Graduate Students

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Bettina Bonfiglio: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Geography (GIS and Cartography)

Research Interest: I am interested in geospatial analysis and its application in environment and urban planning, natural resource management, and disaster risk reduction.

Advisor: Dr. Norah F. Henry

Bio: Hi! My name is Bettina and I am from West Sayville, New York. I began my education at SUNY Cortland where I received a bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Systems with a concentration in Advanced Geospatial Applications. Throughout my undergrad, I worked on multiple projects centered around the environment, specifically carbon sequestration. However, I am now interested in focusing on medical and health geography. My interests outside of geography include traveling to other towns or countries, hiking through beautiful parks, and baking just about anything.

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Arjun Lamichhane: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: GIS and Cartography

Research Interest: I am interested in geospatial analysis and its application in environment and urban planning, natural resource management, and disaster risk reduction.

Advisor: Dr. Norah F. Henry

Bio: I am Arjun Lamichhane from Gorkha, Nepal, and completed my undergraduate from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. I joined Binghamton University in the Fall of 2022. I am currently a Research Assistant in the Johnson City redevelopment project and a Teaching Assistant at the undergraduate level. I am also the President of the Geography Graduate Student Organization (2023), where I help to create a sense of community amongst the graduate students. I am interested in geospatial analysis and its application in environment and urban planning, natural resource management, and disaster risk reduction. Before coming to Binghamton, I worked in government and nongovernment organizations of Nepal. I enjoy playing tennis and traveling to new places.

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Charlotte Martinek: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Geography with concentration in Planning

Research Interest: Economic geography, urban planning and GIS

Advisor: Dr. Wan Yu

Bio: I'm from Lake Grove, NY located on Long Island. I attended Undergrad at Suffolk County Community College my 1st two years and earned my Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and then transferred to SUNY Cortland and earned my Bachelor's Degree in GIS. My current interests include cartography, urban planning, and economic geography.

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Shawna Stevenson: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Geography

Research Interest: Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, Urban Planning, Petroculture

Advisor: Dr. Wan Yu

Bio: Focusing on natural resource management and regional planning, Shawna has a passion for conservation and community engagement. Shawna is a lifelong resident of New York State, having lived in Binghamton, NY for the better part of the last 10 years.  She interned with the Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District during the summer of 2023 as a Riparian Buffer Steward, monitoring plantings supporting stream health in the Upper Susquehanna Watershed, and is currently a Sustainable Materials Management Steward with the New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management.

LAAS, Visual Communication Arts, SUNY Broome 2016
BFA, Illustration, Syracuse University 2018

 

Courtney Hale: Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant

Major: Urban and Regional Planning

Research Interest: Ecotourism, Urban Planning, Sustainability, Human-Environmental Relationships

Advisor: Dr. Jay Newberry

Bio: Hi! My name is Courtney, and I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA. Before coming to Binghamton, I attended Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. I graduated in 2023 with a B.S. in Environmental, Geographical, and Geological Sciences with a concentration in Geography and Planning and a double minor in GIS & spatial analysis and Anthropology. In 2022, I completed an internship with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, where I utilized GIS to help wildlife and monitor their habitat in southwestern Pennsylvania. My research interests include human-environmental relationships, ecotourism, urban planning, and sustainability. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, thrifting, and listening to Taylor Swift. 

 

Hunter Cohick

Major: Urban Planning and Applied Geography

Research Interest: Housing, Sustainability

Bio: 4+1 Student from Webster, NY. Undergraduate double major in Economics and Urban Planning with Economic/Retail Focus. Army ROTC Cadet and will commission into the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in May 2024. Trained Heavy Equipment Operator and Pipe Layer

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Sharmin Akter: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Urban Planning and Applied Geography

Research Interest: GIS and Remote Sensing, Environmental Planning and Management

Advisor: Dr. Adam Mathews

Bio: Sharmin Akter is a graduate student continuing from Fall ’23. Her research agenda broadly focuses on the application of remote sensing in the study of Urban Heat Islands, Greenspace, and Environmental Justice. Before starting her master’s program, she completed her bachelor’s degree majoring in “Urban and Regional Planning” from Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET), Bangladesh. Besides, she has more than 2 years of professional working experience in academia and industry. She served as an “Urban Planner” in a government organization in Bangladesh that allowed her to work on both statistical and spatial data collection, analysis, management, and project report writing. Also, she worked as a “GIS Assistant” that offered extensive opportunities to work with spatial datasets. During her free time, she loves to travel and cook.

 

Shibbir Ahammad: Teaching Assistant

Major: Urban Planning

Research Interest: Environmental Planning

Advisor: Dr. Adam Mathews

Bio: Completed undergraduate from the department of Urban & Regional Planning from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology. Hometown: Cumilla, Bangladesh. Worked as GIS specialist in 'Waste Concern Consultants'. Highly interested to any Internship opportunity.

