Elizabeth Gearin

Dr. Elizabeth Gearin serves as Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for Urban Sustainability at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), within the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences and Department of Architecture and Urban Sustainability. She concurrently holds lecturing positions at George Washington University (2018–present) and Virginia Commonwealth University (2012–2019).

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Policy, Planning and Development, University of Southern California (2008)
• Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Cities, University of Southern California (2005)
• M.C.R.P. in City and Regional Planning, California Polytechnic State University (1996)
• B.A. in Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1988)

Dr. Gearin's research integrates sustainable land use, biophilia, and community engagement with critical examinations of green gentrification and urban food systems. Her community-based participatory approach emphasizes equitable planning processes and measurable ecological benefits for marginalized urban populations, particularly through studies of park usage preferences and green infrastructure impacts in Washington D.C.

Recent publications reveal a trajectory toward interdisciplinary urban sustainability science, combining ecological stewardship mapping (STEW-MAP), restorative development frameworks, and innovative community engagement methodologies. These works consistently address spatial justice implications while bridging environmental science, planning practice, and social equity concerns in metropolitan contexts.

Professional recognition includes:

• Oxon Run Day Award (2024)

She directs USDA-funded research mapping urban food provisioning networks and ecological stewardship in Washington D.C., while advising the Urban Sustainability program curriculum. Her leadership extends to Arlington County commissions on Forestry (2023–present), Planning (2015–2022), and Parks (2010–2015), where she championed the Public Spaces Master Plan (2015–2020).