Master of Community Development

From: Greensboro, North Carolina

What were you doing before enrolling in the Master of Community Development program, and why did you choose to pursue a Master of Community Development at Iowa State University? 

My undergraduate studies were as a Community & Regional Planning & Regional Economic Development double major at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. I graduated in May 2015 and worked as a code enforcement officer for 6 months before getting hired as a planner by the City of Archdale in April 2016, where I still currently work everyday.

I realized that in order to advance in my career that I needed a Master’s degree. As I work a lot with our community and our citizens, the program sounded very appealing. I liked how there was a variety of course offerings and I could choose the ones that fit me and my career aspirations. I originally started in the Great Plains IDEA program in the Spring of 2019 and finished my last semester here at Iowa State University’s Master of Community Development program.

Can you please share any unique projects or experiences you had while a student in the Master of Community Development program? How did this opportunity shape your understanding of community development and future goals?

I really enjoyed each of my courses, but the three I enjoyed the most were courses on grant-writing, evaluations, and organizing for community change. Each of these courses had something I could take back to my job as a planner and apply it in my work. This is what I enjoyed the most – every course was practical and hands-on. As someone with a full-time job, the flexibility in courses and the ability to do projects on things I enjoyed learning about or was doing in my day-to-day work was a big plus for me.

What advice do you have for anyone considering Iowa State or the Master of Community Development program? 

For any new student, I would tell them that it does not matter how long you take, but that you see it to the end. It is worth it! I did one class a semester and it took 4 years, but it was worth it as I balanced life, school, and work. Don’t be afraid to reach out to classmates as many of them are probably in a similar situation.

How will knowledge or experience gained through the Master of Community Development program impact your future?

I plan to take these skills back to my current job and hope to get the opportunity to be a Planning Director somewhere here in North Carolina, whether it’s in Archdale or the greater Piedmont Triad area.

Major: Masters of Community & Regional Planning (MCRP)

Hometown: Ekiti State, Nigeria

I graduated from Urban and Regional Planning (URP), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). I took courses from the architecture department, building construction, quantity surveying, and real estate. Urban Planning exposed me to concepts like urban design, urban renewal techniques, urban development planning, housing studies, transportation planning, research techniques, and a thesis titled ‘A Study of Environmental Health Practices in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.’ My graduating thesis from OAU examined the environmental health practices in Ile-Ife. Using a mixed method of research and questionnaire, I investigated the health practices in the community and how they affect the residents. It suggests ways to ensure our communities and environment are safe and healthy.

My research interest also lies in sustainable environments, especially in recreational planning and designs that promote sustainability.

Plans for the future: My long-term goal is to contribute to developing my immediate environment and home country using the knowledge gained from the MCRP Program.

Major: Masters of Community & Regional Planning (MCRP)

Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Community & Regional Planning (BSCRP) from Iowa State University in December 2021

Research interests: My research interests include, but are not limited to; environmental planning, sustainable development, civic engagement, land use planning and policy, climate action planning, and comprehensive (long-term) planning.

Plans for the future: I either plan to work as an urban planner for my hometown, Des Moines, Iowa, whether that be in the public sector (for the city government itself) or the private sector (working at a local planning firm). I would also like to get involved in the planning process and/or implementation of the City of Des Moines’ Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

Although I haven’t done much traveling abroad, I really enjoy meeting new people and learning about city planning efforts around the world!

Hyunsik Son (Son) is a Community and Regional Planning graduate student with a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a master’s degree in engineering in urban planning and design, both from Korea University (KU), Seoul, South Korea.

In his graduate studies in Korea, Son mainly explored community-university relationships through the Seoul Campustown Project which studied aspects of how smart ICTs and academic and human resources of universities can contribute to local communities. He also served in the capacity of a researcher at the Department of Urban Planning and Design Research, The Seoul Institute, and the Department of Architecture, KU.

In 2022, he began his academic journey at Iowa State University. His interest is in urban revitalization and related issues, such as preserving urban heritages and citizen participation within community planning. His studies in the US allow him an international perspective on sustainability, amongst other relevant case studies.

Ayodele Fadoju is a graduate student in the community and regional planning department and a minor in geographic information systems (GIS). He holds a Bachelor’s Degree and National Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun state, Nigeria, respectively. Ayo is a Spatial Mapping professional with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones), GIS packages, Landuse Planning and Analysis, Urban Infrastructure Planning, and Environmental Impact Assessment. He has achieved numerous successes in high-stake environmental tasks in extraordinary sectors, including Urban and Regional Planning, Construction, Renewable Energy, and Telecommunications, throughout the 6 Geo-political Zones of Nigeria. He has also worked on tasks financed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, State Governments, and corporate organizations.

He is a certified urban planner with the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) and a Corporate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP). He holds an expert certificate in Health Safety and Environment (HSE) from Joint Professionals Training Support Institute (JPTS). His long-term goal is to become a highly accomplished scholar-practitioner who will use policy formulation to create world-class solutions to his community’s physical, economic, and social problems.

Major: Masters of Community & Regional Planning (MCRP)

Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Liberal Studies, Iowa State University

My name is Brandin Mikel Johnson. I am a master’s student in Community and Regional Planning. I am from Des Moines, Iowa. As an undergraduate student at Iowa State University, I studied a variety of subjects including business, design, and engineering before graduating with a bachelors degree in Liberal Studies in 2022. I am particularly interested in topics surrounding urban and architectural history, historic preservation, and housing. In the future, I hope to do work which contributes to urban revitalization and affordable housing.