 

Thabo Sebobi: Graduate Research Assistant

Major: Urban and Health/ Medical Geography 

Research Interest: Political Ecology of Human Health, Disease Prevalence, Disease Transmission and Diffusion

Advisor: Dr. Norah Henry

Bio: Hi there! My name is Thabo Sebobi and I hail from the enchanting landscapes of Botswana. I am currently pursuing a MA degree in Geography, with a specialization in Urban and Health / Medical Geography at Binghamton University. My academic journey began at the University of Botswana, where I earned my BA degree in Environmental Science. During my undergraduate years, I developed a profound fascination for the dynamic relationship between ecological, socio-cultural and political factors and human health. It was then that I realized my true calling in the field of Health and Medical Geography. Currently, I am passionate about unraveling the geographic disparities in disease prevalence, disease transmission and diffusion, and the impact of political and ecological factors on public health. My goal is to contribute to the betterment of global health through research and practical solutions. While academia is a significant part of my life, I also value the importance of a well-rounded experience. When I am not engrossed in research, you can find me exploring amazing and dazzling natural landscapes of our country or hanging out with my friends. 

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Md Shahadath Hossain Patwary: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Urban and Regional Planning

Research Interest: Transportation sustainability. Relationship between transportation systems with the environment

Advisor: Jay L. Newberry 

Bio: I am a graduate student from Fall ’22. I am from Bangladesh, a small and beautiful country in Southeast Asia. This country has the largest sea beach and mangrove forest in the world. My undergraduate is in Urban and Regional Planning from my Homeland. After that, I completed Masters in Development Studies program. Besides this, I have more than 8 years of professional experience in the field of academic research, transportation planning, urban planning, regional development, and spatial analysis. During my professional career, I worked with academics, universities, the military, government organizations, business organizations, and others. My basic research interest is focused on transportation sustainability and the relationship between transportation systems with the environment.

 

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Cory Buhler: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Geography GIS

Research Interest: Transportation planning

Advisor: Dr. Jay Newberry

Bio: I completed my undergraduate degree in Mathematical Physics and graduated in 2022. I am from Lake Grove, NY. This summer 2023 I interned with the NYS Canal Corporation as a GIS analyst.

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Dounia Badidi: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Applied Geography in Urban & Regional Planning

Research Interest: Racial Geography, Housing, Economic Development

Advisor: Dr. Wan Yu and Dr. John Frazier

Bio: My name is Dounia Badidi and I am a 4+1 student who is pursuing my Masters in Urban Planning. I am a Queens native which fuels my passion for community development. I have a strong background in social justice and racial geography and I hope to combine these passions in the future. I aspire to pursue a career in affordable housing focused in underserved Black & Brown neighborhoods.

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Hewi Palmiotti:: Graduate Teaching and Department Assistant

Major: Geographic Information Systems

Research Interest: Remote Sensing, Hydrology, Natural Resource Management

Advisor: Dr. Mark Blumler

Bio: Hello! My name is Hewi Palmiotti and I'm from Queens, New York. I attended Binghamton University from 2020-2023, receiving my B.S in Environmental Science and B.A in Geography.  Now I am pursuing my M.A in hopes of exploring remote sensing and hydrologic environments. I have previous experience doing so while interning at New York Sea Grant. Throughout my academic and professional opportunities, I work thoughtfully and efficiently to solve real world issues. Outside of class, I love being outdoors whether that looks like mountain climbing, birdwatching, or fly fishing. 

 

Ryan Kinsella: Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant

Major: GIS and Urban Planning

Research Interest: Emergency Management, Planning, Fire Management, Drones, Crime

Advisor: Dr. Norah Henry

Bio: Having finished my undergrad in Geography here at BU in 2022, I am now a second year graduate student and research assistant assigned to the Johnson City Redevelopment Project. I am interested in emergency management and planning, with a focus on the role of drones in both fields. Over the summer of 2023, I completed a GIS internship with the New York City Fire Department, and am currently an intern with Binghamton University’s Office of Emergency Management. Both opportunities have solidified my interest in emergency planning. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and dogs back home on Long Island. 

 

Sasha Darceuil

Major: Urban Planning

Research Interest: Transportation Planning, Studentification, Ageing in Place, Gentrification, Redlining

Advisor: Dr. Jay Newberry

Bio: My name is Sasha, I have a bachelor’s in Urban Planning from Binghamton University. I’m Trinidadian but have lived in Brooklyn, NY for most of my life. I’m currently interested in the operational aspects in planning. I currently work in Operations at Amazon. After graduating I’d like to transition into a transportation analyst job within the company or for New York State. The end goal is getting my PhD though.

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Michael Penn: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Geography (Environmental and Resource Management)

Research Interest: Biogeography, Climate, Invasives Species, and Riverine Habitats

Advisor: Dr. Mark Blumler

Bio: I am a Southern Tier native from Chemung, New York and graduated from Binghamton in 2021 with a BS in Biological Sciences. My research interests are biogeography, climate, invasives species, and riverine habitats. In my free time I enjoy organic gardening, maple sugaring, finding wildflowers, and foraging wild edible plants and mushrooms.

 

Maximilian Carlson: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Major: Urban Planning

Research Interest: Flood mitigation, emergency management

Advisor: Dr. Norah Henry

Bio: I am from Denville, New Jersey. I completed my undergraduate degree in urban planning at Binghamton University. My main interests are urban planning and flooding. In my free time I enjoy hiking and reading.

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Preston Long

Major: GIS and Cartography

Research Interest: Sustainability, Resource Management, and Agriculture

Advisor: Dr. Mark Blumler

Bio: I grew up outside of Syracuse NY and attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse. My research interests pertain to resource management in applications such as agriculture. I like to spend most of my free time outdoors either hiking, canoeing, or fly fishing.