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Biography

Dr. Meenar is an associate professor in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability in the School of Earth and Environment at Rowan University, and the graduate program director of the Urban and Regional Planning program. He is also the director of Community Planning + Visualization Lab, which uses a Biophilic Urbanism lens to explore the connection between people and their "total" environment (e.g., social, natural, and built environments) and the influence this connection has on the planning process for developing sustainable, healthy, equitable, just, and "smart" communities. Dr. Meenar concentrates on four research tracks: (i) Community food systems, food environment, and food security; (ii) Green, blue, and grey infrastructure; (iii) Sustainable development, design, and policy; and (iv) Digital tools, technologies, and societies. He has served as the principal investigator on many research grants funded by federal, state, and local agencies, including NASA and US EPA, and has published 30+ articles in leading journals. Dr. Meenar received the Outstanding Community Engagement and Education Award from the American Planning Association New Jersey Chapter in 2022.