Writers

Amy Faust has graduate degrees from New York University’s urban planning program, specializing in environmental and infrastructure planning, and the Bard Center for Environmental Policy. Originally from ten acres outside the tiny town of Bunker Hill, Illinois, she is currently working as a consultant in the sprawling city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, concentrating on climate change planning. Her past work has focused on solid waste management, environmental and social impacts of infrastructure projects in Latin America, as well as extractive industries’ impacts on poverty and the environment. An avid cyclist and amateur metalsmith, in her free time Amy can generally be found exploring Dar by bike but has yet to find a new Tanzanian welding torch. Amy’s Posts

Ariana K. MacPherson graduated from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in January 2011 with a Master of Urban Planning, specializing in international urbanization and development. Her research has focused on informal settlement upgrading processes and access to affordable housing in cities of the Global South, with a special interest in South Africa. She is also interested in the use of art, design and media towards social change, particularly in the urban context. Originally from the New York City metro area, Ariana lives in Cape Town, South Africa, where she works in research and documentation for the Secretariat of Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI). Read Ariana’s Encountering Urbanization posts here. For other work, visit her personal website here.

Melissa Reese graduated from NYU, with a Master of Urban Planning, specializing in international development, in May of 2011. Her research interests include sustainable informal settlement upgrading schemes, affordable housing finance and innovative planning initiatives for rapidly growing Asian cities.  She also enjoys cooking, traveling, exploring megacities and adventures outdoors. She now lives in Singapore and works at the Centre for Sustainable Asian Cities. Melissa’s Posts and Melissa’s personal website.

Adam Eckstein is a rising second year master’s student in Urban Planning at the New York University Wagner School of Public Service. After graduating from the George Washington University, he worked in Washington DC before moving to Thailand to work with an Educational organization that placed English Programs in schools all across the country. His main interest are migration patterns to mega-cities, transportation, infrastructure and all things South-East Asia. He hopes to return to Thailand after his degree to conduct research before starting his career in Planning.

For more information you can contact us via e-mail: encounteringurbanization@gmail.com.