Luana

Forward-thinking urban planner with more than 6 years of multi-faceted academic and working experience. Solid educational background in Urban Studies, Town Planning and architecture. Results-oriented and eager to make improvements for the community, by increasing economic growth and improving people’s quality of life. Proven enthusiasm for achieving goals and working in team by sharing experiences and knowledge while learning from superiors. Significant international exposure leading to high level of acquaintance in cross-culture and interdisciplinary approaches.

Availability: 10 days

Willing to travel: 30 miles

Experience: I recently got my International Ph.D. in "Urban Regeneration and Economic Development", that included an experience as visiting student at the Northeastern University of Boston (MA, USA) in 2015, when I attended classes and lectures within the Department of Economics and School of Public Affairs. My Ph.D. thesis was titled “Creative and Cultural Industries within Port Environments: a Smart Specialization Strategy for Southern Italy”. The main interest was to understand how to sustainably spur Local Economic Development through Urban regeneration initiatives.
I am an Experienced researcher with a Marie Skł;odowska-Curie fellowship, completing a program called MAPS-LED, “Multidisciplinary Approach to Plan Smart Specialization Strategies for Local Economic Development”, funded by the European Union’s HORIZON 2020 program for Research and Innovation. I have been involved in this project since May 2015, being a visiting research scholar in Boston at the Northeastern University (MA, USA) and a Faculty Adjunct at the School of Public Affairs at the San Diego State University (CA, USA). Accordingly, I presented the findings of the research at a technical audience at the Northeastern University in Boston (MA, USA) in two meetings, held in August 2015 and June 2016, in Rome at the University La Sapienza in December 2016, at the San Diego State University (CA, USA) in June 2017 and at the University of Salford, Manchester in September 2017.
I have a background of Architect, with a Master’s Degree in Architecture taken at the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria (Italy) with a score of 110/110 with honors.
My thesis was titled "Sustainable Scenarios for a new masterplan of the port of Rotterdam". It regarded the process of transformation of the city of Rotterdam, that improved the living conditions of its inhabitants.
Being part of the academic community, but also an active member of an NGO, that deals with non-formal education for spurring the necessary actions aiming at the social and economic development, especially within the poorest, rural and suburban contexts, locally and internationally, where my role is that of mentor of the European Voluntary Service, helped me a lot in reaching this broad picture.

These are my ambitions and this is my statement. “Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” Chinese Proverb