Mary Anne Alabanza Akers is Dean and Professor of the School of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State University. She received a Ph.D. in Social Science-Urban Planning from Michigan State University
In 1991. Dr. Akers’ research focuses on the impact of the built environment on street vendors, college students, homeless people, and other populations, as well as the cultural and social aspects of design.
She has over 50 publications including peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and research/professional
reports. She served on the board for the Environmental Design Research Association from 2005 to 2008
and is a reviewer for The Landscape Journal, Environment and Behavior Journal, and Cities Journal. In
the past three years, Dr. Akers has managed over $1 million of grant funding for research and curricular
activities. She was the co-Principal Investigator on the learning space study. She also led in conducting the statistical analysis, developing the outcome measures for the project and supervising student assistants.