Tag Archives: Growth and Structure of Cities

The Importance of Experiential Learning in an Urban Atmosphere by Augusta Clusen Moses ‘27

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Name: Augusta Clusen Moses
Class Year: 2027
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities

Internship Organization: Metropolitan Planning Council
Internship Title: Research Assistant
Location: Chicago, Illinois

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

Group outing to visit the display of a project we are a finalist for

This summer, I have been conducting research across many projects, all within the realm of transportation in Chicago. My work has ranged from riding public transportation across the city and documenting the user experience, to mapping bus routes and county forest preserves, to more mundane activities like reading and watching materials/reports and writing a summary to provide to my supervisors. While working for a small, non-profit organization, it became apparent just how much creativity and adaptability is required, and I am grateful to have learned such skills so I can carry them with me as a transition into new positions in the future.

Why did you apply for this internship?

Transportation team photo after the conference Transport Chicago

Truthfully, I was applying for anything that came my way. Throughout the search process, it became glaringly obvious that LinkedIn was not going to be the pathway to finding a summer internship. I began reaching out to anyone I knew or looked up to, searching for opportunities for undergraduates to get hands-on experience in the urban planning world.


What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

I did not expect to make so many connections! Everyone is so friendly, and wants to help out the next generation of urban planners. I talked to people from all levels ranging from CEO’s to other research assistants like me. It was exciting to find that everyone just wants to talk about their shared passions and interests, no matter the title you hold. I hope that these connections can remain in my life, and help to grow my network as a leave Bryn Mawr in the spring.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

A guided walking tour of transit-oriented development (TOD) in the Chicago suburb of Mount Prospect

I have realized that sitting at a desk is not the ideal workplace environment for me. I had never had a desk job before, so I was excited to experience a more technical job. I quickly realized that being at desk did not feel fulfilling, and is hard on your body. I have always been an active person, working in environments where I am required to be on my feet, interacting with people all day. Although that can be exhausting, I find it far more rewarding.

Learning Together: My Internship at an Education Non-profit by Dalia Ibrahim ‘27

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Name: Dalia Ibrahim
Class Year: 2027
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities
Minor: Data Science

Internship Organization: CollegeTogether
Internship Title: Student Analytics & Support Intern
Location:  Philadelphia, PA

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

I am currently interning at CollegeTogether, a non-profit organization committed to providing affordable education by offering degree programs that cost less than the Pell Grant. Our organization operates as a mentorship program in partnership with Southern New Hampshire University, which enables participating students to earn their Associate’s and/or Bachelor’s degrees through the completion of over 50+ projects at their own pace (or an average of 1-3 years), serving as an alternative to traditional college coursework. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded their degrees directly from SNHU, a well-regarded online university with national and international recognition.

Picture of the office

In my role, I collaborate closely with the Head of Academics on various projects such as consolidating and cleaning student records data sheets, analyzing trends, and compiling relevant data. I also assist in using education-focused CRM software accredited by universities to improve data management and streamline communication processes related to student records. Additionally, I develop project trackers for each degree pathway and potential career options associated with those degrees. My responsibilities also include assisting with website building, preparing student content for newsletters, and supporting basic office organizational tasks and operational functions

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship to diversify my professional experience beyond my previous roles in working for government and historical preservation. While I am currently working for a non-profit organization, I want to broaden my professional experience as a Cities major; I previously pursued internships in government or urban planning. Additionally, I wanted to gain firsthand experience working in an urban environment for local Philadelphia communities understand post-graduate life in a city setting. Finally, I was eager to learn more about the operations of an education startup dedicated to supporting lower-income communities in Philadelphia.

Was there anything special about how you found this internship?

I learned about my internship through a friend’s connection. Isabelle Gershon ’29, who heard about the opportunity through one of her courses and shared it with me. The founder of the organization, Oscar Kirschwang, is a Haverford alum who previously gave a guest lecture in one of my friend’s education classes, during which she obtained his contact information. She mentioned this to me, provided his contact details, and I reached out via email to inquire about available positions. Typically, Oscar collaborates with the Haverford Center for Peace and Global Justice, but since the position was still vacant and the funding deadline for Haverford students passed when I applied, I was able to secure funding through my Bryn Mawr internship program.

