Reflections and takeaways with Quinn Murphy (’26)
What is SNEAPA?
SNEAPA is the Southern New England American Planning Association conference that gathers planners from across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut every year. This year, a group of six UEP students attended the conference in Newport, Rhode Island, to learn about everything from the mechanics behind multifamily housing financing to bicycle network planning through sessions and interactive workshops.
What were some of your key takeaways from the sessions and networking at the conference?
It was great to meet practitioners across many kinds of planning, including many UEP alumni! We were able to get insight on key industry trends, feedback on resumes/job application tips, gain understanding on real-world projects happening across the region, and meet other planning students from Massachusetts. Highlights included a bike tour of Aquidneck Island (the island Newport is on), a session on Somerville’s plan to develop Broadway, and the keynote speech from Keith Stokes about Black history and adaptive reuse in Newport.
Did you get support from Tufts to attend this conference?
Attending this conference was possible with the assistance of the APA Massachusetts Chapter, UEP faculty, the Tufts Graduate Student Council, and the Tufts Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Professors expressed excitement about our attendance, and we were able to bond as a Tufts group.
What’s next?
We are looking forward to attending the conference next year at Foxwoods!
