Dr. Gala Korniyenko

About
Dr. Gala Korniyenko is a Director of Research and Development at the National Youth Advocate Program, and a Lecturer at the Knowlton School of Architecture, College of Engineering at the Ohio State University.

Her research agenda centers on public participation with a particular emphasis on inclusive decision-making. She is committed to advancing policy-relevant research that informs equitable service delivery and fosters adaptive urban environments.

Korniyenko holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Kansas and a doctoral degree in city and regional planning from the Knowlton School, with a graduate minor in Public Policy and Management from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs.

Korniyenko brings this interdisciplinary perspective to both research and practice, contributing to projects that explore how cities can be designed to support autonomy, dignity, and belonging for all residents. Notably, she co-developed the Six Feelings Framework for Autism Planning and Design Standards, a research-based tool that translates sensory and emotional insights into practical design strategies for more inclusive public spaces.

Recent Publications: 

“Planning for War-Induced Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Accommodation in Ukraine” (2024). Nathan Hutson, Gala Korniyenko, King Chung. Nature Cities 1, 109-111 DOI: 10.1038/s44284-023-00029-x

"Universal Design and Inclusive Participation" (2023). Gala Korniyenko. In S. Halder, S. Dada, R. Banerjee (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Inclusive Education for Teachers Educators: Issues, Considerations and Strategies, Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003266068-5

“Participation: How to involve citizens in planning their city” (2023) Tim Van Epp, Gala Korniyenko, Dominika Ľudviková, Fulco Treffers, Jing Zhang. In Urban Coalition for Ukraine: Strategies and Proposals. DOM Publishers. https://ro3kvit.com/projects/urban-coalition-for-ukraine-book