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

During my internship, I gained valuable insights into the internal operations and planning processes of a non-profit organization, including the historical context and expectations that contributed to the development of CollegeTogether. Additionally, working with a start-up CRM software provided a new perspective on how a mentorship and education-focused non-profit functions. I also learned a great deal from my colleagues, such as my supervisor, Sanya, and the most recent hire, Leslie. Both are recent graduates (within the past two years) who completed their college education through the CollegeTogether program and successfully presented their job ideas to the founder, Oscar. Their experiences demonstrate that taking initiative and advocating for oneself can lead to unique opportunities and the creation of roles aligned with one’s passions. It never hurts to ask and put yourself out there.

A Summer of Landscape Design on the Gulf Coast by Genevieve Syrett ’27

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Name: Genevieve Syrett
Class Year: 2027
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities

Internship Organization: Louisiana State University Coastal Ecosystem Design Studio
Internship Title: Design Intern
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana (with fieldwork in Biloxi, Mississippi)

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

Fieldwork and site research along the Back Bay wetland boardwalks

This summer, I am interning with the LSU Coastal Ecosystem Design Studio, where I am helping develop a coastal resilience plan for East Biloxi, Mississippi. Alongside my team, I have been conducting site analysis and field research to better understand Biloxi’s flooding patterns, stormwater management challenges, and community needs. From this, we have developed design proposals for a blue-green trail network supported by GIS analysis, site plans, and landscape architecture renderings!!

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship because I wanted to gain hands-on experience in design, and more specifically, landscape architecture. Throughout my time in the Cities department at BMC I have also had an interest for ecological urbanism, so the opportunity to do design work on real-world environmental challenges was incredibly exciting!

Deer Island

I was also interested in working alongside master’s and Ph.D. students as an equal on an interdisciplinary team, where I could learn from all of their specific expertise (quantitative economics, geography, river studies, etc.) while also contributing my own ideas and design work.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship has been the fieldwork. Before this summer, I had never been to the South, so it was super cool to experience Louisiana and Mississippi’s natural landscapes first hand. Visiting barrier islands along the Gulf Coast, marshes, wetlands, and bayous gave me a much deeper understanding of the landscapes we were designing for than I could have gained in the studio alone. One of my favorite experiences was our fieldwork on Deer Island, Biloxi’s barrier island, which is only accessible by boat. There, we were able to see wildlife up close (fiddler crabs, brown pelicans, snowy egrets, etc.) and study the three distinct ecosystems present!

What is most rewarding about your internship?

A simplified look at our final master plan for East Biloxi

The most rewarding part of this internship has been seeing our work come together into a project that could have a real impact on the future of East Biloxi. Presenting our final plans to our peers, LSU faculty, stakeholders, and community members made all of our research, fieldwork, and design efforts feel meaningful. It was incredibly exciting to know that the ideas we developed could help inform future conversations about creating a more resilient and connected community, especially in terms of stormwater management within the city.

Aimee Crozat ’27: Exploring the Nonprofit World in Washington, DC

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Name: Aimee Crozat
Class Year: 2027
Majors: Growth and Structure of Cities, English

Internship Organization: Congress for the New Urbanism
Internship Title: Resources Intern
Location: Washington, DC

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

This summer I am working as a resources intern with the Congress for the New Urbanism, a nonprofit that is focused on building better towns, neighborhoods, and cities across the United States. Guided by a series of long-standing principles, CNU seeks to create spaces for professionals (engineers, urban planners, architects, etc.) to bring their expertise together and focus on changing the built environment for the better. As a resources intern, I am helping to make sure that there is an abundance of information accessible to the general public about what New Urbanism is and the work that CNU does. This involves developing their online database on the back end (lots of spreadsheets!) in order to gather and manage large quantities of data so that researchers can eventually access and use it. I have also been tasked with reaching out to professionals outside of CNU to update existing information and make sure the data is as accurate as possible.

