{"id":11277,"date":"2026-08-14T20:07:49","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T00:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/fiber\/?page_id=11277"},"modified":"2026-09-13T15:53:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T19:53:05","slug":"team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/fiber\/disasters-trust-and-social-change-lab\/team\/","title":{"rendered":"DTSC Lab_ Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

DTSC Lab \/ Team<\/p>\n\n

Our team<\/h1>\n\n

The researchers behind the lab’s work, across twelve disciplines \u2014 and the members who came before them.<\/p>\n\n

\n
Join the lab<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Home<\/a>About<\/a>Team<\/a>
Projects\u25bc<\/span><\/summary>
All projects \u2192<\/a>
<\/div>Community Resilience InitiativeCredentialing & workforce \u00b7 pilot phase<\/small><\/a><\/div><\/details>
Products\u25bc<\/span><\/summary>
ArcGIS StoryMapOur research, mapped<\/small><\/a>Disasters: DeconstructedThe lab’s podcast<\/small><\/a>Disasters Through the Looking GlassInteractive game<\/small><\/a><\/div><\/details>News<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n
\n
\"Jason<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Jason von Meding<\/h2>\n\n

Professor, Rinker School of Construction Management
Director, Shimberg Center for Housing Studies
Associate Director and Engagement Lead, Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER)
Executive Director, AmeriCorps GatorCorps Program
Chair, Board of Directors, NAAHDRI (2025)<\/p>\n\n

I have a background in architecture\/shelter\/project management but have also hold diverse research experience in disaster studies. My work with affected communities has led me to understand the power of narratives, language and framing. I can connect the group effort with the wider context of disaster studies, a truly interdisciplinary field.<\/p>\n\n

jason.vonmeding@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u2014 LAB MEMBERS<\/p>\n\n

\n
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\"Goshtasb<\/figure>\n\n

Goshtasb Shahriari Mehr<\/h3>\n\n

g.shahriarimehr@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

I hold a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida, where my dissertation used a spatially explicit agent-based model to evaluate food access interventions in Jacksonville. I also hold an M.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UF and an M.Sc. in Geographic Information Science from the University of Tehran. My research interests include geospatial analysis, discrete choice modeling, agent-based simulation, and the application of AI to urban planning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Christopher<\/figure>\n\n

Christopher Williams<\/h3>\n\n

williams.ch@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

As a hazards geography Ph.D. candidate, I study disaster risk in the context of weather, climate, and society. Something I especially appreciate about the DTSC Lab is how we encourage and elevate storytelling and community engagement while building transformative relationships. I am also excited to work with the DTSC Lab and partners on a dissertation photovoice project about urban farming and community resilience in Jacksonville, Florida.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Ava<\/figure>\n\n

Ava Bender<\/h3>\n\n

avabender@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Hi, I\u2019m Ava, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Architectural Studies. Decisions and responses about disasters are cultural, and the stories we tell matter. With a background in Anthropology and Art History, I\u2019m passionate about the roles of creativity, storytelling, and collective action in shaping our lived experiences with disasters. I\u2019m excited to collaborate with the DTSC Lab to put research into action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\"Richard<\/figure>\n\n

Richard Fagan<\/h3>\n\n

richard.fagan@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Bio to come.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Tiffany<\/figure>\n\n

Tiffany Steinke<\/h3>\n\n

tsteinke@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Hello, my name is Tiffany Steinke, and I\u2019m a first-year Master\u2019s student in Construction Management at the University of Florida. I\u2019m particularly interested in innovation, sustainability, and resilient infrastructure within the built environment. I\u2019m excited to work with communities, learn from their experiences, and explore innovative approaches to creating safer, more sustainable, and resilient communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Lorena<\/figure>\n\n

Lorena Delgado<\/h3>\n\n

lorena.delgado@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Lorena Delgado is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies and a master\u2019s student in Architecture at the University of Florida\u2019s School of Architecture. Before beginning her graduate studies, she earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in Architecture at the University of Cuenca. Her professional background includes experience in the development of public infrastructure and private sectors, focusing on sustainability, context-responsive design, and urban planning. Currently, at the Shimberg Center, Lorena supports community engagement, communications, and project diffusion. Her interests center on high-performance buildings, user well-being, ethics, and bioclimatic architecture, aiming to contribute to socially impactful and environmentally responsible built environments in diverse global contexts. Since 2023, she has been an official member of Young Ecosystems Latin America (JE-Latinoam\u00e9rica), an interventionist and community-based NGO centered in vulnerable areas of society, with a strong focus on public health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\"Jiayi<\/figure>\n\n

