For Vice Chair

Nader Afzalan

I am excited to have this opportunity to apply for the Vice-chair position for the Technology Division. Considering the application of technology in various sectors and divisions in planning (e.g., economic development, environmental and land-use planning, law, and etc.), technology has a crucial role in today's planning practice. Believing in this critical role, I would love to help the development and progression of the Technology Division. This is also why I have chosen urban technology as my focus area for practice and research. As a doctoral student in urban planning and as a part-time lecturer at the University of Colorado, here are some of my relevant experiences:

• Applying information technology in planning practice and research: presenting on the use of new technologies in planning practice at various national and local conferences (e.g. ACSP, STS).
• Integrating planning technology practice and research: facilitated collaborative endeavors with planning technology companies (e.g., PlaceMatters and Urban Interactive Studio) to allow young professionals to learn about real-world application of technology in urban planning.
• Collaborating on several international urban revitalization projects as a project-manager.
• Organizing two international research projects as the principal investigator.
• Working as an active member of the organizing committees for national conferences (e.g. the ESRI User Conference)
• Introducing the role of technology in urban planning on social media outlets such as Twitter.

Prior to beginning my PhD studies at the University of Colorado, I spent seven years involved in various urban planning projects that focused on socio-economic revitalization of downtown areas, redevelopment of historical towns, and ecological planning. My collaborative planning approaches in land-use and environmental planning have been presented and published in the U.S. and internationally in the Middle East and Europe. Some of my relevant experiences are also listed on my personal website: http://www.naderafzalan.com/.