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2024 PhD in Planning, Governance, and Globalization (Transportation Planning)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

Advisor: Dr. Ralph Buehler 

Dissertation: Essays in Transportation and Electoral Politics 

Relevant Coursework: • Urban Economics • Transit Network Planning • Research Methods • Power and Policy in the US • Knowledge, Theory, and Planning • Qualitative Research • Computer Applications in Planning (GIS) • Transportation Systems Planning •  Advanced Quantitative Methods in Urban Planning • Policy Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

2016 Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Transportation)

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)

Advisor: Dr. Vikash Gayah

Thesis: Evaluating the Implementation of Real-Time Transit Information through an Examination of Information Supply and Demand

Relevant Coursework: • Public Transportation Systems • Transportation Policy, Funding, and Finance • GIS and Social Science • ŸHuman Factors in Transportation • Analysis of Transportation Demand • Traffic Flow Theory

2011 Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)/ Bachelor of Business (Management)

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

2018                    Policy Process (3-credit graduate class); American University

2010                    International Summer Academy (Global Business and Management); IÉSEG International School of Management 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Arlington and Blacksburg, VA

Adjunct Instructor (Aug 2024 - Present)

• Taught the graduate class UAP 5494 - Advanced Quantitative Techniques for Urban Research (Syllabus)

• Re-designed class syllabus including readings/resources and assignments

• Taught class of 9 students (mix of Northern Virginia and Blacksburg students and a mix of master’s and PhD students)

• Developed all lecture materials (including presentations, labs, and in-class exercises using R) and led weekly 3-hour lecture 

Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Arlington, VA

Senior Program Manager, Transit Data and Analysis (Mar 2021 - Present)

• "Tell the story of transit" through the development of a program that involves the collection, evaluation, and communication of Northern Virginia transit data

• Completed a variety of internal projects including an assessment of how regional transit changed during the pandemic and the development of an external transit data dashboard

• Led the planning and development of the Envision Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit project including stakeholder coordination and managing consultants

• Managed consultants in a $1m+ portfolio of projects including transit planning, data collection, and traffic analysis with projects ranging from $50-560k

• Managed and mentored analysts and interns 

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC

Senior Planner, Strategic Service and Facilities Planning (Sept 2021 - Mar 2022)

• Developed schedules and budgets for a $1.1m program of projects including bus stop design guidelines, bus priority design guidelines, and roadway hazard assessment

• Performed internal studies including a cost evaluation of bus shelter maintenance and a performance review of major service changes

• Managed and directed staff and consultants in technical work including the Annual Performance Line Report 

• Coordinated with regional jurisdictional partners on transit projects, studies, and plans

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Alexandria, VA

Northern Virginia Transit Programs Manager (Aug 2018 - Sept 2021)

• Cultivated relationships with staff and leadership at transit agencies and regional bodies across Northern Virginia

• Provide oversight to bus and commuter rail state and federally funded projects

• Managed and administered 150+ grants involving over $245m of state and federal funds

• Provide technical assistance to transit agencies and local jurisdictions for federal and state requirements, capital and operations planning, and funding strategies

• Keep abreast of regional transit and commuter rail plans and developments 

Amtrak, Washington, DC

Lead Service Planner, Service Planning & Costing (Sept 2017 - Aug 2018)

• Group lead in the forecasting and evaluation of existing and proposed services

• Performed benefit-cost analyses for route and service changes including schedule retiming, consist adjustments, and route extensions across the country

• Managed Capital Investment Plan database and completed fleet plans for rolling stock

• Completed ad hoc analyses for CFO and other senior Amtrak management

• Created and modified models and other analytical tools for evaluating service changes 

Northeast Corridor Commission (NECC), Washington, DC

Senior Transportation Analyst (May 2016 - Sept 2017)

• Primary analyst and support for the Cost Allocation Policy (PRIIA 212), a policy responsible for allocating over $1 billion in the northeast rail corridor

• Prepared quarterly reports on northeast corridor passenger train operations including on-time performance and delay trends and analysis

• Facilitated extensive inter-agency coordination and communication with federal and state government rail agencies, transit agencies, and Amtrak

• Developed and updated tools and methods used to study train operations and performance resulting in significant time savings and expanded capabilities 

