Adjunct Lecturer in Real Estate Development James Brian Marian began at CAPLA in 2018. With a background in commercial real estate development, he not only teaches but also strives to help students find internships and career opportunities.
Assistant Professor of Urban Planning Kristina Currans, who has a background in civil engineering, began at CAPLA in 2017. She has a wide variety of research and other interests, with a particular focus on land-use development and transportation planning.
Senior Lecturer in Architecture Damon Leverett began at CAPLA in 2019. With a background in computer science and architecture, he brings a rich mix of architectural technology and systems design experience to the college.
“Everything I do as an artist and architect comes into my teaching methodology. I try to think about problems creatively and research them through a multitude of lenses. I expect the same of my students.”
“What I love most is bringing the history of a place to the surface for people to see. When people understand the larger context of a building, site or city, they have a deeper appreciation for it.”
Forty years after his graduation from the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture’s undergraduate architecture program, Mitchell Freedman AIA ’80 B Arch remains in touch with the two faculty members who most influenced him and his work.
For Gabby Abou-Zeid, who graduated with her Bachelor's in Sustainable Build Environments in 2019, her path exploring transportation and urban planning has been anything but linear.
Eric Sterner ’15 B Arch, founding principal of Last Architects, says, "My creativity is inspired by intangible moments and patterns—all rooted in observance. I believe these uncategorical and unplanned moments create points to reflect upon and later understand."
Jenny Nguyen, a fifth-year architecture student whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam before she was born, shares her experience as a CAPLA student, with a particular focus on how heritage, family and work ethic play a role in academic excellence, even in this time of pandemic.
