Navigating Community Engagement During COVID-19: Perspective, Practice, Prospect - 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW) / 1.0 AICP

Jean Senechal Biggs, ASLA, is the Transportation Planning Manager for the City of Beaverton, Oregon. She has made transportation the focus of her career and frequently finds herself bridging the gap between planning and engineering. Prior to working in Beaverton, Jean spent 20 years at the Portland Bureau of Transportation planning, designing, and building transit and transportation projects. Jean currently serves as Trustee of the Oregon Chapter of ASLA and is past chair of ASLA's Professional Practice Committee. A Boston native, Jean earned her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon.

Om Khurjekar is the Principal, Partner and Board Member of Hord Coplan Macht, bringing over 23 years of experience in designing diverse landscapes and architectural projects. He is known for his expertise in creating public parks, interpretive play environments, campus landscapes, and urban streetscapes, all while emphasizing the seamless connection between landscape and architecture. Om's clients and colleagues appreciate his passion for design, attention to detail, and candid nature. His remarkable work has earned numerous awards and accolades, notably from the Maryland and Potomac chapters of the ASLA, Preservation Pennsylvania, Maryland Recreation and Parks Authority, and LUXE interior design magazine. Before his successful career in the United States, Om practiced as an Architect in Pune, India, primarily focusing on residential and institutional projects. Actively involved in the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Om has served in various leadership roles, including President of the Maryland Chapter and the Chapter President's Council at National ASLA. He currently represents MDASLA as the Chapter Trustee, and serves on the Board of Trustees at National ASLA. Additionally, he also serves in various educational advisory boards and award juries for ASLA chapter programs. Om enjoys sharing his knowledge with the next generations and has served as a lecturer and design critic at Morgan State University, University of Maryland College Park and other notable institutions in the United States of America and India.

Allysha is the Community Planning Department Manager with Mead & Hunt, based in Baltimore, Maryland, and working nationwide. She has extensive experience providing planning and public engagement services for diverse projects and in diverse communities. Her focus is in transportation planning, green infrastructure, urban design, and public engagement. After over 20 years of practice in landscape architecture, Allysha ventured back to graduate school to pursue a masters degree in Geodesign from her alma mater, Penn State. When not at work or in class, you can find Allysha out on a run or cheering for her kids’ sports teams.