Why did you apply for this internship?
Last summer I had the privilege to work with Professor Jennifer Hurley on her research surrounding New Urbanism and the nature of activism within professional movements. As part of this internship, I presented the initial findings of our research to the directors of CNU, and was able to meet them that way. So when they realized they had the capacity to take on an intern this summer doing similar work, I jumped at the chance. This way, it was easier to informally apply, since I had already made their acquaintance via Professor Hurley.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship by far has been the ability to work with the intelligent, dedicated staff at CNU. From the very beginning, they have welcomed me on board and treated me as a valued member of the team. Through weekly Zoom meetings and a dedicated space in the office, I have been able to gain valuable experience working in a hybrid office environment and seeing the inner workings of how a nonprofit functions. Although CNU is virtual, lots of communication is necessary to keep things going, and it’s very interesting to see how that happens online as opposed to in a typical office where people can chat in person. Everyone is so passionate about what they do, and it was such a privilege to be able to join the team and get an inside look at what it takes to run an organization of this scale.

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

Hybrid, Adaptable, Collaborative

Experience, Communication, Microsoft Excel

 

Planning Cities for Community by Anna O’Connor ’28

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Name: Anna O’Connor
Class Year: 2028
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities
Minors: Sociology, Music

Internship Organization: Street Lab
Internship Title: Urban Planning and Research Intern
Location: New York, NY

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

Street Lab’s sites of 2026 so far!

I am interning with Street Lab, an organization focused on public space activation across all boroughs of New York City, bringing New Yorkers together in pre-existing public spaces within the urban fabric. This summer has been especially exciting at Street Lab as the organization has partnered with Mayor Mamdani’s office to bring the excitement of the World Cup to the streets of New York! I specifically have been working with lots of maps, mapping the activations across the city and various data points, along with coordinating with and researching community stakeholders to make these activities possible.

Why did you apply for this internship?

As a Growth and Structure of Cities major I applied for this internship because I am fascinated by the intersection of public space activation, urban planning, and the built environment. From an urban planning perspective, I am interested in place-making and how public space can increase city residents’ quality of life along with how these spaces can strengthen commercial corridors and transform neighborhoods and communities. Street Lab has been a wonderful experience in exploring the intersection of my interests within the field!

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

One of Street Lab’s pop-up place-making streets

I am learning so much about the processes behind planning initiatives and public space activation and particularly how ideas are transformed into physical implementations in a complex city system. I’ve been developing skills in mapping and spatial analysis along with communication and coordination skills with community stakeholders that allow for ideas to be implemented. These skills are important as they are useful and necessary for all urban planning and development efforts!

What is most rewarding about your internship?

Some of the data point maps I made throughout the summer

It has been incredibly rewarding to witness the direct impact of New Yorkers utilizing Street Lab’s public space activations. Oftentimes planning and development initiatives take years to take form and directly benefit residents but Street Lab’s activations are implemented quickly making the benefits much more immediate. It has also been rewarding working with and learning from community organizations such as The NYC Department of Transportation, New York City Public Schools, Business Improvement Districts, and more all of which have provided me insight into the complex systems, organization, and partnerships that allow cities to thrive and evolve.

Campus Architecture and Planning at the University of California by Laurel Davies ‘28

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Name: Laurel Davies
Class Year: 2028
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities

Internship Organization: UC Berkeley Capital Strategies
Internship Title: Physical and Environmental Planning Intern
Location: Berkeley, California

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

As a planning intern at UCB Capital Strategies, I’m involved in several projects that reflect the varied responsibilities of the university’s architecture office. I work directly with Wendy Hillis, UCB’s Campus Architect, to research the history of planning at the ten UC campuses and investigate how early UC architecture and planning decisions reflected the broader cultural, political, and economic climate of the state.

Visiting the roof of a campus building that is scheduled for renovation in 2027

As a part of this project, I get to explore the University’s special collections archive, reviewing paper documents and correspondence sometimes dating to before 1900. It has been equally exciting to read first-hand accounts of the University’s earliest architectural decisions as it has been to discover silly personal references in memos that pre-date the invention of email.

