lung cancer. Pam designed several versions of our 400 Years logo, and created our first tee shirts and pins.
Pam was born on February 29, 1952, in New Hampshire, one of four children born to Ann G. Shaw and Charles L. Shaw. After studying Art at Syracuse University, Pam moved to Manhattan, NY, where she worked as a graphic designer and artist for decades. She moved to Jersey City in the 1990’s, and launched TigerPaw Shaw Designs, her graphic design business.
She was an integral member of several communities. A passionate animal rights advocate, she volunteered with the Companion Animal Trust of Jersey City. She was known for always helping lost or hurt animals, and was particularly skilled at rehoming cats. She served on the Board of Directors of the Barrow Mansion Development Corporation, and redesigned the website and marketing material for the historic, landmarked community center located on Wayne Street. Pam was an ardent proponent of the land and habitat conservation work done by the Silver Lake Land Trust in Harrisville, NH, site of her family’s summer home. She visited Silver Lake every August.
Pam is survived by siblings Kimberley Shaw Isaak and Charles Shaw III, as well as several nieces and nephews. Pam was an exceptional friend and spiritual mentor to many, her kindness, generosity, warm smile, and joie de vivre were a balm to all who knew her.
Logo Design & Advisor
The 400 Years of Inequality National Organizing Committee mourns the loss of Pamela Shaw, 67, of 295 Webster Avenue Jersey City, NJ, who died Tuesday, September 3, 2019 from metastasized lung cancer. Pam designed several versions of our 400 Years logo, and created our first tee shirts and pins.
Pam was born on February 29, 1952, in New Hampshire, one of four children born to Ann G. Shaw and Charles L. Shaw. After studying Art at Syracuse University, Pam moved to Manhattan, NY, where she worked as a graphic designer and artist for decades. She moved to Jersey City in the 1990’s, and launched TigerPaw Shaw Designs, her graphic design business.
She was an integral member of several communities. A passionate animal rights advocate, she volunteered with the Companion Animal Trust of Jersey City. She was known for always helping lost or hurt animals, and was particularly skilled at rehoming cats. She served on the Board of Directors of the Barrow Mansion Development Corporation, and redesigned the website and marketing material for the historic, landmarked community center located on Wayne Street. Pam was an ardent proponent of the land and habitat conservation work done by the Silver Lake Land Trust in Harrisville, NH, site of her family’s summer home. She visited Silver Lake every August.
Pam is survived by siblings Kimberley Shaw Isaak and Charles Shaw III, as well as several nieces and nephews. Pam was an exceptional friend and spiritual mentor to many, her kindness, generosity, warm smile, and joie de vivre were a balm to all who knew her.
Ricky Tucker
Organizing Committee / The New School Marketing & Communications
Ricky Tucker is a writer, educator and art critic. His work explores the imprints of art and memory on narrative, and the absurdity of most fleeting moments. He is the former editor of 12th Street journal and has contributed to The Paris Review, The Tenth Magazine, Dr. Doctor and Lambda Literary, and has performed readings for The Moth Grand SLAM, Sister Spit, and Born: Free, among others. He received his BA from The New School, and a Writer/Teacher MA at Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2017, he was selected as a LAMBDA Literary Emerging Writer Fellow for creative nonfiction.
Organizing Committee / The New School Marketing & Communications
Ricky Tucker is a writer, educator and art critic. His work explores the imprints of art and memory on narrative, and the absurdity of most fleeting moments. He is the former editor of 12th Street journal and has contributed to The Paris Review, The Tenth Magazine, Dr. Doctor and Lambda Literary, and has performed readings for The Moth Grand SLAM, Sister Spit, and Born: Free, among others. He received his BA from The New School, and a Writer/Teacher MA at Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2017, he was selected as a LAMBDA Literary Emerging Writer Fellow for creative nonfiction.
Robert Fullilove, Ed.D.
Co-Chair / Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University
Robert E. Fullilove, EdD is the Associate Dean for Community and Minority Affairs, Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences and the co-director of the Cities Research Group. Dr Fullilove has authored numerous articles in the area of minority health. From 1995 to 2001, he served on the Board of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) at the National Academy of Sciences. Since 1996, he has served on five IOM study committees that have produced reports on a variety of topics including substance abuse and addiction, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and damp indoor spaces and health.
Since 2010, he has been teaching public health courses in six New York State prisons that are part of the Bard College Prison Initiative (BPI) and serves as the Senior Advisor to BPI's public health program. Dr Fullilove serves on the editorial boards of the journals Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and the Journal of Public Health Policy.
Co-Chair / Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University
Robert E. Fullilove, EdD is the Associate Dean for Community and Minority Affairs, Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences and the co-director of the Cities Research Group. Dr Fullilove has authored numerous articles in the area of minority health. From 1995 to 2001, he served on the Board of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) at the National Academy of Sciences. Since 1996, he has served on five IOM study committees that have produced reports on a variety of topics including substance abuse and addiction, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and damp indoor spaces and health.
