Kara Hamley O'Donnell

Kara Hamley O'Donnell, AICP, serves as the Principal Planner for the City of Shaker Heights since March 2020, focusing on strategic planning, transportation studies, public art administration, and grant management. Prior experience includes a 25-year tenure at the City of Cleveland Heights, where significant roles encompassed City Planner II, Historic Preservation Planner, Storefront Program Coordinator, and Zoning Administrator. Responsibilities involved policy development, public engagement, oversight of historic preservation initiatives, and management of renovation projects. Additionally, Kara held an adjunct faculty position at Ursuline College, teaching courses on historic preservation. Kara Hamley O'Donnell holds a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Miami University.