Urban Science PhD Colloquium: Gus Sirakis in conversation with Ya-Ting Liu
The Center for Urban Science + Progress (CUSP) at NYU Tandon welcomes you to attend an Urban Science PhD Colloquium featuring Gus Sirakis, Deputy Commissioner at NYC Department of Buildings, in conversation with Ya-Ting Liu, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy at NYU Tandon.
Please note that this event has limited capacity and is open only to NYU graduate students and faculty, with priority given to students in the Urban Science Doctoral Track. Approved registrants will receive the event location in advance of the talk. Lunch will be provided.
Schedule
Lunch: 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM
Conversation: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Q&A: 1:30PM – 1:45 PM
About the Speakers
Ya-Ting Liu
Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy
Ya-Ting Liu is Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy at NYU Tandon, where she partners with the Executive Dean and senior leadership to advance the school’s strategic priorities and coordinate key initiatives across the institution. In this role, she helps guide the execution of Tandon’s short- and long-term vision, provides organizational leadership for the Office of the Dean, and works with stakeholders across the university to support the school’s continued growth and impact.
Prior to joining NYU, Ya-Ting served as New York City’s first Chief Public Realm Officer, where she led cross-agency efforts to improve and activate public spaces across the city. In that role, she coordinated initiatives among city agencies, community organizations, and private-sector partners, overseeing the implementation of the nation’s largest outdoor dining program, advancing scaffolding reform legislation, and developing new frameworks to make it easier for communities to program and activate public spaces. Ya-Ting has also held leadership roles at Via, the New York League of Conservation Voters, Transportation Alternatives, and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, where she focused on policy development, coalition building, and advancing sustainable urban infrastructure.
Ya-Ting holds a bachelor’s degree in conservation studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Constadino ‘Gus’ Sirakis, P.E., Deputy Commissioner
New York City Department of Buildings
Constadino ‘Gus’ Sirakis, Professional Engineer, serves as Deputy Commissioner of Development & Technical Affairs at the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB). His work spans several decades of improving construction standards and ensuring compliance to the Building Code.
At DOB, Gus established the Concrete Enforcement Unit for the regulation of concrete testing laboratories, visiting active construction sites to analyze concrete construction practices from formwork to site-safety protocols. In addition, he led the first revision cycle of the 2008 NYC Construction Codes to update the Structural and Special Inspection requirements for new technology, materials, and national standards in what became the 2014 NYC Construction Codes. Most recently he spearheaded the team to revise the City’s current Codes in what is the 2022 NYC Construction Codes.
Respected by colleagues and the industry alike, Gus is the recipient of multiple awards and has served with distinction on the International Code Council (ICC) since 2007.
About the Urban Science Doctoral Track at CUSP
The interdisciplinary Doctoral Track in Urban Science: Complexity, Informatics, and Sensing, led by the Center for Urban Science + Progress (CUSP) at NYU Tandon, fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment for Ph.D. students across NYU Tandon who share an interest in convergent urban science research. Visit our website to learn more.