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Allie Thomas
Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Professional Background
Allie Thomas is a distinguished urban planner and educator with extensive expertise in transportation planning, sustainable development, and organizational behavior. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the renowned University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she imparts her knowledge on urban economics and community development to the next generation of planners. Allie’s academic career is underscored by her commitment to integrating innovative planning practices that focus on non-motorized modes of transportation and inter-organizational coordination critical in modern planning processes.
Allie began her professional journey with a solid foundation in urban planning through her roles at various highly regarded institutions. She has previously held the position of Lecturer at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, where she engaged with a diverse cohort of international students and contributed significantly to their educational experience. Her postdoctoral research at the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis allowed her to refine her research skills and delve deeper into the complexities of transportation systems. Additionally, she gained valuable teaching experience through her graduate teaching positions at the College of Environmental Design and the Department of City and Regional Planning, both at UC Berkeley.
Before embarking on her academic career, Allie served as a Program Analyst at The Energy Foundation, where she focused on sustainable energy initiatives in China. Her work with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization as the Executive Chair at the Bridging the Divide Conference underscores her commitment to fostering collaborative solutions to global urban challenges. Her diverse experiences across various institutions and organizations have enriched her approach to teaching and research, making her a leader in the field of urban and transportation planning.
Education and Achievements
Allie's educational background is just as impressive as her professional achievements. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Urban Planning from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley, where she honed her research and analytical skills, laying the groundwork for her illustrious career. Alongside her Ph.D., she also obtained a Master of City Planning (MCP) from the same institution, establishing her deep understanding of urban environments and their complexities.
Allie has further diversified her academic repertoire with a Post Baccalaureate Certificate from Nanjing University, enriching her perspective on urban planning by immersing herself in international contexts. Her undergraduate journey includes a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she first cultivated her passion for urban studies. Complementing her formal education, Allie participated in the CLS Summer Program and the Education Abroad Program, which allowed her to explore global practices in urban planning and expand her professional network.
Achievements
Allie Thomas's contributions to the field of urban planning extend beyond her teaching and research endeavors. She has developed and taught courses such as "Neighborhood Planning: Chinese Urban Planning Practice" and "Community and Economic Development," through which she inspires students to engage critically with issues of urban sustainability and planning. Her research contributions are widely respected, offering insights into the intricacies of transportation systems and urban development, positioning her as an authority on sustainable practices in planning.
In her former role as Chair of the Bridging the Divide Conference at the Haas School of Business, she facilitated dialogue among industry leaders, academics, and policymakers on the intersections of technology and urban development, showcasing her ability to bring diverse stakeholders together to address pressing urban issues. Through her various positions, Allie's work has championed the cause of sustainable urban development, making her a prominent figure in transportation and land use planning.
Furthermore, Allie's focus on non-motorized modes of transportation speaks to the growing emphasis on sustainable urban mobility solutions, aligning her with current trends and priorities in urban planning. As a thought leader in her field, Allie's work not only broadens academic understandings of urbanism but also has substantial implications for real-world applications in cities around the globe.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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