In addition, I draw on my own design skills in this role to create signage templates for the University’s standardized interior signage guidelines. This task is especially meaningful because it allows me to personally contribute to the improvement of accessibility and wayfinding at UCB: improvement that benefits the physical experience of the campus for all visitors. I’m also responsible for several inventorying initiatives intended to improve the maintenance of campus signage, garbage disposal, and public art installations.

Finally, I accompany members of Capital Strategies Physical Environmental Planning office to their design review meetings and site visits to take notes and experience the day-to-day of architectural project management. Construction sites are much faster-paced than office design work and require different skills – focus, adaptability, organization – and reveal another important side of the industry.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship to gain firsthand exposure to California’s architecture and design industry from the perspective of a practicing professional, complementing the academic foundation I developed through Bryn Mawr’s studio design courses.

The view from the top of the Gateway Building, a new contemporary academic building on campus that will be open for classes this fall

Before beginning my internship search, I conducted several informational interviews with California-based institutional architects and spoke with my studio professors, who also practice architecture in the Philadelphia area. These conversations made it clear that the day-to-day realities of architectural practice differ substantially from the academic studio environment. Wanting to better understand my own career goals while expanding my technical and professional skills, I sought an internship in an architecture firm that would provide opportunities for shadowing, design work, and research.

Was there anything special about how you found this internship?

Securing this internship became a testament to the strength of Bryn Mawr’s coast-to-coast network and the generosity of its faculty. When I first began searching for summer architecture internships, I reached out to my Cities professors for advice on the skills and experiences that would make me a stronger candidate. I expected a few words of guidance, but instead I found mentors who invested personally in my success. Every professor I contacted responded with thoughtful suggestions and encouragement, offering support well beyond what I had anticipated.

A few weeks later, one of my studio professors emailed to tell me that he had spoken on my behalf with an old graduate school friend who was now the Vice Chancellor at UC Berkeley. His recommendation came as a complete surprise. I had asked only for advice, not introductions, so I was both honored and deeply grateful that he was willing to advocate for me in such a meaningful way. Building on that connection, I shared my portfolio with the Vice Chancellor and UC Berkeley’s Campus Architect. About a month later, I was offered my current internship, a position the Campus Architect developed specifically for me after learning about my interests and the goals I hoped to achieve over the summer. 

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

Adjectives: Independent, Investigative, Informative

Nouns: Design, Development, Project-Management

Summer at the Everywhere Project with Michelle DeMilia ’28

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Name: Michelle DeMilia
Class Year: 2028
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities       
 
Internship Organization: The Everywhere Project
Internship Title: The Everywhere Project Student Intern
Location: Philadelphia, PA

CBS News Report of Everywhere Project FIFA food recovery donation pickup

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

The Everywhere Project is a Harm Reduction organization helping communities all around the Philadelphia area. A major aspect of this work which I have been particularly involved with is food recovery, recovering food items which otherwise would be thrown away and distributing them out to folks in need. This work has certainly been physically demanding, including having to load and unload mass quantities of food and other items, but has also been extremely rewarding and has allowed me to engage with all sorts of people I wouldn’t have otherwise. During an average workweek, I’ve also helped with acquiring food and clothes, making harm reduction kits and more to prepare for our biweekly outreach sites in Love Park and Kensington.

Everywhere Project distribution site giving out fresh fruit in Kensington

Why did you apply for this internship?

A friend of mine volunteers at for Everywhere Project’s Saturday outreach sites in Kensington and, already familiar with some of the team, put me in contact with them. I really wanted to spend my summer working directly with the community, rather than in an office, and the Everywhere Project provided a really great opportunity for that.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of working with the Everywhere Project has been the people. Everyone I’ve met has been so kind and generous, and it has been such a privilege getting to know my fellow colleagues and volunteers and community members that we serve. I’ve met some of the best people in the world doing this work, heard some of the funniest and wildest stories about their lives and experiences and gained a few of my own in turn. The people and community of it all really just makes every task I’m given, big or small, feel rewarding and enjoyable. I’ve found this internship to be so meaningful and eye-opening and fun. There’s a lot of love all around and that’s really special.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

