معرفی
Tonya Sanders Thach, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning within Morgan State University's School of Architecture and Planning. A certified planner (AICP) with 17+ years of experience, she specializes in community engagement to address environmental, housing, transportation, and health disparities in marginalized communities through partnerships with faith-based organizations.
Her academic credentials include:
- B.A. in Psychology from Truman State University (minor in Spanish)
- M.A. in Community Psychology and Social Change from The Pennsylvania State University
- Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Dr. Sanders Thach's research explores Faith-based Community Development, Curriculum Development, Health and Community Development, Community Engagement, and Climate Adaptation. She designs community engagement strategies and evaluates interventions for sustainability and equity, particularly in lower-income minority communities facing historic environmental injustice and housing disparities. Her work emphasizes dismantling structural barriers through faith-based partnerships while advancing public health and affordable housing solutions.
Analysis of her 2014-2018 publications reveals consistent focus on power dynamics in faith-based cross-sector collaborations, climate adaptation in vulnerable urban settings, and community-driven historic preservation. Her work demonstrates how religious institutions can catalyze equitable development while navigating complex partnership challenges in marginalized communities.
Her notable recognition includes:
- Civic Leadership Award, Proviso Action Committee (2011)
Dr. Sanders Thach has secured significant grant funding including a $25 million Department of Energy grant for the Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (2022-2027) as Co-PI, NIH-funded CBPR research on sanitation ($20,000), EPA green infrastructure projects ($60,000), and multiple community planning grants from local governments. Current initiatives involve partnerships with Enterprise Community Partners, Community Development Network of Maryland, and Southwest Partners to address housing, health, and climate resilience in Baltimore.
She co-leads the Baltimore Social Environmental Collaboration (40+ researchers from 12 institutions), serves as Board Chair of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, and contributes to national planning education through the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning and American Planning Association.
