Hemalata Dandekar served as director and professor of ASU’s Department of Planning from 2002-2009. Her research interests include housing, comparative issues of international development, urban form and design, women and development, rural planning, vernacular architecture and planning methods. She has worked in India, South Africa, Japan, the U.S.-Mexico border, and in Michigan, Arizona and California on various aspects of planning and design. She has been a consultant for the World Bank, UNESCO, UN Habitat and APA and is the author of numerous books and articles. Currently, she holds the position of professor and department head of City and Regional Planning at California State University San Luis Obispo.