Frontiers of Context Sensitive Design: Understanding Context

Abstract

Catherine L. Ross is Director of the Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (CQGRD) and Harry West Professor for Regional Planning at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board, National Academy of Sciences and the ENO Transportation Foundation in Washington, D.C. She previously served as a senior policy advisor to the Transportation Research Board. Catherine is also past president of the National Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ASCP) and past Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Woman of the Year.

Dr. Ross previously served on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and organized and served as the first Executive Director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA). This innovative regional entity was created by the Georgia Legislature in response to the federal cut-off of transportation funds to the Atlanta region. GRTA was created to help 13 counties out-of-compliance with clean air standards develop new transportation plans and initiatives to help them meet or exceed federal requirements.

Ross began her career at Georgia Tech as an assistant professor in the Graduate City Planning Program, associate professor, then full professor in 1990. She has held a variety of leadership positions at Georgia Tech including vice provost for academic affairs, associate vice president for academic affairs, co-director of the Transportation Research and Education Center and director of the College of Architecture's PH.D program.

Locally, Ross serves on several boards/committees including the ULI-District Council Steering Committee, Metro Atlanta Quality Growth Task Forces, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ferst Center Advisory Board, High Museum of Art and the Midtown Alliance. Regionally, she co-founded the "Healthy Places Research Group" in cooperation with Emory University's School of Public Health. Ross earned a Bachelor's degree from Kent State University, a Master's degree in regional planning from Cornell University and a doctorate in city and regional planning from Cornell in addition to completing post-decorate work at the University of California, Berkeley.

In addition to teaching at Georgia Tech, Ross has conducted research for numerous governmental transportation agencies. She has published extensively in the fields of Urban Planning, transportation planning, public participation and regional planning.