Dr. Sowmya Balachandran
University of North Texas
Public Administration
(940) 565-2165
Email:

Education

PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2021.
Major: Regional Planning
Dissertation Title: Low-income Homeownership for Inter-generational Mobility: The Role of Intermediaries in Risk Mitigation
MS, CEPT University, 2005.
Major: Urban and Regional Planning
Dissertation Title: A comparative assessment of spatial structures and land management mechanisms in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad
BArch, Maharaja Sayajirao University, 2001.
Major: Architecture

Professional Positions

Academic - Post-Secondary
Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. (August 1, 2022 – Present).
Visiting Assistant Professor, Florida State University. (August 13, 2021 – May 15, 2022).
Graduate Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. (August 15, 2016 – May 10, 2021).
Professional
Managing Director, Alchemy Urban Systems Pvt. Ltd.. (December 15, 2006 – July 30, 2016).
Director, DBS Affordable Home Strategy (Currently Brick Eagle). (August 1, 2009 – December 30, 2011).
Associate Urban Planner, Environmental Planning Collaborative. (July 15, 2005 – November 30, 2006).
Junior Architect, Kumar Arvind Varuna Architects and Interior Designers. (June 1, 2001 – March 30, 2003).

Professional Memberships

Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. (2017 – 2022).

Urban Affairs Association. (2017 – 2022).

American Planning Association. (2016 – 2022).

Development Activities Attended

Workshop,"Faculty Panel Series: Inclusive Learning Activities," DSI, CLEAR, UNT, United States of America. (November 17, 2022 – November 17, 2022).

Workshop,"R Programming in the Tidyverse," Dept. of Geography and the Environment, University of North Texas, United States of America. (November 12, 2022 – November 12, 2022).

Conference Attendance,"Asia-Pacific Housing Conference," Asian Development Bank, Philippines. (November 8, 2022 – November 9, 2022).

Workshop,"Making the Invisible Visible: Meaningful Support of Asian American Students, Faculty, and Staff," Faculty Success, UNT, United States of America. (October 25, 2022 – October 25, 2022).

Workshop,"Faculty Panel Series: Inclusive Discussions," Division of Digital Strategy and Innovation, CLEAR, UNT, United States of America. (October 20, 2022 – October 20, 2022).

Workshop,"New Faculty Luncheon," Division of Research and Innovation, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States of America. (September 22, 2022 – September 22, 2022).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

University of North Texas
PADM 2120, Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning, 1 course.
PADM 4170, Methods in Urban Planning Research and Analysis, 2 courses.

Teaching at Other Institutions

Florida State University, Housing Policy and Affordable Housing Development, URP 5749, Spring 2022.

Florida State University, Site Design and Land Use Analysis, URP 5873, Spring 2022.

Florida State University, Neighborhood Planning, URP 5743, Fall 2021.

Florida State University, Urban Land Use Planning, URP 5316, Fall 2021.

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

Journal Article
Balachandran, S., Greenlee, A. (2022). Examining Spatial Opportunity for Local Action: From Theory to Practice. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0739456X221088984
Wang, V., Balachandran, S. (2021). Inclusionary housing in the United States: dynamics of local policy and outcomes in diverse markets. Housing Studies. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02673037.2021.1929863?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab
Research Report
Wang, V., Balachandran, S. (2021). Inclusionary Housing in the United States: Prevalence, Practices, and Production in Local Jurisdictions as of 2019. https://groundedsolutions.org/tools-for-success/resource-library/inclusionary-housing-united-states?utm_source=2021+Research&utm_campaign=58b568b008-Survey+Respondents+10%2F10_COPY_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f77e29c260-58b568b008-

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Grant - Research
Kang, W. (Principal), Balachandran, S. (Co-Principal), "Fair Housing Reforms in Low Income Housing Tax Credits: An investigation of implications for neighborhoods and communities in the DFW region," Sponsored by University of North Texas Division of Research and Innovation, University of North Texas, $10000 Funded. (June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024).

Service

University Service

Committee Member, Curriculum Development and Planning Committee. (August 2022 – Present).

Attendee, Orientation, First Flight Orientation for PADM Undergraduate Session 2022. (August 2022 – Present).

Professional Service

Reviewer, Journal Article, Reviewer, Urban Policy and Planning, Denton, Texas. (December 2022 – Present).

Reviewer, Journal Article, Reviewer, Urban Policy and Planning, Denton, Texas. (December 2022 – Present).