Salma Akter Surma, a Ph.D. candidate at Gibbs College has co-authored a study published in the Journal of Urban Management. The research investigates the experiences of women in urban informal settlements of Khulna, Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on how housing infrastructure influenced caregiving responsibilities.
The study draws on interviews with 24 women community leaders to explore the impact of shared Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, constrained living spaces, and financial challenges on women’s caregiving roles. It details the adaptations these women made, such as reorganizing household spaces for isolation and utilizing community networks to manage caregiving and resource distribution during the pandemic. The findings highlight the role of inadequate housing in exacerbating caregiving challenges and underscore the importance of flexible and resilient infrastructure planning in resource-limited settings.
Additionally, the research examines the unique contributions of women as community leaders, who facilitated resource sharing, managed public health interventions, and addressed vulnerabilities during the crisis. Their efforts were central to navigating pandemic-induced hardships in the settlements.
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to announce the promotion of Ph.D. student Rafael Hernandez to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Gibbs College of Architecture Assistant Professor Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, has co-authored a new book chapter with Josh Newton and Andrew Born, published in De Gruyter Handbook of the Geographies of Race.
Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design (PLAD) alumni Trey Ingram, AICP recently spoke with current PLAD student and graduate media assistant Molly Strobel to share his experiences with the Regional and City Planning program and current work with the Toyota Mobility Foundation.
