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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

    Academic - Post-Secondary

  • 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).

    • Professional

  • 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).

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

    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, 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

    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-

Presentations Given

    Poster

  • Balachandran, S. (Author), Keyes, L.M. (Author & Presenter), Ford, S.D. (Author), UNT 2nd Annual University Research Day, Empowering Accessible Community Mobility Community based transportation challenges for older adults and persons with disabilities, UNT Division of Research, United States of America. (2024 - 2024).

Contracts, Grants, 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. (2023 - 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).