Balancing Growth and Social Equity

Why did you choose to pursue a graduate education in planning?

I was inspired by the strong sense of community in my hometown of Brownsville, Texas, where I participated in many community outreach events and witnessed the power of community advocacy. I became passionate about becoming an advocate for the place I lived and understanding how the built environment holds the power to impact outcomes. During my undergraduate studies in planning at Texas A&M, my passion for improving communities’ livelihoods deepened, but still I felt I had so much to learn. I moved to San Antonio to be exposed to a more urban environment, and I felt the Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning (MS-URP) at UTSA aligned with my interests and would allow me to better explore my professional and academic potential and learn essential skills for my future career.

What planning subject or area most interests you?

I am most interested in learning more about social equity in the planning process and urban design, how environments and systems shape access to services and programs, and how planning can become more equitable. I am currently engaged in gentrification research, working alongside Dr. Lopez-Ochoa. This is important for San Antonio and other cities experiencing rapid population growth as they continue to find ways to balance growth with equity concerns. Urban design and graphic communication are also extremely important because good design can be a great tool for inciting passion for the city planning process and reaching a broader audience.

What opportunities does your program provide to engage with the community and fellow students?

The UTSA MS-URP program engages with the community in a variety of ways. I’ve had the opportunity to interview industry professionals as well as the opportunity to engage members of San Antonio’s historic Westside, a historically marginalized community with an ongoing partnership with UTSA, in designing and reimagining their neighborhood. The MS-URP program also provides opportunities to engage in applied research projects that help the community. This summer I will participate in taking heat stress measures using different sensors to test the effectiveness of the city’s cool pavement initiative. Students can join the Urban Planning Student Association (UPSA) which hosts socials, guest speaker opportunities, community events, and more. Finally, the faculty in the UTSA planning department are excellent. They strongly encourage student engagement through meaningful course material, are always available for questions, provide spaces for collaborative work in the classroom, and encourage us and even provide financial support to attend local and state planning conferences.

What advice would you offer someone considering a master’s degree in planning?

If you are like me and the idea of a master’s program sounds intimidating, I believe in you—don’t hesitate to pursue it! I encourage future planning master’s students to become researchers and truly delve into the issues that interest them and that speak to their particular passions in this broad field. The location of your studies is also an important factor when considering graduate education in planning. As planners, the place where we study is often where we actively engage in projects and develop professional connections. For me, the San Antonio Downtown Campus is a good location for professional opportunities and a connection to the city’s most vulnerable communities.

What do you hope to do after completing your degree?

I hope to make a difference in the lives of people in some way. I decided to pursue planning to help improve communities and make change on a large scale, so, with this degree, I hope I can fulfill this and make a meaningful impact. I hope to develop a career that allows me to engage with communities and use my skills to affect positive change.