Students

Program and Graduation Year: MS Sustainability, May 2024
Research Areas: Global green economy and African sustainable development
Extracurricular Involvement: Facilitator, Project Connect; Board Member, StAAR Center Student Advisory Board
What brought you to UEP? The incredible work done by the faculty on sustainability and environmental planning and policy
What is your favorite UEP memory? Discussions and debates on "Just Sustainabilities" in the Socio-Ecological Systems Thinking for Sustainability class.

Program and Graduation Year: Master of Science, Sustainability '23
Research Areas: Sustainability, Waste Management
Extracurricular Involvement: People of Planning
What brought you to UEP? The diverse environment cohort environment and capability to be able to hone my existing skills to develop a deeper understanding of sustainability.
What is your favorite UEP memory? Making memories and bonding with my cohort.

Program and Graduation Year: UEP Combined BA/MA Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy
Research Areas: Land Use, Conservation, and Outdoor Recreation
Extracurricular Involvement: GSAS Community Fellow, Acapella, Club Basketball
What brought you to UEP? I was brought to UEP by my desire to improve the my community and the communities of people that look like me. It is obvious that there is a lack of diversity in the field and I feel that additional perspectives from marginalized groups that have classically been left out of the conversation will improve the lives of everyone.
What is your favorite UEP memory? While it hasn’t happened yet, on November 13th I will be leading a hike with some UEP classmates for the first time. The planning process that has been completed with the help of Camille, Elliot, and Shadia has been energizing and I look forward to the bonding and memory-making that will take place on that trip.

Program and Graduation Year: MS in Sustainability, 2023
Research Areas: Community Engagement/Community Benefits, Water Quality, and Environmental Justice
Extracurricular Involvement: None yet, but considering creating a Tufts University American Water Works Association (AWWA) Student Chapter for students who are looking to build connections in the water quality sector.
What brought you to UEP? One reason I was drawn to UEP is because Tufts University itself was located on the other side of the country where I had never visited. I am a born and raised Californian and because of the pandemic, I was unable to travel outside of my general vicinity. This paired with living with my parents for a year after I just finished undergrad made me antsy to explore a new region of the United States and get out of town. Once I read up about the UEP program at Tufts University I knew it was where I wanted to pursue my higher education. (Plus I had family friends who were raving about the school!)
Favorite UEP Memory? Field Projects my spring semester was definitely one of the highlights. Not only because I was able to create something important and tangible for my project partner, but because I was able to meet and work with people in UEP that I hadn't worked with before. The group workshops during lecture times, the mid-semester presentation to different project groups for new perspective and feedback, the happy hour after each day of presentations - all of it stood out in my mind. A great class and great experience, and something that I feel is unique to UEP.

Program and Graduation Year: Joint MSc. Environmental Economics and Urban Planning (2021-2023)
Research Areas: Environmental Economics, Urban Economics, Sustainability, Environmental Justice, Housing
What brought you to UEP? I wished to be a part of a more applied economics program that combined theory with practical applications, helpful in solving pressing problems in the real world. I believe Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning is a big part of everyday decision making today. I was confident that this program would allow me to fulfill my long-term goal of making policy impacts through economic research.
What is your favorite UEP memory? Weekend trip to Portland with my friends from the program.

Program and Graduation Year: MA UEP, 2024
Research Areas: Urban Green Space, Community Engagement, Sustainability
Extracurricular Involvement: Board Member, ChaShaMa
What brought you to UEP? My desire to further develop my understanding of policy and planning methodologies, specifically as they relate to environmental and social equity and justice, which UEP intentionally prioritizes. Additionally, the program and professors are extremely supportive of students, like myself, who come to the program with a somewhat unrelated undergraduate degree. I come to UEP with an undergraduate degree in fine arts and have been encouraged to explore policy and planning through an arts lens whenever possible, which I greatly appreciate and enjoy!
What is your favorite UEP memory? Participating in field trips offered by the program outside of the classroom/courses. I’ve been able to go on an urban design walking tour of Boston and visit Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, both of which were educational, enriching and exciting.

Program and Graduation Year: UEP program, MS in Environmental Planning and Policy.
Research Areas: Sustainability and Transportation
What brought you to UEP? Studying abroad is a life changing experience for any student. In comparison to any other universities, for getting into Tufts I waited for 2 years long. The program for me was a perfect combination of understanding the USA’s policies and applying my engineering knowledge to the field.
What is your favourite UEP memory? Orientation day was my first day in campus. I still remember being filled with lot of excitement and nervousness at the same time, but the warm welcome and bunch of fun activities among my own peers kind of motivated me to know the culture, their passion and hearing about their experiences and future goals.