Alumni News

September 2021

ALUM RECOGNIZED FOR WORK IN EDUCATION POLICY

UEP alum Nakia Navarro’s goal is to create accessible, affordable private schools. Her work was featured in the Boston Business Journal.

MPP STUDENT LAUNCHES MEDFORD CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN

Georgiana Chevry, a student in UEP’s Masters in Public Policy program, announced her run for Medford City Council. Read more about her background and why she is running.


August 2021

BOSTON MAYORAL CANDIDATE AND MPP ALUM JOHN BARROS PROFILED IN THE GLOBE

A series of Boston Globe profiles on mayoral candidates features MPP alum John Barros, highlighting his past experience—including his degree at UEP—and vision for the city’s future.

UEP ALUM CO-WRITE ARTICLE ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE MBTA

UEP alumni Adrian Madaro and Maria Belen Power co-wrote an article in CommonWealth Magazine sharing the news that the MBTA Board will now include both a worker representative and rider from the environmental justice, or EJ, communities that depend on transit the most.


July 2021

MPP ALUM ALLENTZA MICHEL CREATES RESOURCE GUIDE FOR URBAN PLANNING

Powerful Pathways, Allentza Michel’s non-profit consultancy, released the Racial Equity Resource Guide for Planners, Designers and Policymakers. This comprehensive database lays out tens of dozens of resources from reading links, podcasts to videos in order to help educate city planners, policy researchers civic designers, land use engineers on critical knowledge be better racial justice allies in their work.

MPP ALUM JOHN BARROS WRITES OP-ED ON DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT

Boston mayoral candidate and UEP MPP alum, John Barros, reflects on the threatened eviction of artists of the Humphrey Street Studios in Upham’s Corner in the Boston Globe. He proposes an independent entity to purchase and finance the acquisition and development of housing and commercial space in Boston.


May 2021

RECENT GRADUATES INDUCTED INTO HONOS CIVICUS

Jessika Brenin, Aqsa Butt, Becky Eidelman, Amin Fahimi Moghadam, Patrick Higgins, Bailey Hu, and Aliesha J. Porcena were inducted into the Honos Civicus Society, which selects and publicly recognizes graduating students who engaged in meaningful service and leadership activities or otherwise strengthened civic life on campus and beyond during their time at Tufts.


April 2021

ALUMMA CO-AUTHORS OPT-ED ON BUS SAFETY

A Boston Globe op-ed co-authored by UEP alum Julia Wallerce starts with a simple premise. However, she writes, allowing riders to board and exit from either side of buses could improve safety and free up space for bike lanes, outdoor dining, or even miniature parks.

SENIOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISOR, A UEP ALUMNA, PROFILED IN NY TIMES

The New York Times calls UEP alum Gina McCarthy “the most powerful climate change official in the country other than Mr. Biden himself.” Read more about her in the profile linked here.

ALUMNA NAMED TO VHB BOARD OF DIRECTORS

UEP alum Meredith Avery, Massachusetts Director of Natural Sciences at VHB, has been named to the company’s uniquely structured Board of Directors. Meredith will bring her perspective and experience in environmental policy and planning to guide the organization.

MPP STUDENT SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATES FOR NATIVE PLANT ORDINANCE IN SOMERVILLE

Renee Scott, co-founder of Green & Open Somerville, has shepherded the passage of a first-of-its-kind native plants ordinance in Somerville. Renee has a UEP Certificate in Community Environmental Studies and will be starting in the MPP program in Fall 2021.


March 2021

ALUM LEADS ONLINE COURSE ON FRESHWATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

In her role at Global Water Partnership, UEP alum Yumiko Yasuda (class of ’00) recently helped create a free edX course on “Governance for Transboundary Freshwater Security.” The class aims to help countries cooperatively and sustainably manage their freshwater resources, and is accompanied by a series of interactive online sessions.

ALUMNA RESEARCHES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DURING THE PANDEMIC

UEP alumna Ashley Clark’s research was recently featured by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). While working for the Town of Walpole, Ashley surveyed local governments to learn how participation in zoning meetings has shifted during the pandemic.

ALUMNA PROMOTED TO REVERE CHIEF OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

UEP alum Tech Leng on her recent promotion to Chief of Planning and Development for the City of Revere. The Revere Journal published a profile about Tech and her previous public service experience.

MPP ALUMNA NAMED TO WHITE HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL

MPP alumna Maria Belen-Power was named to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC). She’ll represent Massachusetts on the first formal EJ advisory body in a federal administration.


February 2021

MPP ALUM CO-AUTHORS PIECE ON FAIR HOUSING IN BOSTON

Changes to Boston’s zoning code to affirmatively further fair housing take effect in March 2021. UEP Professor Emeritus James Jennings and UEP Lecturer and MPP alum Bob Terrell, together with other fair housing advocates who worked on the zoning reform, published a Shelterforce piece about how this trailblazing regulation came to be.