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), State College, PA

Graduate Teaching Assistant (TA) (Aug 2014 - May 2016)

• TA for CE 423: Traffic Operations and CE 421W: Transportation Design

• Taught and managed weekly labs

• Instructed students one-on-one during designated office hours

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), San Francisco, CA

Intern III (Transit Engineering) (May 2015 - Aug 2015)

• Collected and analyzed delay data to improve light rail performance for Muni Metro

• Completed a variety of ad hoc engineering tasks including operational analyses, safety analyses, and computer-aided drafting and design

Kittelson & Associates, Inc., Reston, VA

Transportation Analyst (Feb 2012 - July 2014)

• Performed traffic analyses and operational studies on numerous projects across the U.S. using Synchro/SimTraffic, SIDRA, Traffix, HCS+, and MS Excel 

• Analyst for a variety of transit projects including transit signal priority in Washington DC, queue jump design in Maryland, and bus network planning in Florida 

• Worked on a variety of safety projects including corridor studies, crash studies, and pedestrian safety studies 

• Used GIS to create client-ready materials (e.g. maps, figures) and complete basic spatial/network analysis 

• Assisted with project management responsibilities including budgeting, scheduling, development of scopes, and QA/QC  

• Supported research with work including model testing, QA/QC design and implementation, MS Excel modeling, and writing technical guides

Example Work

• Seven Corners Transportation Study: Existing Traffic Conditions Report – Fairfax, VA 

• Opal Gateway Transportation Impact Analysis – Fauquier, VA

• Springfield Road Alternatives Analysis - Henrico, VA

Evans & Peck (now called Advisian), Brisbane, QLD

Undergraduate Consultant (Aug 2011 - Dec 2011)

•  Research and synthesis of "Best Practice" Estimating and Scheduling methodologies

• Assisted in estimate reviews for large infrastructure projects

• Tender management for commercially sensitive construction projects

• Assisted in construction process reviews for large resources projects 

FKG Group, Brisbane, QLD

Estimating Assistant (June 2011 - Aug 2011)

Anora Foundations, Ipswich, QLD

Undergraduate Geotechnical Project Engineer (Oct 2010 - June 2011)

Urban Affairs Association; 2023 - present

American Planning Association; 2021 - present

Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning; 2020 - present

Transportation Research Board Committees

Public Transportation Planning and Development (AP025); 2020 - present

Transit Management and Performance (AP010); 2020 - present 

Social and Economic Factors of Transportation (ADD20); 2018 - 2020 

Young Professionals in Transportation; 2012 - present

Institute of Transportation Engineers; 2014 - 2016

Engineers Australia; 2007 - 2012

2024 Eno Leaders Development Conference (LDC) Fellow, Eno Center for Transportation

2024 Lillian Borrone Alumni Award, Eno Center for Transportation

2024 Richard E. Zody Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Planning, Governance, and Globalization, Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs

2024 Graduate Student Best Paper Award, Transportation Research Forum

2024 Best Student Paper Award, American Society for Public Administration, Section on Transportation Policy and Administration

2024 Joseph Frank Hunkler Memorial Fellowship, Virginia Tech

2023 Richard J Bouchard / AECOM Scholarship, American Public Transportation Foundation

awarded to an applicant dedicated to a career in public transportation planning and development

2023 Cunningham Summer Fellowship, Virginia Tech 

2022 Mass Transit 40 Under 40, Mass Transit magazine

2022 Conference Scholarship, American Planning Association, Virginia Chapter

2021 Martin Wachs Student Essay Winner and Eno Centennial Scholar, Eno Center for Transportation  

2021 Student Scholarship Award, Chesapeake and Potomac Section Institute of Transportation Engineers (CAPSITE)

2021 Graduate Student Best Paper Award, Transportation Research Forum

2020 James “Jim” Cowen Scholarship, American Public Transportation Foundation

awarded to an applicant who is pursuing studies in transit planning or development 

2015 Board Scholarship, American Public Transportation Foundation

2015 Member of ITE Collegiate Traffic Bowl Mid-Colonial District Winning Team, Institute of Transportation Engineers

2010 Student Exchange Scholarship, Queensland University of Technology