Staff

Jeremy Alajajian is the business officer for the Charlotte Urban Institute and also supports urbanCORE. Prior to joining the Institute, Jeremy worked for six years as a business services coordinator for the UNC Charlotte College of Health and Human Services. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Massachusetts Boston, […]

Fatimah Alnahash is a research data engineer in the UNC Charlotte Office of OneIT. Originally from Saudi Arabia, she graduated from UNC Charlotte in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Japanese language. Fatimah leverages software and data to support researchers at the Urban Institute in conducting meaningful projects that enhance […]

Expertise

• Homelessness
• Public Health
• Social Capital

Kathy Bywaletz is the office manager for the Charlotte Urban Institute. She also supports urbanCORE. Kathy previously worked at the David R. Ravin School of Architecture at UNC Charlotte, and at the Dawson News and Advertiser. Kathy earned a bachelor of science in advertising from the University of Florida.

Alberto Centurion provides technical assistance for the Transportation Information Management System (TIMS) to local educational agencies (LEAs) around North Carolina. He has 12 years of transportation and TIMS experience in various roles at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Cabarrus County Schools.

Asha Ellison is the director of research translation and engagement at the Charlotte Urban Institute. In her role, Asha amplifies the work of Institute leaders, researchers and staff on a local and national level, translating important data for consumption across various audiences, and for the benefit and use of the public and key community changemakers. […]

Mia Gaddy is a research associate at the Charlotte Urban Institute. She holds a master’s degree in economics from UNC Charlotte, where she specialized in Applied Econometric Analysis. With a strong foundation in economics and a passion for community-centered work, Mia integrates both quantitative and qualitative methods to better understand complex social issues. As a […]

Expertise

• Housing, homelessness
• Education
• Community Development and economic mobility

Dr. Mecca Howe (formerly Burris) is a research associate II at the Charlotte Urban Institute where she focuses on community-engaged applied research. Dr. Howe has been conducting community collaborative research since 2016 in the United States and Costa Rica. She is passionate about using holistic approaches and mixed methods to conduct research with the goal […]

Dr. Jenny Hutchison is a research associate for the Charlotte Urban Institute. Dr. Hutchison earned an MBA in finance from the University of Rochester, and holds a doctorate in health services research from UNC Charlotte. Her doctorate is focused on the association between access to free clinics and reliance on emergency departments. What underlies both […]