For me, some of the most rewarding moments of this internship has been seeing the sheer output of our big food recovery pickups. One of these moments I’d like to highlight is when we picked up over 500 full cases of fruit from a food processing plant out in Hatfield. Me and my supervisor had to drop all our prior plans to go out to the plant and pick up the fruit, and had to distribute all of it by the end of the day due to a lack of refrigeration storage space. It was a long day, and took a lot of coordination other organizations, distribution sites and volunteers, but we managed to get all of the fruit distributed by the end of the day. It was so rewarding seeing our truck, stuffed to the brim when we started the day, emptied out by the time I went home. It was also lovely to take some of that fruit back home with me and share it with friends after a hot day.

Mia Rey ’27 Explores Summer Internship in Berlin

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Name: Mia Rey
Class Year: 2027
Major: Growth & Structure of Cities     
 
Internship Organization: Berlin International University
Internship Title: Research Assistant
Location: Berlin, Germany  

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

This summer I am working as a research assistant at Berlin International University under Professor Yüksel Pöğün-Zander. The research project explores how different forces interact to redefine contemporary architectural curricula and teaching methods in relation to technological advancements and globalization. My role consists of synthesizing and organizing data, literature reviews, and designing data visualizations.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I was drawn to this internship because of the unique experience to conduct research abroad about a topic that deeply fascinates me. I really enjoyed the social approach to architectural questions. Additionally, the opportunity to live and work in Berlin was incredible.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship was the opportunity to work primarily remotely and have a lot of autonomy in the research project. Since the team was only three people, I got the opportunity to work in a tight knit atmosphere where all input and decisions were able to be discussions. We would come together multiple times a week to brainstorm and crosscheck work. When I worked independently, I got to explore different Berlin public libraries and cafes.

What is most rewarding about your internship?

It was very rewarding to see the project progress and evolve as we took new approaches and explored new ideas. Additionally, this experience gave me a lot of insight into how I envision my post-college life and what I desire in a grad school program. 

Researching to Prevent Gentrification in South Everett by Margeaux Thompson ‘28 

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Name: Margeaux Thompson
Class Year: 2028
Major: Sociology, Minor: Growth and Structure of Cities
 
Internship Organization: Housing Consortium of Everett and Snohomish County
Internship Title: Casino Road Anti-Displacement Housing Research
Location: Everett, WA
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

The conference we hosted and two images from property walks our board members conducted after I found the properties and set up the tours!

This summer, I am utilizing research tools and conducting community engagement to identify potential affordable housing development opportunities around the Casino Road neighborhood of Everett, Washington. This neighborhood has around 13,000 residents, about ¼ of who are immigrants, mostly from Mexico. This area has a strong community, thriving small businesses, and a unique cultural heritage. It is at high risk for gentrification and displacement, as our regional transit system, Link light rail, is set to expand to Casino Road in the next 10-15 years.

Residents here are particularly vulnerable, as it’s largely low-income, with many families living doubled up or couch surfing, over half of all households are families with (often young) children, and right now, there are no Section 8 rental subsidies, lowered rent, or affordable homeownership loans serving this area. As more people want to move here to access the train, rents will go up, and people may be forced out of their incredible community.

I am using tools like title insurance searches, assessor’s maps, interviews with residents and service providers, and more to identify potential properties that members of the Housing Consortium could acquire and secure as affordable housing options, both rentals and home ownership opportunities. I meet with real estate agents, make offers to property owners, and more, all helping me to build a GIS map that can advise affordable housers on which properties they may want to pursue, even after I leave!

The interior image is from a property that will be purchased this month and stabilized for families making 50% of the area’s median income (AMI).

Why did you apply for this internship?

I am extremely passionate about affordable housing. I see it as an intersection of my majors and minors (Sociology, Growth and Structure of Cities, and Africana Studies). Understanding the history of housing helps explain many of the racialized gaps in privilege in this country, and addressing housing inequity is a crucial step in remedying racial marginalization. I also think of how class and racial oppression culminate in worse economic opportunities and outcomes for many Americans, and the ultimate fear of those under financial stress is losing their housing and food stability.

