Who We Are

Julia DiMauro

Program Manager
Baltimore City Office
jdimauro@ndc-md.org
(410) 205-9952

Julia is a returning Baltimorean and committed localist with a passion for collaboratively imagining futures for the built environment while honoring its histories. She came to NDC after living in Berlin, Germany for six years while completing her Master's in Historical Urban Studies and working in the field of civic participation. After working on interdisciplinary projects ranging from city-wide discussions about Zurich's climate action plan, to neighborhood engagement on public greenspaces and mobility, she is excited to be on site in Baltimore working with and for community-initiated projects. Outside of work you'll find her biking somewhere with a cake strapped to her back rack.

Maura Dwyer

Project Coordinator
Baltimore City Office
mdwyer@ndc-md.org
(443) 835–5582

Maura is an artist and urban planner with a focus on placemaking. She recently completed her graduate degree in community and regional planning at the University of Maryland, where she researched community ownership and anti-displacement strategies with the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network, and supported the Creative Placemaking Minor program. She previously worked as the Program Manager for the Station North Arts District in Baltimore, as a Community Engagement Coordinator for NDC's public lighting initiative Signal Station North, and with NDC’s Place Matters program. A Baltimore native, she has a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary sculpture and video from the Maryland Institute College of Art. When not working at NDC, you can find her volunteering with neighborhood projects and local advocacy campaigns, attending art openings and community festivals, and enjoying Baltimore's treasures with her partner and family.

Jen Goold

Executive Director
Baltimore City and Prince George’s County Offices
jgoold@ndc-md.org
(410) 736–9643

Jennifer Goold joined the Neighborhood Design Center in 2012 after more than a decade of work in cultural resources management, historic preservation, development and planning. At NDC, she directs all aspects of the center’s operations including staff, programs, outreach, and fundraising. A Baltimore resident since 1993, she has been involved in many of the city’s largest historic building rehabilitations, including the American Can Company, Silo Point and Tide Point. She received a BS in Interior Design from Indiana University and an MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. Hailing from Boone County Indiana, Jen’s early years included 10-year 4H membership including winning the title of master showman.

Christina Hartsfield

Programs Director, Architecture and Community Planning
Prince George’s County and Baltimore City Office
chartsfield@ndc-md.org
(410) 777–5644

Christina is a Certified Planner with over 15 years of combined experience in architecture, urban design, development review, community planning, and placemaking. Prior to joining NDC, she worked for the Prince George’s County Planning Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, where she developed and executed placemaking projects and planning studies. She also worked for the Baltimore City Planning Department providing design and zoning guidance for small- and large-scale developments. She enjoys being an agent in creating welcoming public spaces that evoke joy, comfort, and peace of mind and is skilled at developing collaborative partnerships to implement community-led plans. Christina received her Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Urban and Regional Planning degrees from Virginia Tech. She is a mother, wife, dog owner, and avid DIYer!

Briony Evans Hynson

Deputy Director
Baltimore City Office
bhynson@ndc-md.org
(301) 830-5219

As Deputy Director, Briony leads development, design leadership and engagement initiatives at NDC. Briony started in her role at NDC in 2013, after completion of the Robert W. Deutsch Social Design Fellowship at Maryland Institute College of Art. The lynchpin of her work is understanding community and the shared built environment to leverage positive social change. Previously, as the founding creative director of Honfleur Gallery, Briony employed varied approaches to build creative capacity via revitalization efforts in Washington DC’s Ward 8. Hynson holds a BFA in Sculpture from Alfred University and an MA in Social Design from MICA.  

For inquiries and to request accommodation regarding accessibility, contact Briony.

Catharine Love

Forestry Technician, Urban + Community Forestry
Prince George’s County Office
clove@ndc-md.org
(301) 850-1462

Catharine has a background in Fine Art but is currently working toward her Bachelor's of Science degree in Environmental Management. Before coming to NDC, she worked for the State of Maryland in the Department of Natural Resources and in the Department of Agriculture. In 2023, she spent several months getting hands-on experience with the construction of stormwater BMPs with a nonprofit based in Howard County. Catharine is a certified Maryland Master Naturalist and is passionate about positively contributing to the resilience of our local ecosystems and communities.

