Our Team
Dr. Thomas Hilde
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Dr. Tom Hilde teaches courses on land use planning, the built environment, GIS, and urban sustainability. His research centers on fostering sustainable and resilient urban development with a focus on the multifaceted benefits of green infrastructure such as urban forests and greenways. He has led several community-engaged class projects as co-instructor of the Capstone Planning Studio.
Professor James Kastelic
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James Kastelic joined the adjunct faculty at the Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University in 1996, and currently teaches courses in community and regional planning. He also serves as Research Fellow at the Center for Community Planning and Development, with research interests in natural resource management and land conservation. He formerly held several positions, including Deputy Director at the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, from which he retired in 2002; Senior Park Planner for Cleveland Metroparks from 2002-2013; and Program Director for the Trust for Public Land’s Ohio office from 2013-2016. Mr. Kastelic holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts degree in urban geography from Kent State University.
Pamela McClarin
Pamela McClarin is the Co-founder and Chief Volunteer Officer for the East Cleveland Concerned Citizens grassroots community-organizing organization, located in the City of East Cleveland, Ohio. In her capacity as a community organizer Pamela has served on both the East Cleveland Public School and Library Boards. To better serve the citizens of East Cleveland and to help in preserving the City’s historical significance and building structures, she returned to her studies in Urban Affairs at Levin College, Cleveland State University. Pamela graduated in 2018 with a bachelor's degree, in Urban Studies and a minor in Religious Studies. Currently a graduate student of the Planning Studio, she will graduate in Winter-2023 with a Masters, of Urban Planning and Development degree and a Specialty Certificate in Historic Preservation.
Hinal Sorathiya
Hinal Sorathiya will graduate from Cleveland State University with a Master of Urban Planning and Development degree in May 2023. She holds Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning from Nirma University, India. She also has served for 1 year as Junior Urban Planner at Development Avenue, India. Post-Graduation, Hinal hopes to work and pursue her interest in Greenspace, Urban design, placemaking, community engagement and neighborhood planning. With particular gratitude to Dr. Hilde and Mr. Kastelic for their direction and advice this semester, she would like to thank her classmates for working together and for their help throughout this project.
Lauren Williams
Lauren is graduating this spring with a Master of Arts in Environmental Studies from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs as well as a Juris Doctor from the College of Law. They hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ohio University. Their professional interests include environmental law and justice, sustainable energy policy, and urban ecology. Post-graduation and bar exam, Lauren will be working with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General in the Columbus, Ohio office. Lauren is incredibly thankful for the immense amount of hard work their classmates have put into this project. Additionally, they would like to extend their appreciation to Dr. Hilde and Mr. Kastelic for their guidance and support throughout this entire endeavor.
Phillip Studmire
Phillip Studmire is a real estate project manager, passionate about affordable housing and dedicated to the idea that all housing should facilitate access to educational opportunities, employment, transit choice, and good health equity for the underrepresented. He's a lifelong Cleveland resident and loves all Cleveland sports. His favorite pastime is spending quality time with his family and staying active. Phillip is a graduate student and will graduate this Spring with his master's in urban planning and development degree with an emphasis in real estate finance.
Mike O’Malley
Mike O’Malley is a proud graduate of Ohio University, where he studied political science. He is currently pursuing a Master of Urban Planning and Development and Juris Doctorate degree at Cleveland State University. In addition to his course work, Mr. O’Malley works as a law clerk in the Major Trial Unit of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor. Upon graduation, he hopes to use his education to better his community. Mr. O’Malley is very grateful for the guidance and support of Dr. Hilde and Mr. Kastelic efforts of his classmates in pursuit of this incredibly important project.
Kay-Lee Willard
Kay-Lee is a graduate of Ursuline College with a Bachelors of Arts in political science. She will Graduate in May 2023 with a Master of Urban Planning and Development. In her studies she focussed in Historic Preservation. Kay-Lee currently works at an educational nonprofit for low-income students in Cleveland. Kay-lee is very thankful to all of her classmates and for the professors she has had in this program. With a huge shout out to Professor Kastelic and Dr. Hilde, who were so helpful and informative in guiding us throughout this project.
Anna Mates
Anna is pursuing a master’s degree in urban planning and development from Cleveland State University and will graduate in May 2023. She also holds a Master of Architecture from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Kent State University. Anna is a Planner with the City of Shaker Heights and has interests in historic preservation, environmental planning, sustainable development, and urban design. Anna is grateful for all of her classmates and the friends she has made, and for the professors she has had throughout the program, especially Professor Kastelic and Dr. Hilde, whose leadership and guidance has been invaluable as we developed this project.
Sophia Jones
Sophia is a student in the Master of Urban Planning and Development program, graduating in May 2023. With a passion for historic preservation, community development, engagement, and finding innovative solutions to complex problems, Sophia looks forward to beginning her career in the field of urban planning. Sophia earned her Bachelor of Arts in public and nonprofit management from Baldwin Wallace University, and she currently works with a local historic preservation nonprofit. Sophia is grateful for the experience of working with such a talented team of classmates and for the guidance of Dr. Hilde and Professor Kastelic throughout this project.
​Alex Larocci
Alex Larocci is the Executive Director of the Ashtabula County Land Reutilization Corporation, where he is primarily responsible for the creation of new initiatives, project management, municipal engagement, and day-to-day operations. He will graduate Spring 2023 with a Master’s of Urban Planning and Development from Cleveland State University. He also has Bachelor of Arts in English from Case Western Reserve University. Alex would like to thank Dr. Hilde and Professor Kastelic and, most importantly, his classmates their exhaustive work ethic and support.
Fardeen Rafiq
Fardeen is currently pursuing his master’s degree full-time whilst working as a Graduate Assistant (GA) at Levin College. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a specialization in Sustainable Management from Bowling Green State University in 2018. Fardeen’s work experience mostly lies in the field of environmental project management, consulting, environmental health and safety (EHS), sustainability, and policy. After earning his graduate degree, Fardeen plans to return to work full-time in the above-mentioned line of work. He is actively looking for employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Fardeen also have a broad range of personal interests and hobbies including traveling, trying different foods, animals, automobiles, aviation, politics, international relations, and thriller and horror movies and shows, just to name a few.
