People

Keunhyun Park, Ph.D. (he/him)

Assistant Professor, Department of Forest Resources Management

Dr. Keunhyun (Keun) Park is an Assistant Professor of Urban Forestry at the University of British Columbia and leads the Urban Nature Design Research Lab. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in landscape architecture from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in urban planning and design from the University of Utah. Before joining UBC, he was an assistant professor at Utah State University.

With an interdisciplinary background in landscape architecture and urban planning, his research examines how urban nature shapes people’s daily lives. Using spatial data analytics and behavioural approaches, he studies how people access and experience parks and green spaces, and how design and planning decisions influence those patterns. His work aims to inform healthier, more just, and resilient cities.

Outside of work, he enjoys running, hiking, camping, and spending time with his family.

CV (updated Mar. 2026) | Google Scholar | keun.park@ubc.ca |

Asim Khanal (he/him)

Ph.D. Candidate in Forestry

Asim Khanal is an urban planner and researcher interested in understanding how diverse user groups experience urban blue-green spaces. He intends to push the theoretical interpretation and practical implementation of ‘access’ by integrating the dimensions of vision and touch. In his doctoral dissertation, he also uses third-party big data to estimate spatiotemporal use dynamics of urban blue-green spaces or public spaces along shorelines.

Asim completed his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, India and an M.Sc. in Sustainable Critical Infrastructure from the Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, which was opened in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has worked as an Urban Planner, a freelance consultant, and a volunteer for federal, provincial, and local governments in multiple countries, including Nepal, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

In his leisure time, he likes camping, swimming in freshwater lakes, and composing music. He has also written a handful of newspaper articles and blogs on Medium and used to run a political satire page.

Google Scholar | akhanal7@ubc.ca | |

Mingze Chen (he/him)

Ph.D. Candidate in Forestry

Mingze is a Ph.D. student at UBC. He completed a master’s degree in urban design at University College London, UK. He has also worked as a researcher at UCL and as a landscape architect in Shanghai for the past three years. His research focuses on data-driven landscape and urban analytics, computational design and data visualization, and environment-human interaction in natural areas. Mingze enjoys working with academics and urban enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds. 

Outside work, Mingze is an avid fan of travelling, poems, exhibitions, symphony concerts, and photography. 

Personal Website | Google Scholar | Research Gate | mingzec@student.ubc.ca | |

Yiyang Wang (she/her)

Ph.D. Student in Forestry | Master of Science in Forestry (2022-2024)

Yiyang Wang is a PhD student in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. She has a background in urban forestry and completed her master’s studies in the UNDER Lab. Yiyang is passionate about urban planning and environmental justice. Her research focuses on promoting equitable access to urban public spaces through mixed-method approaches that connect communities to urban nature via diverse travel modes, holistic planning, and inclusive urban design. In 2023, Yiyang worked as a UBC Sustainability Scholar for Metro Vancouver, and in 2025 she served as a Knowledge Exchange Coordinator with UBC Campus and Community Planning on SEEDS’ initiatives. Beyond her academic work, Yiyang is also an accomplished landscape and portrait photographer.

Google Scholar | yiyang.wang@ubc.ca |

Sasha Rodriguez (she/her)

Master of Science in Forestry

Sasha Rodriguez has a background in urban forestry and transportation, with a strong focus on making cities more inclusive—especially for older adults. She’s led a number of initiatives to improve transportation accessibility, helping seniors stay connected to their communities while pushing for broader systemic change. Her work is driven by a deep interest in how access to nature supports both physical and mental well-being, and the need for inclusive, integrated urban spaces.

For her master’s, Sasha is exploring transportation accessibility through an innovative photovoice methodology, examining the barriers and facilitators that affect older adults’ access to urban parks.

In her free time, Sasha loves being outdoors—whether at the beach or in the forest—making pottery, or walking her dog.

sarod@student.ubc.ca |

Janice Agyeiwaa Owusu

Work Learn Project Assistant (Vibrant Urban Blue Space Study)

Janice recently completed the Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management program at UBC. She has a background in Geomatic Engineering from KNUST, Ghana. Her work spans GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data analysis, with a focus on applying geospatial tools to environmental and urban planning challenges.

Outside of work, Janice enjoys exploring new places, trying new foods, and discovering hidden spots around Vancouver.

| ePortfolio

Georgia McWilliams (she/her)

Work Learn Project Assistant (Climate-Adaptive Aging Study)

Georgia is a Master of Community and Regional Planning student with experience as a researcher and designer working at the intersection of public health and the built environment. 

Her background in participatory research has helped her to support community-engaged strategic planning and quality improvement projects in nonprofit and public-sector contexts. Georgia uses her skills in data collection and analysis, knowledge translation, and project management for collective advocacy for better health outcomes.  

Everly Jazi, Ph.D. (she/her)

Ph.D. in Forestry (2025)