Dana Puzey

Director of Business and Operations
Prince George’s County Office
dpuzey@ndc-md.org
(301) 850-1724

Dana is responsible for securing and managing the grants and contracts at the Neighborhood Design Center for both the Prince Georges County and Baltimore offices. Ms. Puzey began her post graduate career in Baltimore City in 2009, working with residents and communities to identify stormwater problems and site stormwater BMPs. In 2015, Dana joined NDC to oversee the organization’s urban forestry work in Prince George’s County. Her work evolved to include enterprise development for both offices and she served as an executive team member in the Enterprise Development Director role through 2022. Throughout her career, she has focused on program development and financial management. Dana received a Bachelor’s degree from Elon University in Environmental Studies and a Master’s degree from Virginia Tech in Urban and Regional Planning. When she’s not at the office, Dana keeps busy by exploring parks and museums with her young children.

Nicole Ringel

Development Manager
Baltimore City Office
nringel@ndc-md.org
(443) 842-0206

Nicole Ringel is an artist and arts administrator with a passion for place-based art and design that activates civic engagement, amplifies community voices, and contributes to a strengthened social fabric for all. Nicole received a B.A. in Studio Art and Art History from McDaniel College and completed her M.F.A. in Intermedia and Digital Art at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where her thesis work focused on investigating layered social and ecological histories in public spaces. Nicole comes to the Neighborhood Design Center from Baltimore Center Stage, where she managed fundraising operations across corporate, foundation, government, individual giving, and special events.

Laura Robinson

Programs Director, Landscape Design + Environmental Resilience
Prince George’s County and Baltimore City Office
lrobinson@ndc-md.org
(301) 850-6697

Laura is a landscape designer and ISA Certified Arborist® who combines her experiences in ecology, design, and project management to lead NDC’s landscape design and forestry teams. Laura comes to her work with a passion for environmental and social justice and a desire to learn from everyone’s unique experiences with nature and the built environment. Her design experience ranges from small-scale projects like rain gardens, native planting plans, and outdoor classrooms to larger scaled projects like regional trails, green infrastructure master plans, and city parks. Laura received a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Media Arts and Design from James Madison University, and later her Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Maryland.

Jenny Smeltzer

Project Manager, Landscape Design
Prince George’s County Office
jsmeltzer@ndc-md.org
(240) 799-1365

Jenny is a landscape architect and LEED AP with 18 years of experience designing open spaces, including parks, campuses, urban areas, and historic spaces that incorporate restoration planting, edible landscapes, stormwater management, water harvesting, coastal/water’s edge projects, and infill design. Jenny appreciates functional landscapes that beautify and address environmental, cultural, and social challenges. When not at NDC, Jenny hikes on trails and walks in their neighborhood, always looking for clotheslines, vegetable gardens, and skunk cabbage.

Tirzah Basit Khan

Project Coordinator
tkhan@ndc-md.org

Tirzah is a planner and designer who grew up in Baltimore County, and has previously contributed to NDC's work in assorted volunteer and intern capacities. With a background in political and advocacy design, she uses visual communication and systems thinking to support liberatory, community-led planning. She holds a B.S. in Information Systems from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a Master of Urban Planning from Harvard University, where she nourished her interests in mobility and infrastructure justice, community engagement, and speculative design. When offline, she’s likely thrifting weird little items, drinking jasmine tea, or reading books about urban planning to her cat.

Victor Melendez Maldonado

Intern
vmelendez@ndc-md.org

Victor is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University in Organismal and Environmental Biology. He is currently attending American University to pursue his Master’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, he is passionate about conservation and spreading awareness to the community about the importance of native species. When not working, you can find Victor birding, baking, roller skating, or hanging out with his cat.