INAUGURAL LYON AND BENDHEIM CITIZENSHIP AWARD CONFERRED TO UEP ALUM

Wilnelia Rivera was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Lyon and Bendheim Citizenship Award from the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. The award is intended to recognize individuals who have shown a commitment to civic engagement through successful initiatives, creative solutions, or bold leadership and to connect them with students and alumni on campus. Learn more here.


January 2021

UEP ALUMNI ANNOUNCE MA GOVERNOR CANDIDACY

UEP alum and former MA state senator Ben Downing announced his candidacy for governor! The Boston Globe published a feature story on his campaign – run by fellow alum Wilnelia Rivera – and goals. Read Practical Visionaries’ interview with Ben here.


December 2020

UEP ALUM APPOINTED AS BIDEN CLIMATE ADVISOR

UEP alum Gina McCarthy has been her appointment as President-elect Biden’s senior adviser on climate change, as reported in the Boston Globe. Formerly the head of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration, McCarthy will be tasked with coordinating the federal government’s efforts to address climate change.


November 2020

MATTAPAN MAPPING PROJECT GETS BOOST FROM UEP

Alum Allentza Michel, professor Laurie Goldman, faculty and students from Tufts and Harvard, and the Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council were highlighted in the Bay State Banner for their anti-displacement efforts in Mattapan, Boston. Their project combines oral history with interactive mapping.

UEP RESEARCHERS FEATURED ON PLANETIZEN

The work of a research team which included UEP professor Justin Hollander and alumna Minyu Situ (’19) was featured in Planetizen. Their paper, published in October, investigates how social media bots may be interfering with community engagement efforts.

MPP ALUM ELECTED CHAIR OF BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MPP alum Alexandra Oliver-Dávila has been unanimously elected as the new chair of the Boston School Committee, the Boston Globe reported. Read about her vision for the future of the committee here.

ALUM-LED INITIATIVE IS FINALIST FOR CONCORDIA IMPACT AWARD

Gabriela Boyer, UEP class of ’97, leads an initiative run by the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation which was a finalist for Concordia’s P3 Impact Award 2020. The innovative effort funds local foundations in Mexico in order to help grassroots organizations reach their full potential. Learn more here.


October 2020

ALUM WINS APA STUDENT PLANNING AWARD

Recent UEP alum Merideth Hildreth’s year-long Directed Study project on “Neighborhood Stabilization and Empowerment” in Roswell, NM, was awarded first place in the Student Planning Project category by the New Mexico chapter of the American Planning Association. The project was supervised by Professor Emeritus James Jennings.

RESEARCH TEAM PUBLISHES TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ANALYSIS

The work of Professor Justin Hollander and UEP alumnae Minyu Situ and Shabnam Bista was published in the journal Case Studies on Transport Policy. Their article examines transportation planning documents from Toronto and Montreal; read it here.

ALUM, PROFESSOR EMERITUS PRESENT ON LATINO NONPROFIT SECTOR

On Oct. 8, Professor Emeritus James Jennings and MPP alumna Melissa Colon presented their research, commissioned by Amplify Latinx and the Greater Boston Latino Network, on the Latino nonprofit sector in MA. UEP alum Marty Martinez was also featured on the follow-up panel.

UEP ALUM MODERATES PANEL ON THE CARCERAL STATE AND PLANNING

UEP alum Annie Koh moderated a Planners Network panel discussion that sought to unpack how planning is implicated in current forms of carceral control — prisons and migrant detention centers — and explore the prospects for de-carceration and abolition. Panelists included Deshonay Dozier, Courtney Knapp, Silky Shah, and Sheryl-Ann Simpson.


September 2020

ALUM MODERATOR KICKS OFF UEP COLLOQUIUM SERIES

Our first colloquium for the Fall 2020 semester centered on housing policy, organizing, and the impact of COVID-19. UEP alum Nick Pittman moderated a conversation among representatives of City Life/Vida Urbana, Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust, and the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation. Read about the event here.


August 2020

UEP ALUM AUTHORS COLUMN ON BIKING WITH BABIES

UEP alum Carol Ann Young published a guest column on Streetsblog MASS on “Biking with Babies,” based on personal experience. Read the article here.

ALUM AUTHORS OP-ED ON ENERGY

In aN op-ed for Commonwealth, UEP alum Joel Wool exploreD how regulation of Massachusetts’ energy industry could work “in service of the public interest, furthering the equitable treatment of residents, workers, customers, and industries.” Read more here.

