Teaching and research focus
Sustainability, Community Engagement, Creative Community and Economic Development
What’s your academic and professional background?
I arrived at the planning profession after having worked as a small business owner and having had a short stint in the film industry. My undergraduate studies focused on English and secondary education, and I had aspirations to become a high school English teacher before changing directions. I believe all those experiences prepared me to pursue my urban and regional planning master’s degree in the School of Planning and Public Affairs (SPPA). After grad. school, I worked as a regional planning and director of a chamber and economic development organization. I returned to the University of Iowa in 2016 to work for the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) and joined SPPA in 2019.
What current research projects or initiatives are you working on? How do you hope they contribute to the field and address real-world challenges?
Serving as director for the IISC is one of my primary responsibilities in SPPA. I love that I get to work with many departments across campus and communities all over the state. Because of my expertise in community engagement and strong relationships with community partners, I have had opportunities to join interdisciplinary research teams. I'm part of an NSF grant exploring how citizen science and weather intelligence can support community resilience to climate change impacts. I'm also really interested in creative community development, which explores how placemaking and arts can contribute to social change. Ultimately, I hope my work helps strengthen communities, build resilience, and promote sustainable development that mitigates or reverses environmental harms to the planet.
What personal experience inspired you to study urban planning/public affairs?
Honestly, I didn't know much about urban planning when I first explored this option for my graduate studies. At the time, around 2011, Urban and Regional Planning was the only graduate program that mentioned the word sustainability, so I had to investigate. I was also interested in a career in public service. One of the reasons I knew the program was the right fit for me is that it attracts really inspiring, intelligent, and compassionate people. The admissions coordinator at the time said that she loved her job because she gets to work with people who want to make the world a better place. That is consistent with my experience in the department too!
What excites you most about your work?
I really love working with our talented students. They have so much enthusiasm and creative energy. I also really appreciate how I get to put my work into practice in my own community. I'm a part of a many local groups and initiatives, such as Iowa City Repair Cafe and Public Space One, and I often get to connect local community development with meaningful educational experiences for students.
What advice do you give students who are just starting their journey in planning or public affairs?
Be intellectually curious, engage people that may have different lived experiences or have different worldviews, challenge the status quo, have coffee with your professors☺
If your wish could be granted, what one thing related to your area of study would you like to see change in the world?
This is tough... too many choices! I'll say that I'd like for society to universally work toward protection and restoration of the natural environment and biodiversity. Also, an end to racism.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, seeing live music, hiking, playing board games, and volunteering.
What’s your favorite music genre or era of music?
I like lots of music genres, but old school hip-hop is my favorite.
What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
Consider the Turkey, by Peter Singer
What is your favorite place to eat or spend time in the Iowa City area that you would recommend to students and visitors?
Public Space One for all kinds of art and community activities; Trumpet Blossom for food and live music; the ped mall, of course.