Rate My Professor Stephanie Ryberg-Webster

Stephanie Ryberg-Webster is Professor and Interim Associate Director in the Urban Affairs department at the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University. She directs the Master of Urban Planning and Development program. Ryberg-Webster holds a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning (2010) and an M.A. in City and Regional Planning (2010) from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.H.P. in Historic Preservation (2004) from the University of Maryland, and a B.U.P. in Urban Planning (2001) from the University of Cincinnati. Since joining Cleveland State University in 2010, she has advanced through academic ranks to full professor, contributing to teaching in urban planning, historic preservation, community development, architectural history, qualitative research methods, and community engagement.

Her research interests encompass historic preservation, urban development, neighborhood revitalization, community development, downtown revitalization, Main Street programs, historic preservation tax credits, and arts and cultural districts. Key publications include the co-edited book Legacy Cities: Continuity and Change amid Decline and Revival (2019) with J.L. Tighe; Preserving the Vanishing City: Historic Preservation amid Urban Decline in Cleveland, Ohio; and peer-reviewed articles such as 'Historic preservation and urban revitalization in the twenty-first century' (Journal of Planning Literature, 2014), 'Historic preservation in declining city neighbourhoods: Analysing rehabilitation tax credit investments in six US cities' (Urban Studies, 2017), 'Heritage amid an urban crisis: Historic preservation in Cleveland, Ohio's Slavic Village neighborhood' (Cities, 2016), and 'Historic preservation’s urban renewal roots: Preservation and planning in midcentury Philadelphia' (Journal of Urban History, 2013). Ryberg-Webster has secured funding as Co-Investigator for the National Endowment for the Arts' Place, Arts, & Cultural Systems (PACS) Research Lab (2023–2024), the Faculty Scholarship Initiative Award (2025–2026), the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Economic Impact Study (2015), and the Action Agenda for Historic Preservation in America's Legacy Cities (2014–present). She serves on editorial boards, including the Journal of Urban Affairs (2024–), and contributes to professional committees and external reviews, impacting policy in sustainable cities, economic growth, and climate action.