Krista L. Schneider, RLA, AICP, Just Communities AP, LEED Green Associate

Krista is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Architecture at Penn State University.  Reflecting the principles of her Just Communities accreditation, her interests lie at the intersection of place, equitable economic development, and climate resilience. With more than 20 years of experience as a scholar and practitioner of the built environment, her work has spanned multiple roles, disciplines, and scales, providing her with unique insights into the cultural processes and networked politics of place production. These experiences inform her research agenda, which focuses on the planning and development of urban innovation districts.

For nearly a decade Krista served as the Executive Director of the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress where she led the revitalization of the city's commercial district during its transition to a majority Hispanic community. Currently she works full time as a PennTAP Technical advisor within Penn State's Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization. In this role she advances state and federal economic development, innovation, and industry decarbonization initiatives.