Jiayi Zhu<\/h3>\n\n

zhujiayi@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Hi! My name is Jiayi Zhu. I\u2019m a senior student majoring in Data Science and Economics at UF. I have huge interest in applying data science into interdisciplinary fields and building reliable models to support research. Currently, I\u2019m working on a research project on testing association between community vulnerability and increase in coastal construction-debris after hurricane. It\u2019s honor for me to serve DTSC lab and participate in each research projects to develop my research methodology and data analysis skills.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Lucas<\/figure>\n\n

Lucas Evans<\/h3>\n\n

lucasevans@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Hello, my name is Lucas Evans, and I am a sophomore civil engineering major. I am very passionate about infrastructure and the built environment, specifically traffic engineering and urban planning. I want to use my technical knowledge and time to serve my community. I have enjoyed engaging with community groups where our new technology will be installed, creating data visualizations, and drafting summaries of events we have been involved in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Madison<\/figure>\n\n

Madison Decker<\/h3>\n\n

decker.madison@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Hello, my name is Madison Decker, and I\u2019m a freshman double-majoring in Urban & Regional Planning and Marketing. I\u2019m interested in developing and retrofitting communities geared towards a better quality of life by improving accessibility, equity, and resiliency through innovative, sustainable, and locally inspired design. I\u2019m excited to engage with the community and learn more about what really makes resiliency possible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\"Ashley<\/figure>\n\n

Ashley Weber<\/h3>\n\n

a.weber@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Hi, I\u2019m Ashley Weber, a first-year student majoring in Sustainability Studies and minoring in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance in addition to Sustainability in the Built Environment. I\u2019m particularly interested in equipping communities with accessible technocentric solutions to increase their resilience to climate change whilst also bolstering their food, water, and energy security. Overall, I\u2019m incredibly excited to work with community members and empower them through increased disaster resilience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Gaudel<\/figure>\n\n

Gaudel Saint Hilaire<\/h3>\n\n

Hello, my name is Gaudel Saint Hilaire. I\u2019m a Sophomore majoring in Sustainability and the Built environment, interested in the further development and adaptation of renewable energies across the globe. I\u2019m keen to expand the usage of hydrogen as a fuel for jet aircraft to eliminate air emissions in the coming decades. Despite this, my interest in the field of sustainability is broad, and I would love to work with communities on resilient planning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Makana<\/figure>\n\n

Makana Salim-Uesi<\/h3>\n\n

makana.salimuesi@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Aloha! My name is Makana Salim-Uesi, and I am pursuing a Bachelor of Urban Science and Planning and a minor in Sustainability and the Built Environment. As a future urban planner, I aspire to apply Indigenous approaches to city\/regional planning, community revitalization, historic preservation, and environmental stewardship. My commitment to addressing environmental injustice and advocating for marginalized populations drives my interest in community engagement, disaster studies, and social justice. I am honored to serve as a member of the DTSC Lab and grateful for the opportunity to transform my passion, research, and collaborative efforts into meaningful, real-world impacts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\"Bella<\/figure>\n\n

Bella Giacinto<\/h3>\n\n

bgiacinto@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Hi, I\u2019m Bella Giacinto, a sophomore majoring in Urban Sciences and Planning, minoring in Gulf Studies, and pursuing a certificate in Geospatial Information Analysis! Coming from the Tampa Bay area, I am interested in coastal resilience in the built environment, and I aspire to be an environmental urban planner. Additionally, I hope one day to be a professor of urban planning. I\u2019m excited to work with community members to enact tangible changes that create stronger communities of tomorrow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Alex<\/figure>\n\n

Alex de la Ossa<\/h3>\n\n

adelaossa@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Bio to come.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"Lucas<\/figure>\n\n

Lucas Velis<\/h3>\n\n

velis.lucas@ufl.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Bio to come.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u2014 PREVIOUS LAB MEMBERS<\/p>\n\n

Previous lab members<\/h2>\n\n
\n
\n

Marjorie Prokosch<\/h3>\n\n

Assistant Professor, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, Rochester Institute of Technology<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Amar Hamad Issa Abukhalaf<\/h3>\n\n

Assistant Professor, Clemson University<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Haleh Mehdipour<\/h3>\n\n

Assistant Professor, College of Architecture and Construction Management, Kennesaw State University<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Leonora P. Fallon<\/h3>\n\n

Graduate student, UF College of Design, Construction and Planning, School of Architecture (JaxLab)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n

Carmen Sheils<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Cory Mendoza-Jauregui<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Hana Checketts<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Aidan Bryant<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Ava Vellines<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Victoria Colvin<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Collin Bowie<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Andrew B. Landsaw<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Rory A. Angelus<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Vishnu Malhotra<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Isabel J. Pych<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Cory Gann<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Josh Steedle<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Joshua Powers<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Marina McKinstry<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Amanda Lopez<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Zhane Loiseau<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Interested in joining the lab?<\/h2>\n\n

We welcome prospective students, community partners, and collaborators.<\/p>\n\n

\n
Join the lab<\/a><\/div>\n\n
See the projects<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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