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Donovan Finn
Donovan P Finn Assistant Professor Sustainability Studies Program School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

Contact Information

W0512 Melville Library

Stony Brook, 11794

631/632-9404

Expertise

urban planning sustainable development sustainability resiliency planning sustainability in New York region disaster recovery

Biography

An urban planner, Donovan Finn’s research focuses on sustainability and resiliency planning in the New York region, the utility of public participation for effective planning, and understanding how communities effectively recover from disaster. He has consulted with local governments in Illinois and Missouri on growth management and sustainable development, and works regularly with non-profit organizations and local governments in New York City and Long Island on issues of sustainability, resilience, and public participation.

Education

  • PhD and MUP, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • BGS, University of Kansas

Research Grants

Award Start End Sponsor Type Amount Status
Collaborative Research: Interdependency in Decision Making, A Holistic Approach to Understanding Community Recovery fro Catastrophes 2013-06-20T00:00:00 2017-07-31T00:00:00 National Science Foundation Federal 110611 On Hold

Publications

  1. Author Article - Popular Press The Queens Chronicle. Give residents more say in land use and planning Published 2014 1
  2. Author Article Progressive Planning Magazine “New York Neighborhoods Fight Land Grabs: Public Parks Going to Professional Teams.” Published 2013 194 4-9
  3. Author Article Progressive Planning Magazine “Growing Greener in the City: Open Space Advocacy for Environmental Justice in Jackson Heights” Published 2011 187 13-16
  4. Co-Author Article - Peer Reviewed Co-Author Local Environment, “Urban Climate Change Plans: How Holistic?” Taylor and FranFinn, D. and McCormick, L. (2011) “Urban Climcis Published 2011 16 4 397-416
  5. Co-Author Article - Peer Reviewed Co-Author Journal of Information Technology in Construction “Updating plans: a historiography of decisions over time” Published 2010 15 159-168
  6. Co-Author Article - Peer Reviewed Co-Author Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning “The Information System of Plans Approach: Using and Making Plans For Landscape Protection” Elsevier 2007 81 1-2 132-145

Courses

Term Role Course ID Description
Spring 2017 Primary Instructor EDP 307 Theories of Urban Settlements
Spring 2017 Primary Instructor EDP 404 Environmental Design Project
Spring 2017 Primary Instructor SBC 475 Undergrad Teaching Practicum
Summer 2017 Primary Instructor MAR 589 Capstone Proj. Mar. Cons.
Fall 2017 Primary Instructor EDP 302 The Built Environment II
Fall 2017 Primary Instructor EDP 307 Theories of Urban Settlements
Fall 2017 Primary Instructor EDP 404 Environmental Design Project
Fall 2017 Primary Instructor SBC 475 Undergrad Teaching Practicum
Spring 2016 Primary Instructor EDP 307 Theories of Urban Settlements
Spring 2016 Primary Instructor EDP 404 Environmental Design Project
Fall 2016 Primary Instructor EDP 302 The Built Environment II
Fall 2016 Primary Instructor SBC 401 Integrative Systems Studies
Spring 2015 Primary Instructor CSK 101 Advocacy and Change
Spring 2015 Primary Instructor EDP 307 Theories of Urban Settlements
Spring 2015 Primary Instructor EDP 404 Environmental Design Project
Spring 2015 Primary Instructor EDP 487 Research in EDP
Spring 2015 Primary Instructor EDP 487 Research in EDP
Spring 2015 Primary Instructor SBC 475 Undergrad Teaching Practicum
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor CSK 101 Advocacy and Change
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor EDP 302 The Built Environment II
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor EDP 488 Internship in EDP
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor SBC 311 Disasters and Society
Spring 2014 Primary Instructor CSK 101 Advocacy and Change
Spring 2014 Primary Instructor EDP 307 Theories of Urban Settlements
Spring 2014 Primary Instructor EDP 487 Research in EDP
Spring 2014 Primary Instructor EDP 487 Research in EDP
Spring 2014 Primary Instructor SBC 200 Human Settlement: Hist & Fut
Fall 2014 Primary Instructor CSK 101 Advocacy and Change
Fall 2014 Primary Instructor EDP 302 The Built Environment II
Fall 2014 Primary Instructor SBC 311 Disasters and Society
Summer 2013 Primary Instructor SBC 311 Disasters and Society
Fall 2013 Primary Instructor CSK 101 Advocacy and Change
Fall 2013 Primary Instructor EDP 302 The Built Environment II
Fall 2013 Primary Instructor EDP 487 Research in EDP
Fall 2013 Primary Instructor SBC 311 Disasters and Society