By helping to alleviate that pressure and actually build wealth through homeownership, that stress, and thus the impact of systemic racial oppression, is lessened. Everyone deserves to feel stable, safe, and happy in a home with adequate space, amenities, and green communal areas, within a safe, walkable neighborhood that provides community support, access to jobs, healthy food, and public services like transit.

I want the residents of Casino Road to actually benefit from the improvements and expanded services coming to their neighborhood. Gentrification is such a widespread issue that I see happening constantly around me, especially in Philadelphia, that having the chance to proactively fight to prevent it is rare, valuable, and felt important to me to pursue!

Was there anything special about how you found this internship?

This opportunity has been a true tri-co connection for me! Two of my friends are siblings, also from Northwestern Washington. One is a fellow Mawrter, and the other attends Swarthmore. They kindly connected me to this opportunity after hearing about my interest in affordable housing!

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

I have learned how to use ArcGIS to build an interactive map for housers to reference when trying to discover opportunities. This has been a difficult but rewarding skill to build! I have not taken a class in GIS yet, so I have been flying a bit blind. However, I am very passionate about data science and mapping, so I have always wanted to have the confidence with ArcGIS I am currently building. I am grateful that this opportunity has pushed me to learn, and for the opportunity to build from the back end the kind of tool I would want to use.  

Photos – Captions (did not indicate which one with which photo, will need to manually add!)

 The conference we hosted and two images from property walks our board members conducted after I found the properties and set up the tours!  

The interior image is from a property that will be purchased this month and stabilized for families making 50% of the area’s median income (AMI). 

Aimee Crozat ’27 Interns with Cities Professor

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Name: Aimee Crozat
Class Year: 2027
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities
Minor: Literatures in English
 
Internship Organization:  Bryn Mawr Humanities & Social Sciences Research Program
Internship Title:   Summer Research Intern
Location:  Bryn Mawr, PA
 
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

A map I made in ArcGISPro showing project boundaries in relation to census tracts and block groups, to aid with data collection

I am working as a research intern with Professor Hurley in the Growth and Structure of Cities department. I am helping with her research project, “Oral Histories of New Urbanism.” As part of this, I am conducting interviews with professionals who were involved in the early years of New Urbanism, which was an urban planning movement that began in the 1980s focused on creating dense, walkable communities. I am also compiling data on numerous new urbanist developments, and writing literature reviews centered around New Urbanism and how best to measure success in the context of urban planning. Additionally, I have been using GIS to create maps that show development boundaries in relation to block group and census tract boundaries. She is still in the early stages of the project, which has allowed me a lot of creativity in what I want to work on and the best ways to help gather data.
 
Why did you apply for this internship?  

I took Urban Culture and Society with Professor Hurley and Professor Restrepo last fall semester, and when I saw that Professor Hurley needed a summer intern, I thought it would be the perfect way to combine my majors of Growth and Structure of Cities and Literatures in English. Her research project sounded so interesting that after doing a deep dive into New Urbanism, I knew I had to apply.
 
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you? 

I have been able to use this summer as an opportunity to develop a multitude of skills! Since beginning the summer, I have developed my abilities in ArcGISPro and Zotero, and I have become proficient in Microsoft Excel. I’ve also gained experience in conducting and transcribing oral history interviews. Later in the summer, I should have the opportunity to learn NVivo, which is a qualitative analysis software that analyzes the data I’ve been collecting from interviews. Being able to pick up skills quickly is something that will hopefully come in handy, and I’m glad I was able to cultivate that this summer. 

What is most rewarding about your internship?   

The most rewarding part of this internship for me has been the ability to dive into the academic topics that I find interesting without the stress of being graded. I meet with Professor Hurley once a week, but almost all of the work I do is alone, meaning that I can work on my own schedule and at my own pace. If I don’t understand something, I can table it to ask about later and work on something else in the meantime. This has allowed me to learn qualitative and quantitative skills without fear that I’m doing something “incorrectly”. I have also been able to follow my passions within Cities: I took Intro to GIS last semester, and when I asked if I could incorporate those skills and create maps to aid with the research project, I was met with enthusiasm.