Since 2010, he has been teaching public health courses in six New York State prisons that are part of the Bard College Prison Initiative (BPI) and serves as the Senior Advisor to BPI's public health program. Dr Fullilove serves on the editorial boards of the journals Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and the Journal of Public Health Policy.
Robert Sember
Co-Chair / Asst. Prof of Interdisciplinary Arts, The New School
Robert Sember researches and teaches on the intersections between struggles for social justice and art practice.
When he moved to New York City he entered an interdisciplinary graduate program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and became active in social movements focused on the AIDS crisis and related concerns with sexual, gender, racial and class inequalities. For over 10 years he worked and taught at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, studying and working on HIV/AIDS related projects across the United States and other parts of the world, including South Africa.
He is also a founding board member of the Ali Forney Center, an organization focused on the needs of homeless queer youth in New York City as well as a member of the international art collective, Ultra-red, which was founded in Los Angeles by AIDS activists who were also sound artists and musicians.
Co-Chair / Asst. Prof of Interdisciplinary Arts, The New School
Robert Sember researches and teaches on the intersections between struggles for social justice and art practice.
When he moved to New York City he entered an interdisciplinary graduate program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and became active in social movements focused on the AIDS crisis and related concerns with sexual, gender, racial and class inequalities. For over 10 years he worked and taught at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, studying and working on HIV/AIDS related projects across the United States and other parts of the world, including South Africa.
He is also a founding board member of the Ali Forney Center, an organization focused on the needs of homeless queer youth in New York City as well as a member of the international art collective, Ultra-red, which was founded in Los Angeles by AIDS activists who were also sound artists and musicians.
Róisín Davis
Voices of a People’s History Foundation
Róisín Davis is an associate producer with Voices of a People's History of the United States, a nonprofit organization cofounded by historian Howard Zinn.
Voices of a People’s History Foundation
Róisín Davis is an associate producer with Voices of a People's History of the United States, a nonprofit organization cofounded by historian Howard Zinn.
Ron Shiffman
Organizing Committee / Pratt Institute
Ron Shiffman is Professor Emeritus at the Pratt Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute and a former member of the NYC Planning Commission. Ron is an architect / urban planner who confounded and previously directed the Pratt Center for Community Development for forty years, providing architectural and planning assistance to community development organizations throughout New York City.. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute.
Organizing Committee / Pratt Institute
Ron Shiffman is Professor Emeritus at the Pratt Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute and a former member of the NYC Planning Commission. Ron is an architect / urban planner who confounded and previously directed the Pratt Center for Community Development for forty years, providing architectural and planning assistance to community development organizations throughout New York City.. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute.
Tim Nottage
Project Manager
Tim is an urbanist and designer with a research focus on environmental justice, public space, and storytelling. His background as a scenic designer, theatre artist, and fabricator informs his interest in material, spatial, and ecological relationships, deep time, and embodied forms of knowledge. Tim earned a MA in Theories of Urban Practice with Department Honors from Parsons, The New School and a BA in Theatre from UC San Diego, where he received the Ron Ranson Award. Tim is originally from Oakland, California.
Project Manager
Tim is an urbanist and designer with a research focus on environmental justice, public space, and storytelling. His background as a scenic designer, theatre artist, and fabricator informs his interest in material, spatial, and ecological relationships, deep time, and embodied forms of knowledge. Tim earned a MA in Theories of Urban Practice with Department Honors from Parsons, The New School and a BA in Theatre from UC San Diego, where he received the Ron Ranson Award. Tim is originally from Oakland, California.
William Morrish
Co-Chair / Professor of Urban Ecologies, The New School
William Morrish wants his students to build a better city of the future. But in order to do so, they need to closely examine every interior and exterior component of the urban landscape.
“By slowly working your way backward like this, you learn that what you make is part of a chain in the supply system,” says Morrish. “You start focusing on where the object belongs, rather than just saying, 'Let’s design a room and put some furniture in it!'” He adds, “To study how we live and work is a basis for understanding how we’re going to make our environment more sustainable. It’s really critical. You can’t design a new city without it. You need to understand that whatever you design has a relationship to multiple issues.”
Co-Chair / Professor of Urban Ecologies, The New School
William Morrish wants his students to build a better city of the future. But in order to do so, they need to closely examine every interior and exterior component of the urban landscape.
“By slowly working your way backward like this, you learn that what you make is part of a chain in the supply system,” says Morrish. “You start focusing on where the object belongs, rather than just saying, 'Let’s design a room and put some furniture in it!'” He adds, “To study how we live and work is a basis for understanding how we’re going to make our environment more sustainable. It’s really critical. You can’t design a new city without it. You need to understand that whatever you design has a relationship to multiple issues.”