Honors

Type Description Year
Honors City Council of New York City, Citation for Exemplary Community and Professional Service.
Residences The Wertheim Study Center at the New York Public Library, Scholar in Residence, 2011-2012.

Scholarly Activities

Activity Title Date
Lecture Finn, D. “Community Planning and Organizing for Environmental Justice,” Municipal Art Society of New York City, 2012 Livable Neighborhoods training summit. New York City. 2012-08-12
Lecture Finn, D. “A Greener Big Apple: How Citizens And Government Are Creating a More Sustainable Gotham.” New York Public Library (Invited lecture in recognition of World Environment Day). 2012-08-05
Lecture Finn, D. “Reclaiming Public Space for Active Design.” New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Partnership for A Healthier NYC Active Design Community Training. 2012-02-27
Lecture Finn, D. “Livable Streets: Queens Style!” The Future of Your Neighborhood: Who Decides? lecture series, Flux Factory, Long Island City, NYC. 2012
Lecture Finn, D. “Collaboration and Community Based Advocacy Planning.” In Our Back Yards (IOBY) Guide to Getting Green Done in NYC. Sheila C. Johnson Design Center. New York, NY. 2011-12-07
Presentation/Paper at a conference Finn, D. “Real (Green) America: Sustainable Planning in Pragmatic Times” Presentation to Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning conference, Salt Lake City, UT October 2011. 2011-12
Presentation/Paper at a conference Finn, D. “Measuring Sustainable Development Success: The Case of Early Adopter Cities” Presentation to Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning conference, Minneapolis, MN, October 9, 2010. 2010-12-09
Presentation/Paper at a conference "Environmental Equity" Session Discussant, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Annual Conference. October 8, 2010. Minneapolis, MN.

Professional Service

Service Title Date
Other Land Use, Transportation and Sustainability Advisor, New York City Council Member Julissa Ferreras, District 21 2011 - 2012
Other Member, Queens Community Board 3, City of New York. Appointed by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall 2011 - 2012
Other Technical Advisor, New York Hall of Science: Climate and Urban Systems Partnership (CUSP) Program, since 2011 2011 - 2012
Referee Journal of Planning Literature 2011 - 2012
Other Board member of the Jackson Heights Green Alliance (501c3 non profit environmental group in Jackson Heights, NYC) 2010 - 2011
Other Technical Advisor, New York Hall of Science (New York, NY) "Urban Climate Education Partnership Program" 2010 - 2011
Referee Referee for Journal of Planning Literature 2010 - 2011
Review Boards - Agency, Institute, Gov. Appointed to Community Board Q3 (Queens, New York City) by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. This is one of 59 local advisory boards in New York City with oversight on land use and zoning matters, the City budget, municipal service delivery, etc. 2010 - 2011

University Service

Service Title Date
Other Coordination with Stony Brook Facilities and Services, conducting energy audits of campus buildings with Sustainability Studies students as a class project. 2011 - 2012
Departmental Committee At dept chair's request, served on committee to design new space for Sustainability Studies department in new location on campus. 2010 - 2011

News Highlights

July 4, 2016 Glen Cove begins search for ferry service operator to NYC Newsday Read Article February 22, 2016 Glen Cove to NYC ferry service expected this summer at terminal Newsday Read Article October 13, 2013 Can Willets Point Swap A Mega Mall For Affordable Housing? Gothamist Read Article January 30, 2013 Give residents more say in land use and planning Queens Chronicle Read Article September 20, 2012 How Will Soccer Fans Get to Proposed MLS Stadium in Queens? Streets Blog Read Article
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