Rachel Cousart Palisin, PhD Student

Rachel Cousart Palisin is a PhD. candidate in the Urban & Regional Planning & Design Program. She holds a master's degree in Advanced Structural Design (2009) and bachelor's degrees in Civil Engineering and in Social Thought & Analysis (2007) from Washington University in St. Louis. Before coming to Maryland, she grew up in North Carolina and then lived in Missouri for a few years.

While studying architecture, engineering, and planning, Rachel has worked for several architectural and engineering firms as well as a redevelopment and preservation non-profit organization. Rachel practices as a structural engineer specializing in existing structures, is LEED-AP BD+C certified, a member of the Association for Preservation Technology, the Structural Engineering Institute, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Rachel's focus in the PhD program is historic preservation, and she is working on her dissertation with Don Linebaugh regarding the assessment and restoration of Bostwick House in Bladensburg, Maryland.

Upon completing the program, Rachel would like to teach in a university setting. She has previously served as a teaching assistant at the undergraduate and graduate level, and most recently taught two semesters of the Architecture Technology course sequence here at Maryland. Believing that the connection between research, teaching, and practice is vitally important in our allied fields, she also intends to continue her involvement in engineering rehabilitation and assessment projects.

Rachel Cousart Palisin
Ph.D. Student
Urban Studies and Planning Program
School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
University of Maryland