Melissa Malouf Belz| Worcester Polytechnic Institute

mbelz@wpi.edu

Melissa Malouf Belz

The Global School

Associate Teaching Professor-Interdisciplinary

Affiliated Department or Office

International & Global Studies

Education

BS Environmental Design University of Massachusetts, Amherst 1995

MA International Architectural Regeneration and Development Oxford Brookes University 2000

PhD Geography Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 2012

I am a geographer with a focus on the cultural landscape, meaning landscapes that are shaped by people. I am interested in development, how and why places change, and why certain traditions endure. I study this mainly through vernacular architecture (traditional regional design). My research was based in the Indian Himalaya and explores what connections forest policy and cash crop markets have with the decline in architectural woodcarving and vernacular design. I hope to better understand how modernization and preservation can be balanced to sustain culturally distinct landscapes. Previous to pursuing my Ph.D., I spent 10 years working in the field of architecture, blending interests in international development, sustainable construction, and preservation. I worked as a designer and spent several years in preservation and zoning in a National Historic District in Colorado. Additionally, I worked in the international development field with projects focused on appropriate and sustainable construction. Most of my work took place in Mexico’s border region for U.S. based non-profits and in Mongolia for the United Nations Development Program. I am thrilled to bring these experiences to my position as Associate Teaching Professor in IGSD and as Director of the Costa Rica Project Centers. Previously, I have taught courses in Human Geography, Geography of Tourism, and Environmental Geography. At WPI, I teach ID2050 (which prepares students for their IQP experience) and advise at various off-campus IQP project centers. It is very rewarding to work with students as they take on actual problems that matter in a community. I am particularly excited to be part of their experiences as they learn how their skills have broad application and can have a positive impact on society.

mbelz@wpi.edu

Owner

Research Interests

Vernacular Architecture and Cultural Landscape Change

The Role of Traditions in Modernizing Societies

Food Systems and Sustainability

Smart Cities

Scholarly Work

Belz, Melissa Malouf. 2013. “Unconscious Landscapes: Identifying with a Changing Vernacular in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India.” Material Culture Fall 45(2): 1-27.

Belz, Melissa Malouf. 2013. Review of “Managing Cultural Landscapes” edited by Ken Taylor and Jane L. Lennon. Routledge: London. In The Journal of Cultural Geography 30(1): 156-158.

Malouf, Melisa. 2004. “Tell, Show, Do: Teacher Training Programs for Tomorrow’s Housing Solutions.” In Building Without Borders, Sustainable Construction for the Global Village.” Edited by Joseph Kennedy, pp 109-117. Gabriola, B.C.: New Society Publishers.

Belz, Melissa Malouf. Forthcoming 2020. “Forest Policy, Deforestation, and Sustainable Development: A Himalayan Perspective.” Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World, Second Edition. Edited by Marcel Vellinga. London: Bloomsbury.

Belz, Melissa Malouf. Forthcoming 2020. “Khash-Kanait (Himachal Pradesh, hill tribe architecture).” Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World, Second Edition. Edited by Marcel Vellinga. London: Bloomsbury.

Professional Highlights & Honors

US State Department

Need, Approach, Benefits, Competition (NABC) Framework

A value proposition framework is often referred to as a NABC (look at the NABC card to find out more) which begins with a hook—a purpose and audience-specific grabber is defined as follows:

1. Need

Important unmet customer and market need with “pain point”
Ecosystem: trends, disruptions, business models, players, …
3-Cs white space and beachhead customers: size and growth rates
Key insights: the few reasons why the need has not been previously addressed and why it is now possible

2. Approach

Working hypotheses — offering and business model
Bring-it-to-Life, risk mitigation plan, proof points, and MVPs
Initial development plan with milestones and resources required
Innovation champion and team
After a compelling value proposition is created, then a complete proposal or business plan is developed — timing, financing, production, supply chain, distribution, partners, sales,