Tara Goddard

Tara Goddard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. She holds a PhD in Urban Studies from Portland State University (2017), an M.S. in Civil Engineering from UC Davis (2005), and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Santa Barbara (2002, with Honors and Distinction, EIT 114541). Her affiliations include the Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center (HRRC), Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), and Texas Target Communities Program.

Her research focuses on creating equitable transportation systems through safe design and inclusive planning. Key interests include reducing traffic fatalities for vulnerable road users, roadway safety culture, and transportation justice in contexts like wildfire evacuation and urban heat. She employs mixed-methods approaches to study transportation behaviors and socio-technical systems.

Dr. Goddard serves on editorial and advisory boards, including as Associate Editor for Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. She actively contributes to national committees such as the Transportation Research Board’s Standing Committee on Women and Gender in Transportation. Her courses include Design for Sustainable Transportation and Structure and Function of Cities.