In recognition of her outstanding academic work, internships, and voluntary service, Urban and Regional Planning presented the annual AICP Outstanding Student Award to graduating planning student Molly Fleming on May 6, 2010. In addition to her outstanding academic work, Molly has worked as a Research Assistant with Dr. Peter Fisher (on Iowa economic development policies); for the Iowa Policy Project (investigating state energy, environmental and budgetary issues); and for the University of Iowa Labor Center (investigating labor law and policies). She has also interned in Kansas City for the Office of the Mayor, where she worked on economic development policies, and for El Centro to support Latino homeownership programs. She was honored earlier this year as a 2010 Fellow of the Obermann Graduate Institute on Engagement and the Academy at the University of Iowa where she participated in an intense workshop on creating scholarship that has meaningful impacts for the broader community. Her work there contributed to a very successful second year Field Problems project on promoting energy and storm water sustainability in Decorah, Iowa through the Decorah Water and Energy Conservation Action Network (Decorah WE CAN).

Throughout her Master’s program, she has also volunteered significant time and efforts for the Iowa City Southeast side neighborhood planning initiative, for the United Way flood recovery effort in Cedar Rapids, and for the Johnson County homeless shelter. She spearheaded the ongoing and regular involvement of our Student Association at Shelter House, Iowa City’s only homeless shelter. Molly has also excelled as a participant in the Urban and Regional Planning Student Association’s intramural athletic team which in 2009-2010 won the all-University competition for best intramural team! Upon graduation, Molly will be employed as a policy analyst with a community-based nonprofit in Kansas City.