Claudia Herasme brings a passion for creating vibrant public spaces and inclusive communities to urban design. As a Partner at Partners in Public Design, she works to design environments that support both people and ecosystems. She's also the creator and co-host of Urbanística Podcast (based in Santo Domingo, the DR), making urban design knowledge accessible to everyday city dwellers so they can better understand their environment and become agents of change in their communities. Claudia has shaped urban policy at the highest levels, serving as Managing Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Design for Chicago's Department of Planning and Development and as Chief Urban Designer for New York City's Department of City Planning. Her work ranges from implementing Chicago's transformative Invest South/West initiative to developing NYC's Urban Design Principles and waterfront design standards that continue to guide development today. As an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, Claudia mentors the next generation of urban designers. She previously served on the AIA New York Board as Public Director and regularly participates as a design competition juror and academic critic. Born in the Dominican Republic, Claudia earned her Master of Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University and her degree in Architecture from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña in Santo Domingo.