I2UD has been fortunate to be supported by Board members and advisors whose financial sponsorship and expertise contributed to our ability to undertake independent research, participate in international networks and support our educational mission.
Noted below are former Board members whose support we sincerely appreciate.
Nadia Beiser, BA in Urban and Regional Planning (Clark University), M.Arch. (Harvard)
Nadia Beiser has served as a developer, construction project manager, architect, and land use planner. As a self-employed real estate developer in Bozeman, Montana, Ms. Beiser started her design firm in 1980 and completed over 25 solar-heated residential projects, plus numerous state-building renovations to increase energy conservation or permit handicapped accessibility. In addition, Nadia has been responsible for planning, developing, developing, constructing, and marketing numerous residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use subdivisions.
Gary Haney, B.E.D. (Miami University), M.Arch. (Harvard)
As a Design Partner at the New York office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, Mr. Haney’s design approach incorporates extensive materials research, environmental simulations, and computational scripting. This research-intensive approach enabled him to design buildings of significant scale and complexity. These include the Qatar Petroleum headquarters complex in Doha, Qatar, Al Rajhi Bank Headquarters in Riyadh, the Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait City, and the Al Sharq Tower in Dubai, which was honored with a 2007 Progressive Architecture award. Mr. Haney also completed the LEED-certified U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters, which has won more than ten major design awards, and the $85-million redesign of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, which reorganized and renewed this renowned institution. He has served on numerous advisory boards, including the Pratt Institute and Miami University of Ohio’s Department of Architecture and Interior Design, and led design studios at NJIT, Miami University, and Ball State University.
Aziza al-Hibri, BA in Philosophy (American University of Beirut), Ph.D. in Philosophy (University of Pennsylvania), JD (University of Pennsylvania Law School)
Azizah Y. al-Hibri is Professor Emerita at the University of Richmond Law School, having served on the faculty from 1992 until her retirement in 2012. Her work centered on developing an Islamic jurisprudence and body of Islamic law that are gender equitable and promote human rights and democratic governance. She has written extensively on issues of Islamic culture and law, approaches to democracy, and human rights in Islam and is internationally active in exploring the possibilities of cooperation with various women’s issues in developing countries. She has lectured in numerous countries on Islam, democracy, women’s rights, and Muslims in the United States. In addition, professor al-Hibri has traveled worldwide to support Muslim women’s rights and programs directed to women to improve urban management and development. She has also served on boards of numerous non-profit organizations and received awards from: Virginia First Freedom Award, Council for America’s First Freedom (2007), Dr. Betty Shabazz Recognition Award, and Women in Islam (NY), 2006.
Roger Kallman, B.Arch (Miami University), MAUD. (University of Minnesota), MRP (UNC)
For the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill London’s Planning Studio, Roger Kallman was a Consulting Partner for all urban and regional planning studies and planning issues concerning architectural projects. His work encompassed land planning, urban design, transportation planning, new town and campus planning, feasibility studies, environmental assessments, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse. Before this work, he undertook the role of resident SOM representative for the Dublin Transportation Centre study. He lived in Cork while leading the preparation of the Greater Cork Area Land Use/Transportation Plan. The Planning Institution of Ireland recognized his contribution to the Greater Cork Area by electing him an Honorary Life Member in 1996. In addition to his work in Europe, Roger engaged in projects worldwide for both public and private sector clients. He served as Senior Planner for the Chicago Central Area Plan and on numerous projects in the Far East, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Aline Kradjian, BS. Urban Planning (Cal Poly, Pomona), MRED (USC), AMDP (Harvard)
Kradjian is the Founder of The ARD Group in Costa Mesa, California. The firm specializes in the development of affordable and market-rate ownership housing. Her real estate practice entails evaluating market conditions, analyzing real estate proposals, raising capital, and overseeing all aspects of the development process for the company. Aline has served on and chaired numerous boards and commissions in Los Angeles, such as Historic Preservation, Design Review, and Workforce investment.
Mary Jane Lawson, BA in History and Businesses (Andrews University)
Mary Jane Lawson is the Owner and President of M.J. Lawson Real Estate Ltd., in Toronto, Canada, where she specializes in selling and leasing commercial real estate investments. She has worked in transitional neighborhoods where her marketing expertise has contributed to revitalizing or repurposing under-utilized urban buildings. Projects have included the Ontario Design Center, which transformed an outdated drug supply warehouse into Ontario’s first large-scale commercial center for interior design. She also marketed one of Toronto’s iconic landmarks, The Flat-Iron Building, in Toronto’s famous St. Lawrence Market neighborhood. Mary Jane also worked with developers to rebrand and market a former piano factory into a vibrant office complex known as Studio City. In addition, Ms. Lawson has contributed her marketing expertise to various community groups, including the Toronto Philharmonia. During her time as a member of the Board of the Philharmonia, she rebranded the organization, developed new marketing materials, and was a planning committee member for the annual fundraiser – the famous Viennese Ball. Mary Jane is an American citizen who immigrated to Canada 25 years ago after graduating with a BA in History and Business from Andrews University in Michigan, USA.
Neil St. John Raymond, BA (Yale), M.Des. (Harvard)
Ted Raymond led the Raymond Property Company in Boston, Massachusetts and developed and managed real estate in the Boston area and elsewhere for over 36 years. The firm was engaged in restoration and adaptive use projects and newly constructed developments, for which he won numerous awards. These include awards from the Boston Society of Architects, the Victoria Society of America, the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Trained as an architect at Yale and Harvard, Raymond has extensive experience in the public process and imaginative conceptual solutions to complex projects. He was also a lecturer in various Real Estate courses at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Clemens Sels, Agricultural Science (University of Bonn, Germany) Economics, (University of Cologne, Germany)
Clemens Sels does not follow the conventional rules of property development. He prefers an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable approach and is not afraid of challenges in this business. Twenty-six years ago, he started with one building for a small group of European clients and expanded his company to three offices with over 40 employees. He is the President of CTL Group, which is active in the development, management, syndication and financing of real estate investments in Canada, with over 120 commercial and residential properties under its management. Clemens is an innovative developer interested in discovering and preserving historic buildings and has successfully revitalized forgotten downtown properties into economically viable projects. He advocates a balanced approach to development and pioneered the design of the first sustainable office tower in Toronto.
Ismail Serageldin, B.S. (Cairo University), MRP (Harvard), Ph.D. (Harvard)