Introductory Welcome of New Faculty
The College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs (CAPPA) welcomes new faculty members. These exceptional individuals bring a wealth of knowledge, diverse experiences, and a shared commitment to advancing the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, planning, and public affairs.
"It is with great excitement that we welcome our new faculty members to CAPPA," says Dean Ming-Han Li. "This is a new chapter for continued innovation, collaboration, and a dedication to the highest standards of academic excellence."
As an Interdisciplinary college, CAPPA welcomes faculty members from diverse backgrounds who will engage in cross-department projects and further the college's reputation for innovative research and teaching.
Don Gatkze, the Interim Director of the School of Architecture, welcomes Professors Shadi Nazarian and Mahmoud Bayat and extends best wishes to those faculty promoted to full-time positions. Gatkze recognizes that the School of Architecture is on a trajectory of growth and transformation. “As the School continues to grow and evolve, future successes are dependent upon the expertise and commitment of such highly qualified teachers and scholars,” says Don Gatkze.
The collective commitment of our faculty members is the driving force behind our relentless pursuit of excellence and continued support for student growth and success.
MEET OUR NEW FACULTY MEMBERS
Shadi Nazarian, Ph.D., is the first H. Ralph Hawkins, FAIA, Chair in the School of Architecture. She is a cross-disciplinary scholar with expertise in the development and optimization of construction materials and technologies and will lead broadened initiatives in sustainable material and fabrication research for the college. Her ongoing research agenda and focus on 3D concrete printing contribute to advancements in technology and sustainable architectural practices. Her research has been published and presented nationally and internationally.
Somang Yang, Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture. With a foundation in art and design, Yang honed her skills in diverse industries, from fine arts to applied design, working as a designer and project manager for over a decade. Her expertise spans traditional and digital tools, including Adobe software and Autodesk modeling tools. As an educator, she taught interior design courses, combining practical skills with design theory. Her research delves into technology adoption, digital literacy, and sustainable product adoption. Yang is passionate about creating a student-centered, inclusive learning environment, fostering lifelong learning and human-centered design principles.
Quote: “My goal is to prepare students for innovative and purposeful careers in design.”
Mahmoud Bayat Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture. Bayat is the founder and director of the Human-centered, Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Design (HSSRD) Research Lab. His work addresses material science classes and enrollment in our growing Architecture Engineering program. Bayat is currently exploring how structures can include physical and digital adaptations to improve well-being outcomes, including new methods of bringing nature and the experience of nature into structures. His research interest is Digital Fabrication and Additive Manufacturing in Design; Cyber-Physical System; and Structural Health Monitoring.
Quote: “My vision for research at CAPPA is to design nature-based solutions and next-generation cyber-physical technologies which informs critical emerging urban agendas, such as developing net-zero carbon energy systems, resilient cities, healthy communities, smart cities and human well-being society.”
Jiseul Kim, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Public Administration. Kim’s research focuses on public financial management, fiscal policy, infrastructure policy & finance, and performance management issues. She has produced nine scholarly publications and received a grant from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Currently, she is conducting several research projects, including examining the roles of federal infrastructure policies on state and local government spending and management decisions and performance outcomes. Kim teaches graduate courses, including financial management in the public and non-profit sectors and urban economy. She is chair of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Section on Transportation Policy and Administration (STPA). She aims to collaborate with UTA faculty members and students to produce many scholarly publications and advance knowledge in the field of public affairs.
Quote: “Dr. Kim is an emerging scholar in public financial management and infrastructure policy with a promising research portfolio spanning public administration and planning. Her expertise fills a critical teaching and technical expertise void left by a retiring faculty member and we expect she will make excellent contributions to our field and community.” - David Coursey, MPA Director and Associate Professor.
Julene Paul Ph.D., Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning. Paul is engaged in several research projects that examine how people use informal transportation resources to maintain mobility. Paul plans to continue building a research agenda that addresses how transportation planning and policy can lead to more equitable social outcomes.
Quote: “Dr. Paul is an outstanding new scholar in urban transportation and adds to our already distinguished area expertise. Her exciting, novel work in transportation equity, and informal transportation sharing among under-resourced communities fits our values and college mission around improving the lives of urban residents.” - David Coursey, MPA Director and Associate Professor.
FACULTY TRANSITIONS
Amanda Aman is a Lecturer in the School of Architecture, Interim Director for the Dillion Center for Texas Architecture, and an architect in Dallas. She has experience working with various architecture and landscape urbanism firms. Her research interests focus on the interplay between natural systems and the built environment, and she has contributed to environmental analysis projects published by the Landscape Architecture Foundation. Amanda's recent work involves narrative mapping, including projects related to Alaska Native peoples and historic Black settlements, which has been recognized at national conferences and earned awards.
Quote: “My primary goal at CAPPA is to involve students in narrative mapping and foster their understanding of data relationships within mapping to address current inequities in the field.”
Joseph Portugal PhD ICMA-CM, Associate Professor of Practice, Planning and Public Affairs. Portugal is a retired city manager with almost 30 years of local government experience. He is an International City/County Management Association Credentialed City Manager (ICMA-CM) and a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia. Portugal is a Member of the ICMA Graduate Education Committee (GEC) and the Faculty Advisor for the ICMA Student Chapter at UTA.
Portugal earned a well-deserved promotion to a full-time position this fall. With many years of experience as a former city manager, Professor Portugal brings a wealth of knowledge to his courses. He will coordinate internships for MPA students and support external relationships with professional organizations like ICMA. Portugal is committed to actively promoting public administration and planning programs through public service projects with local governments and providing internship or employment opportunities for those seeking a public service career. He directed public administration and planning students to prepare a Parks and Recreation Master Park Plan for the City of River Oaks, Texas. The plan has received the Texas Parks & Recreation Certified Master Park Plan designation which will assist the community in attaining grants for park development.
Quote: “Dr. Portugal’s outstanding experience and reputation as a retired city manager in Texas greatly enhances our community outreach and enables exciting research and teaching opportunities for our faculty and students.” - David Coursey, MPA Director and Associate Professor
Sandra Espinoza, Lecturer in the School of Architecture. Sandra gained her architectural, interior, and landscape design experience while working in North Texas and the Chicagoland area. She taught in the School of Architecture from 2005 through 2009, having returned to UTA last fall.
Quote: "Like many alumni currently teaching within the school, I believe in the importance of continuing our legacy of impeccable craftsmanship. I'm committed to helping students stitch digital capabilities to analog methods, thereby augmenting the value of both."