TERRY SCHWARZ, FAICP |

DIRECTOR

Terry Schwarz is the director of Kent State University’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative. Her work at the CUDC includes neighborhood and campus planning, commercial and residential design guidelines, and ecological strategies for vacant land reuse. Terry launched the CUDC’s Shrinking Cities Institute in 2005 in an effort to understand and address the implications of population decline and large-scale urban vacancy in Northeast Ohio. As an outgrowth of the Shrinking Cities Institute, she established Pop Up City, a temporary use initiative for vacant and underutilized sites in Cleveland. In 2009, Terry received the Cleveland Arts Prize for Design. She teaches in the graduate design curriculum for the KSU College of Architecture and Environmental Design.

Phone: 216.357.3426 | Email: tschwarz@kent.edu

 

MAÍRA FURTADO FARIA, CAU-BR, GRP |

URBAN DESIGNER

Maíra is a Brazilian-born designer. She holds a master’s degree in Architecture from Kent State University and a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the University Center of Brasília (CEUB). Maíra has experience with a wide range of projects in Brazil, from interior design to urban planning, and has previously worked as an instructor and assistant for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Kent State. Her interests are within the investigation of natural phenomena, regenerative systems, and inclusive design.

Phone: 216.357.3437 | Email: mfaria@kent.edu

CUDC TEAM

DAWN MAYES |

DIRECTOR OF DESIGN ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INCLUSION

The CUDC created the new Design Entrepreneurship and Inclusion initiative to support the development of new design firms and to expand the diversity of design practitioners in Northeast Ohio. The Cleveland Foundation has provided generous funding for this important new initiative. Dawn has a Masters of Architecture with a Certificate in Urban Design from Kent State, and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from Florida A&M University. Dawn has worked for local architecture firms, including Robert P. Madison International and Ubiquitous Design, in addition to running her own business, Designs by Danico. She also served as Senior Program Manager of DEI for the Cleveland Guardians’ Progressive Field Renovations, advising team leadership on meeting and exceeding their goals for diversity and inclusion in large construction projects. 

Phone: 216.357.3422 | Email: dmayes@kent.edu

BEN HERRING |

MOOS COORDINATOR

Clifford Benjamin Herring coordinates the CUDC’s Making Our Own Space (MOOS) program. Ben specializes in new materials and architectures for public good. He has spoken at various universities and conferences on topics ranging from design theory, to distributive justice, the future of public space and digital craft in contemporary design. Ben was administered various honors at Ball State University where he received degrees in Architecture and Economics. He serves on the board of the Refresh Collective (formerly known as the Fresh Camp) and as a board member for the Haitian Vision Foundation. He is Principal of PAADG Studio and has worked with notable design teams including MASS Design Group, Hood Design Studio, Seventh Hill Design, Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, Local Projects, Stantec Urban Places, and LAND Studio.

Phone: 216.357.3434 | Email: cherrin7@kent.edu

 

ELIZABETH ELLIS |

SENIOR URBAN DESIGNER

Elizabeth is dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships with neighborhood organizations and partners to produce sustainable designs that are implementable. She holds master’s degrees in Architecture and Urban Design through Kent State University. Elizabeth served as the Studio Director of the Toledo Design Collective, where she expanded project and program capacity while focusing on highlighting underrepresented voices. She looks forward to building partnerships through another design center’s work and intimately understands the important role the CUDC has in designing with communities.

Phone: 216.357.3438 | Email: eellis10@kent.edu

 

DONNA ROOD |

OFFICE MANAGER

After 25 years of service to a liberal arts college, Donna began a second career in higher education at Kent State University, Trumbull Campus in 2015.  She accepted a position at the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative in 2021 and is currently employed as the Office Manager.  

Phone: 216.357.3423 | Email: drood2@kent.edu

 
 
 

RAZ RASMUSSEN | GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

CAMERON HITE | MAKING OUR OWN SPACE ASSISTANT

 

EUNICE OGUNJEMINIYI | GRADUATE ASSISTANT - DESIGN ENTREPRENEURSIP AND INCLUSION

 

CECI BARTTER | SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUTREACH

KENIL MONPARA | GRADUATE ASSISTANT - STRATEGIC PLANNING

 
 
 
 
 

CHARLES FREDERICK | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

PAUL MOSELY | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

MACI NELSON | ADJUNCT FACULTY

ERIC PEMPUS | ADJUNCT FACULTY

KSU COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN FACULTY

 

STEVE RUGARE | PROFESSOR

TARANEH MESHKANI | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

JAYME SCHWARTZBERG | ADJUNCT FACULTY

JON YODER, Ph.D. | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

BRENDAN HO | ASSISTANT PROFFESOR

ADIYANA SHARAG-ELDIN, Ph.D. | ADJUNCT FACULTY

CHRISTIAN LYNN, PLA, ASLA | ADJUNCT FACULTY