Major: Masters of Community & Regional Planning (MCRP)

Hometown: Tulsa, OK

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Design, University of Oklahoma

Hello! I’m Alisa Barzellone and I am a Regional and Community Planning graduate student. I’m originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I received my bachelor’s degree in the science of environmental design at the University of Oklahoma, where I worked on two major preservation projects for Tullahassee, OK and Vici, OK. I am currently pursuing a MCRP degree with specialization in historic preservation and small-town revitalization, and in the future hope to work to strengthen small-town infrastructures while preserving the cultures within them.

Major: Masters of Community & Regional Planning (MCRP)

Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor’s in English & Mathematics, Carleton College

I am Addison Williamson, student in the Masters of Community and Regional Planning program and also am intending to complete minors in Sociology and Sustainable Agriculture. I am from Des Moines, Iowa. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in English and Mathematics from Carleton College in 2019.

I am interested in researching injustices embedded into food systems planning and how they can be improved to work towards achieving racial and socioeconomic equity, creating a more environmentally and socially sustainable society, as well as incorporating the interests and rights of nonhuman animals.

After I graduate I want to continue a PhD program in the United States, as well as return to Armenia, where I used to live and work for some time after my undergraduate education was finished, to work with their climate adaptation plans.

Major: Masters of Community & Regional Planning (MCRP)

Hometown: Kanabulemu, Rakai District, Uganda

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying, Makerere University

I worked as a Quantity Surveyor for a private consultancy firm, Bikandema, and Partners, for three years before enrolling for my master’s. I am registered as a graduate member with the Institute of Surveyors Uganda (ISU).

My research interests include land-use planning, management, sustainable development, budgeting, and lifecycle costing.

I plan to use my degrees in Urban Planning and Construction Engineering to find sustainable, cost-effective solutions to urban problems in Uganda and Africa.

My name is Thomas Kosacz, and I am currently working on my Master’s in Community and Regional Planning (MCRP) here at Iowa State University. I am from Palatine, Illinois, but grew up in the Ukrainian Village in Chicago. I received my undergraduate degree in environmental science with a GIS minor in the Spring of 2021 here at Iowa State. My research interests include environmental planning, and remote sensing. In the future, I plan on working as an environmental planner and implement environmentally friendly practices in hopes of creating a more sustainable man-made environment. This past summer I have completed an internship with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation as a GIS Technician. Throughout this internship, I revamped and reorganized all their GIS data into multiple geodatabases, so everything is in one data folder. I also created maps for multiple REAP grants and created a new dataset for historically significant African American sites in the Quad Cities of Iowa for Pearson Consulting LLC, in hopes of one day connecting these locations into an official trail. I have been working for the ISU GIS facility on the Agriculture Conservation Planning Framework since my junior year of college.

Major(s): Double-majoring in Community & Regional Planning, and Urban Design, with a certificate in GIS

Hometown: Entebbe, Uganda

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Architecture from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

Research Interests: Inclusive, sustainable, and lively communities and cities

Plans for the Future: I am thinking of working as a city planner in municipal city planning authorities in Africa and elsewhere to design better, lively, flexible city projects that are feasible and sustainable. In addition, I am open to opportunities in academia as a faculty in some universities in Africa or anywhere.

Study abroad experiences: My experience studying abroad has granted me an opportunity to appreciate how diverse our communities have grown and the need to recognize, appreciate and respect culture and gender differences.

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Hometown: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Contact Email: svpa@iastate.edu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishnupriyasai/

Major(s): Master of Architecture + Master of Community & Regional Planning

Minor: Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

Currently in COD: Teaching Assistant | CRP Faculty Student Representative

Research Interests: Designing Urban spaces that focuses on Equity & Sustainability  – Social, Racial and Environmental | Politics in Urban Life | Land Use Planning & Policy | Happy and Smart Cities | ArcGIS and Python coding

General Interests: Art | Driving – Car, Bike, Flight | Love to explore new places by walk | Photography | Gardening

Undergraduate degree: Bachelors of Architecture, Anna University

Undergraduate Thesis: Material Exploration Centre, Chennai
Guide and Mentors in my B.Arch: Dr Kalai Selvi & Ar Vennila T

Work experience: 2.5 years ( 1 year internship + 1.5 years after graduation) in Hospital design, Acoustical design, Residential, Commercial design, educational facilities, Campus planning and Interior design for IIT Madras, Site & project Management, Budgeting, Material selection etc.

Plans for the future: I believe in equitable living. A balance between nature and nurture of urban developments and spaces and quality of living to all. People are shaped by their infrastructure around them, therefore environmental, social, and racial inequality can and should be changed. And as an architect with an urban planning mind, I wish to add my touch of ideology into this world. In my B.Arch, I worked on an urban design housing and infrastructure design project in a neighborhood of various demographic and social inequality. Breaking the usual apartment culture and designing spaces where people are “embraced to interact with their neighbors.” This project played a significant role in pursuing my career as an architect and urban planner. I want to work more on such projects that address such inequalities and give them an opportunity for a better living.

What do you enjoy most about your major? I really love that the students are so diverse and that the faculties are very supportive. I also love the flexibility to explore things academically.

Academic Works: I was very excited to participate representing Iowa State University in Design Futures Council Academy Webcast: Reinforcing the Bridge Between Academia and Practice on April 15, 2021, a national event where a panel of professionals and a panel of students talked about professional communities, the legacy of covid-19, and what values are more important for students as they evaluate offers from firms. I am thankful to Luis Rico-Gutierrez for considering me for this opportunity.

I am currently working on a research project “Civic Engagement Living Lab” and “PLAY AMES” under the guidance of Alenka Poplin, “How can sensory design be used as an engagement strategy in minority neighborhoods to enhance connectivity and sustainability within the community?” – it started in summer 2021 and continued into fall 2021.