Bhavna Sivasubramanian is a Faculty Specialist within the Center for Smart Growth Research & Education in the School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation at the University of Maryland. She is based out of the Montgomery County Planning Department where she is part of the Research & Strategic Projects (RSP) division. In her role, she leads the Master Plan Reality Check project that analyzes the degree to which master plans have realized the visions outlined in their recommendations. By assessing the difference between a plan’s aspirations and the on-the-ground reality, the study aims to shed light on why some plan aspects materialize as envisioned and others do not. These results intend to influence the direction of future planning efforts in Montgomery County.
Prior to joining NCSG and Montgomery County Planning, Bhavna enjoyed a career in international development, working on issues of food security and informal livelihoods in urban sub-Saharan Africa and India.