Staff

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Margaret Wilder

Dr. Margaret Wilder

Executive Director

Ph.D. in Urban Geography and Urban Planning (University of Michigan); M.A. and B.A. degrees from University of Texas-Arlington. Began faculty career at Indiana University, and served as tenured faculty member at Cornell, SUNY-Albany (also as department chair), and University of Delaware (also as director of graduate program). Recipient of Best Paper awards from UAA and American Planning Association. Former Chair and Member of UAA Governing Board.

Dr. Deidre Beadle

Dr. Deidre Beadle

Assistant Director

Assistant Director (2019-present) Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy, University of Delaware. Masters in Urban Affairs and Public Policy (University of Delaware). B.A.in Sociology/Criminal Justice, Cabrini College. UAA Special Projects Assistant (2010-2013). UAA Administrative Manager (2013-2019) Research Assistant with the Center for Community Research and Service, University of Delaware (2006-2011).

Executive Office Staff

Sue Peacock

Sue Peacock

Communications Director

Master of Library and Information Science & M.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. B.A. in History & Secondary Education from Marquette University. Sue’s career has focused on web development as well as the selection and management of online systems and tools, workflow design, and change management. 

Casey Wagner

Casey Wagner

Managing Editor, Journal of Urban Affairs & Journal of Race, Ethnicity and the City

BA in English from the University of Iowa (2006). Editorial assistant for the Journal of Regional Science (2007–2020), editorial assistant and managing editor for the Journal of Urban Affairs (2007–present), editorial assistant and managing editor for the Journal of Race, Ethnicity and the City (2019–present). Recipient of the Scott Cummings Distinguished Editorial Service Award (2024).

Austin Martin

Austin Martin

Financial Specialist

B.B.A in Finance from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. UAA Financial Specialist (2024-present). Austin has been in various positions within financial management and systems analysis.

Megan Bruzan

Megan Bruzan

Website Manager

B.S. in Information Resources from the School of Information Studies at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (2004). UAA Web Manager (2017-present). Technology Consultant (2011-present). Technology Coordinator (2007-2013).

Kat

Dr. Kat Kocisky

Senior Executive Assistant

Ph.D. in Urban Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. M.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies, Northeastern Illinois University. B.A. in English Education and French, Illinois State University.

Maryam Karbasi

Maryam Karbasi

Executive Assistant

Ph.D. student in Urban Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2023- Current). M.S. in Architecture , Bilkent University (2018-2021). B.A. in Architectural Engineering, University of Tabriz (2012 – 2016).

Jayne Kilander

Jayne Kilander

Executive Assistant

Jayne is a master’s student pursuing a coordinated degree in Urban Studies and Library and Information Science at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. She received her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from UW-Milwaukee. In addition to working at UAA, Jayne is also a Public Services Librarian intern at the American Geographical Society Library.

Conference Staff

Shelly Tillinghast

Shelvia (Shelly) Tillinghast

Senior Event Specialist
Nick Capul

Nick Capul

Senior Event Planner
Rachel Anne & Sam Lim

Rachel Anne & Sam Lim

Photographers
Fay Osman

Fay Osman

On-site Project Assistant

Master of Public Health. Fauzia serves as a Project Assistant, supporting the Executive Director and Assistant Director with conference-related activities. Her expertise lies in coordinating event logistics, managing communications, and ensuring the seamless execution of organizational projects.

Kari Smith

Dr. Kari Smith

On-site Conference Assistant

PhD in Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; dual Masters in International Cooperation and Urban Development from the Technische Universität Darmstadt and the Univeristé Pierre-Mendès-France. Professional work includes non-profit as well as local, state, and federal government.

LATOYA MOTEN

LaToya Moten

On-site Conference Assistant
Danielle Bishop

Danielle Bishop

On-site Conference Assistant

Master in Cultural Management (University of Barcelona), MPhil in Spanish Literature (University of Oxford), and BA in English and Spanish Literature (Kenyon College). Researcher, cultural manager, and consultant at Trànsit Projectes and BissapLab Consulting in Barcelona, Spain. Associate Researcher at the University of Barcelona’s research group on Creativity, Innovation and Urban Transformation (CRIT) and the Barcelona Housing Studies Chair (CBEH). Community Engagement Coordinator at the University of Arizona (2016-2018). Fulbright English Teaching Award in Santander, Spain (2011-2012).

Bethany Welch

Bethany Welch

On-site Conference Assistant

Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Public Policy, University of Delaware (2008), M.S. in Higher Education Administration, University of Rochester (2003), B.S. in Graphic Design/Communication, Roberts Wesleyan University (2000). Dr. Welch is a nonprofit administrator who also practices applied scholarship in urban neighborhoods with an emphasis on faith-based community development and capacity building.

Sinai Mendoza-Zarate

Sinai Mendoza-Zarate

On-site Conference Assistant

B.A. in International Business from the University of Cardinal Stritch (2018). A graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in urban studies at the University of UW-Milwaukee (2023-present). Serves as the Executive Director for the Cesar Chavez Business Improvement District in Milwaukee, WI (2024-Present).