Routes to Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Freight Transportation in the City of San José

SERENA ALEXANDER, PHD

Dr. Serena Alexander is an Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of Urban Online at San José State University. Her research predominantly focuses on developing and implementing cutting-edge strategies to address climate change and the environmental impacts of transportation. Dr. Alexander has recently joined the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Climate Change Center (CCC) and the Office of the Under Secretary as a Visiting Scholar, where she provides leadership and research on the development of policy centered around all major transportation issues, such as infrastructure development, climate, innovation, and equity. She has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and technical reports and presented her research at national and international conferences. She has also established the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) and Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) collaboration platform, focusing on climate justice and best practices of climate action planning. Dr. Alexander has worked with many multidisciplinary teams and aims at bridging the gap between technical knowledge, policy decisions and community values. Before joining the SJSU faculty, she conducted community economic development and environmental policy research at the Center for Economic Development and the Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center at Cleveland State University, where she also received her doctorate in Urban Studies (Specialization in Urban Policy and Development). She holds master’s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and Architecture from Azad University of Tehran.

KYLE LAVERONI

Kyle Laveroni is a graduate student at the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program at San José State University. He previously earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from San José State University. Kyle's studies are focused on the applications of technology in planning as well as sustainable transportation and land use. Kyle currently works as a Senior Policy Director at the City of San José for an elected councilmember providing policy advice related to transportation, land use, the environment, and economic development.

MAXWELL FRIEDMAN

Maxwell Friedman is a graduate student in the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program at San José State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and Studies from Ohio University. He has since focused his studies on the application of geospatial technology in promoting sustainability in planning. Maxwell is currently working as an intern for the City of San José Department of Transportation in which he helps prepare grant applications to fund the creation of sustainable transportation infrastructure and policy.

JANANI THIAGARAJAN

Janani Thiagarajan is a graduate student in the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program at San José State University. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, India. She is currently working with Caltrans at the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, and her work focuses on urban transportation issues, such as zero carbon transit, public transportation improvement, and mobility equity. She has also worked as a researcher in the Binucom project under Erasmus+ Programme, which involved the development of inclusive communities and sustainable housing policies.