TUFTS ALUM CO-AUTHORS CHAPTER ON COVID-19 IMPACT ON VOTERS

Tufts alum Wilnelia Rivera co-authored a chapter in the recently published Turnout! Mobilizing Voters in an Emergency. The chapter discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the electoral system. Since its publication, Rivera’s commentary has been featured on MSNBC, WBUR, and WGBH.

UEP ALUM LEADS ON CITY COUNCILOR’S GREEN NEW DEAL PLAN

UEP alum Nina Schlegel was lead author on Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu’s recently published report, “Planning for a Boston Green New Deal & Just Recovery.” The report lays out not only a call to action, but also a broad set of concrete climate justice policies.


July 2020

STATE REP SPEAKS IN SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Massachusetts state representative and UEP alum Adrian Madaro gave his first speech on the floor of state house last month, supporting an environmental justice amendment to the 2050 Roadmap Bill. The footage can be viewed here.

ALUMNA-LED NONPROFIT RECEIVES CUMMINGS FOUNDATION GRANT

ACT Lawrence, a Massachusetts-based community development corporation co-led by MPP alum Ana Luna, recently received $100,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation. The funding will help support the organization’s financial literacy workshops and counseling services. Read more in a Boston Globe profile here.


June 2020

PROFESSOR-ALUM RESEARCH TEAM PUBLISHES FINDINGS

Professor Justin Hollander co-published an article on neighborhood design with UEP alums Cara Foster-Karim and Alex Purdy Levering, as well as Fletcher alum Ann Sussman. Read their work here.

NINA COLETTA HONORED AS COMMONWEALTH HEROINE OF MASSACHUSETTS

In late June, MPP alumna Nina Coletta was honored with a spot on the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s Commonwealth Heroines list. She was nominated by State representative Adrian Madaro, another UEP alum. Read about Nina and the other “Class of 2020” heroines here.

DONALD FALK NAMED OUTSTANDING FACULTY MEMBER

Don Falk, a UEP alumnus and professor at the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, was recently named an Outstanding Faculty Member there.


March 2020

UEP ALUM EUGENIA GIBBONS TO RECEIVE HONOR FROM NEWIEE

Tufts UEP alum, Eugenia Gibbons, will be receiving the Rising Star Award in recognition of her leadership in the environmental sector next month at the 10th Annual New England Women In Energy And The Environment (NEWIEE) Awards Gala.


February 2020

UEP ALUM RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN NEW YORK

We’re proud to announce that UEP alum Katherine Walsh is running for NY State Assembly in District 51! Her platform focuses on policies such as the Green New Deal, Healthcare for All, and the establishment of a Sanctuary State; learn more at www.katherineforassembly.com.

HOLLY ST. CLAIR IS DESIGN FIRM SASAKI’S NEW CTO

UEP alum Holly St. Clair (‘MA, Class of 2000), the former (and first-ever) chief digital officer and data officer at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, recently joined design firm Sasaki as Chief Technology Officer. Check out a detailed feature article on Holly here.

MARÍA BELÉN POWER QUOTED IN BOSTON GLOBE

MPP alum María Belén Power, associate executive director for Chelsea’s GreenRoots, Inc., was recently quoted in a Boston Globe piece on a new MBTA proposal. According to Power, stopping the practice of arresting fare evaders could be a “game-changer” for passengers of color. Read more here


January 2020

UEP ALUM’S WORK IN C.A.G.S. PROGRAM SHIFTS STATE POLICY

Congrats to C.A.G.S. alum Elizabeth Bennett, whose project as a UEP student recently led to changes in Massachusetts policy. Shifts include Governor Baker’s proposed expansion for vocational offerings for both high school students and adults; read more here

UEP ALUMNI HONORED BY UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Michael Kogan, PhD, UEP ’79, received an honorary doctorate in public health from the University of South Florida last month and also served as the commencement speaker for the university’s December graduation ceremonies.


December 2019

COMPANY OF UEP ALUM AWARDED FOR INNOVATION DISTRICT PROPOSAL

Tufts UEP alum Trang Vuong, Deputy Managing Director of enCity Group, is making waves in the global planning sphere. enCity, in partnership with Sasaki, was awarded first place for their entry in the Highly Interactive Innovative Districts (HIID) competition, organized by local government in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Learn more here.

UEP C.A.G.S ALUM RECEIVES APA AWARD FOR TRANSIT PAPER

In September 2019 during a joint conference with The Western Planner, the New Mexico Chapter of the American Planning Association awarded Merideth Hildreth, M.A., AICP, a Student Project Award for one of the papers she wrote for a class in the Urban Justice and Sustainability CAGS program through Tufts University’s UEP Department. Merideth wrote “The Bus Stops Here: A Social Justice Appeal for More Transit Shelters and Amenities in Roswell, New Mexico” during the Fall 2018 Semester UEP 0226-B Social Justice and Sustainability on-line course facilitated by UEP Lecturer Russ Lopez, Ph.D.