Bringing Community Visions to Life
Kelly Brasseaux
Master of Urban Planning, 2023
Texas A & M University
Why did you choose to pursue a graduate education in planning?
After being unsure of what I wanted to study, I chose urban planning as my undergraduate degree because I moved to Austin and saw, among so many great things, many issues built into the fabric of the city: gentrification, traffic, homelessness, and more. As I looked into why these issues are so pervasive, I discovered the field of urban planning and ultimately decided to pursue a degree in it.
When it came time for me to consider my next steps, I considered getting a master’s degree in planning or going into the workforce. It was the fall of 2020, during the first semester of my senior year, and I was seeing my friends who had graduated that spring struggle with the job market due to the pandemic. Additionally, I felt that I wanted to learn more about the planning field before entering the workforce. My undergraduate degree provided thorough background knowledge, but I wanted a deeper understanding of underlying issues. I was also interested in a research position, which I knew could be an opportunity in graduate school. All of these factors led me to pursue a graduate degree instead of a full-time job.
What planning subject or area most interests you?
I am interested in transportation planning as well as how infrastructure can create and exacerbate equity issues in communities. After living in Houston, then the small town of Wimberley, Texas, and then Austin, I’ve seen the different ways that the built environment can directly affect the quality of life of communities. While urban planning has, in the past, been used as a tool for powerful people to exert their will, I aim to use it to help people create and execute their visions for their ideal communities.
What opportunities does your program provide to engage with the community and fellow students?
Texas A&M’s Master of Urban Planning program does a great job of ensuring its students are connected to each other as well as the community. For example, Texas Target Communities, a program within the university, provides planning services to local communities that otherwise wouldn’t have the capacity to do any large-scale urban planning. As students, we are able to work with them to do real planning work for communities that need it. Additionally, our student organization, the Association of Student Planners, hosts social and professional events that build camaraderie within cohorts and the program at large. Small class sizes also ensure that we are close and have each other as resources for success.
What advice would you offer someone considering a master’s degree in planning?
I would recommend reaching out to current or former students in the programs you are considering. There is no way to tell from the outside what the experience of attaining the degree is like, so that first-hand perspective is really valuable. Talking to someone who is in the field before making a decision is crucial; there are many paths to becoming a planner, including some you might not already know about. Most people are very friendly and happy to share their experiences and expertise. I would also consider the areas of planning you’re interested in and use that interest to inform your decision-making. For example, Texas A&M houses the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, a transportation research institution that has allowed me to further specialize my knowledge in the area of transportation planning.
What do you hope to do after completing your degree?
After graduation, I hope to work as a planner for a private planning agency or a local government. Ultimately, my goal is to build real relationships with communities to bring their visions to life in a sustainable way. There is such a wide array of opportunities in the planning field, so I’m excited to explore more as I grow in my career.
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