Dr. Sowmya Balachandran
Assistant Professor
University of North Texas
Department of Public Administration
(940) 565-2165
Email: Sowmya.Balachandran@unt.edu
Education
-
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2021
Major: Regional Planning
Dissertation: Low-income Homeownership for Inter-generational Mobility: The Role of Intermediaries in Risk Mitigation -
MS, CEPT University, 2005
Major: Urban and Regional Planning
Dissertation: A comparative assessment of spatial structures and land management mechanisms in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad -
BArch, Maharaja Sayajirao University, 2001
Major: Architecture
Professional Positions
- Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2022 - Present).
- Visiting Assistant Professor, Florida State University. Florida State University. (2021 - 2022).
- Graduate Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. (2016 - 2021).
- Managing Director, Alchemy Urban Systems Pvt. Ltd.. Alchemy Urban Systems Pvt. Ltd.. (2006 - 2016).
- Director, DBS Affordable Home Strategy (Currently Brick Eagle). DBS Affordable Home Strategy (Currently Brick Eagle). (2009 - 2011).
- Associate Urban Planner, Environmental Planning Collaborative. Environmental Planning Collaborative. (2005 - 2006).
- Junior Architect, Kumar Arvind Varuna Architects and Interior Designers. Kumar Arvind Varuna Architects and Interior Designers. (2001 - 2003).
Academic - Post-Secondary
Professional
Professional Memberships
- Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. (2017 - 2022).
- Urban Affairs Association. (2017 - 2022).
- American Planning Association. (2016 - 2022).
Development Activities
- 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
- PADM 2120 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning, 1 course.
- PADM 4170 - Methods in Urban Planning Research and Analysis, 2 courses.
University of North Texas
Teaching at Other Institutions
- Florida State University, URP 5749 Housing Policy and Affordable Housing Development, Spring 2022.
- Florida State University, URP 5873 Site Design and Land Use Analysis, Spring 2022.
- Florida State University, URP 5743 Neighborhood Planning, Fall 2021.
- Florida State University, URP 5316 Urban Land Use Planning, Fall 2021.
Research
Published Intellectual Contributions
- Balachandran, S. The Effects of Intermediation on Low-Income Homeownership: Learnings from the Chicago Region. Housing Policy Debate.
- Balachandran, S. Transformative Theories for Low-income and Minority Homeownership: Learning from Community Work in the Chicago Region. Planning Theory & Practice.
- Balachandran, S. Making Black Homeownership Work: Intermediary Networks in Low-income and Minority Neighborhoods of the Chicago Region. International Journal of Housing Policy. Taylor & Francis.
- 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
- 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-
Journal Article
Research Report
Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research
- Balachandran, S. (Principal), Keyes, L. (Co-Principal), "San Antonio One Call One Click Transportation Planning System," sponsored by City of San Antonio, Local, $164000 Currently Under Review. (2023 - 2024).
- Ryan, S.E. (Principal), Balachandran, S. (Co-Principal), Hong, L. (Co-Principal), Feng, Y. (Co-Principal), Keyes, L.M. (Co-Principal), "Demand Responsive Transportation Services. for Older Adults & People with Disabilities," sponsored by Jim McNatt Institute for Logistics Research, University of North Texas, $19994 Not Funded. (2023).
- 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. (2023 - 2024).
Contract
Grant - Research
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).