Department of Geography

Framingham State College

Framingham, MA 01701

Office: Hemenway Hall 246C
Phone: 508-626-4769
E-mail: ynajjar@frc.mass.edu OR ynajjar54@hotmail.com

Education

June 1987:	Ph.D. in Geography, University of Cincinnati, Department of Geography. Concentration: Urban Economic Models and Transportation Planning. Dissertation: “Spatial Patterns and Generation Of Person Trips in Middle Eastern Cities: A Case Study of Amman, Jordan”.
June 1987:	M.C.P. in Planning, University of Cincinnati, School of Planning. Concentration: Urban Design, Land Use and Environmental Planning.
April 1981:	D.E.D. in Economic Development, International Development Center of Japan, Tokyo. Thesis: “Economic Planning in Jordan”.
Sept. 1979:	M.A. in Economic Geography, University of Alexandria, Egypt. Thesis: “The Mineral Wealth of Jordan”.
Aug. 1976:	B.A. in Geography, Beirut Arab University, Lebanon.
Awards
2001:	Professor of the Year: Campus Leaders for Understanding Framingham State College, Framingham, MA
2001:	Distinguish Teaching and Service Award, by the University of Umm Al- Qura, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
1995:	The 1995 Distinguish Scholarship and Service Award, by the Regional Development and Planning Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers.
Professional Experience
Sept. 2001-Present:	Framingham State College, Framingham, MA.: Professor of Geography (Tenure)
Dec. 1998- June 2001	University of Umm Al Qura, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: Professor of Geography, Department of Geography, College of Social Sciences.
Courses Taught
Undergraduate Level:	Population Geography Geography of Services Urban Geography Current Urban problems Geography of North America
Masters Level:	Introduction to G.I.S. Urban and Regional Planning Research Methods and Thesis Design Readings in Urban Models
Doctoral Level:	Spatial Analysis Readings in Urban Geography Readings in Urban and Regional Planning
Clark University, and Worcester State College:
Fall 2002	Graduate course taught: Islam and Islamic Studies
Sept. 1994- Dec.1998	Instructor of Arabic language and culture, Critical Language Program
Framingham State College, Framingham, MA:
June 1996- Dec. 1998	Professor (tenure)
Sept. 1994- June 1996	Professor and Chairperson (tenure)
Sept. 1990- Sept. 1994	Associate Professor and Chairperson (tenure)
Sept. 1987- Sept. 1990	Assistant Professor
Administrative Experience Chairperson of the Geography Department (seven years) Advisor for the Urban and Regional Planning concentration. Advisor for the Geographical Association. Supervisor of student internships and field activity liaison with planning Boards, planning departments, regional growth management organizations and State agencies Director of the department orientation program Advisor for international students Member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Global Studies at Framingham State College (FSC) Consultant for FSC Educational Program Abroad General Secretary for the Islamic International Geographical Association Member of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester, MA Member of the Board of speaker at the Global Studies Institute, Charlton, MA
Planning Experience Consultant with the Town of Framingham’s Planning Department, and served in the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Comprehensive Master Plan Managed and directed three planning projects. Analyzed “open space in the Towns of Natick, Framingham, and Ashland, for the Sudbury Valley Trustees, Wayland, MA Supervised and directed a transportation planning study titled “The Impacts of Truck Traffic Flow and Trucking Facilities on Route 20, MA” for the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, Traffic Analysis Program, Worcester, MA Supervised and conducted a recreation planning project, “Statistical Evaluation of Callahan State Park Users” as part of the Master Plan sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Directed a field survey and forecasting of recreation participation growth trend of five state parks in Massachusetts sponsored by DEM. Directed and conducted a comprehensive study “Parking Allocation and Traffic Circulation at Framingham State College” Supervised and conducted fee-based consulting services with LandUse, Inc. Ashland, MA, and Lozano, White and Associates, Cambridge, MA
Teaching Experience at Framingham State College
Planning Concentration: Professionalized the Urban and Regional Planning Concentration by developing and teaching the following Practical Planning courses: Process of Urban and Regional Planning: Introduction to the planning process. Fundamentals of data acquisition and analysis applied to land use planning, focusing on transportation systems, housing, industry, and recreation. Practice in plan making and evaluation at regional and urban scales. Methods for Planning Analysis and Plan Making: Focuses on the specific techniques of city plan preparation and presentation, and on the methods of involving local citizens in the planning process. Among the techniques included are the site analysis, field surveys, mapping and graphics for data presentation, and organizing public participation workshops. Computer applications for planning are surveyed. Theory and Practice of Planning: Comparative geographical analysis of the implementation of planning theory in the urban and regional contexts of various cultures. This course involves critical analysis of the structure and the dynamics of planning organization, decision processes, procedural policy and compliance, social role and occupational techniques. The course attempts to examine the social and political environments in which planners perform, how they perform, and how their performance may be evaluated.
Geography courses: World Regional Geography Geography of the Middle East Urban Geography Geographical Techniques I: Cartography Advanced Geographical Techniques: Spatial and Multivariate Analysis Cultural Geography Geographic Perspectives on the Environment
Sept., 1984-July, 1987- University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio: Evening College (Instructor) – taught the following courses: Human Geography Physical Geography Arabic Language and Culture Department of Geography (Teaching and Research Assistant Scholarship) Teaching Assistant for the following courses: Physical Geography Lab Recreation Geography Geography of the United States and Canada Computer Center (part-time job): Operated IBM printers 3203 and 2501 Versatec, HP plotter and VAX Advised students on the use of SAS and SPSS Statistical Analysis Packages
June 1985-Sept. 1985: Municipality of Amman and Dar El-Handasah: Transportation Planner (summer job): As part of the decision-maring team, engaged in the inventory phase and in the analysis of existing traffic conditions and calibration of forecasting models to stimulate traffic flow and assess impact of future growth scenarios in Greater Amman, Jordan.
Oct., 1979-Dec., 1982- Ministry of Municipalities, Rural Affairs and Environment: Department of Regional Planning, Amman, Jordan: Land Use and Transportation Planner: As part of the decision-making team of Irbid Regional Planning Group (IRPG), directed all phases of land use analysis of the Northern Region of Jordan in relation to future economic development, and evaluated zoning and subdivision regulations in the region’s urban centers. Managed and directed a regional traffic counting program. Supervised 50 researchers, conducted household survey and roadside interviews as means of data collection for the Ring Roads Project around the city of Irbid, Jordan. Supervised and conducted fee-based consulting service with The Arab League: The Organization of Arab Economic Cooperation, studying land use patterns as part of a comprehensive “Rural Development Plan for King Talal’s Dam Area, Jordan”.

Framingham State College 100 State Street Framingham, MA 01701-9101 (508) 620-1220