How did you get interested in planning
I first grew interested in planning while working as a bus driver in Seattle. I saw on a daily basis the role that public transit played in the metropolitan region and more specifically in the lives of its citizens. Traveling to other cities, I was keenly aware of how different types of public transportation shaped the urban form in varying ways. I wanted to learn more about the role that transportation played in a city and how to consciously plan this transportation to better urban areas. I also believe that autos are a plague affecting us all.

What kind of work experience do you have
Most recently I was a part time transit operator for King County Metro. Concurrently I was a program coordinator at a outdoor recreation non-profit organization as well as an assistant teacher at a neighborhood tutoring center. Prior to that I was an AmeriCorps volunteer for a year.

Why did you choose Penn to study city planning
I chose to come to Penn for multiple reasons. I was attracted by the interdisciplinary nature of Penn's program. For example, as a transportation planning student I am encouraged to take courses in the School of Engineering, School of Public Policy, as well as Wharton courses to take advantage of the expertise across the University. Also, Penn's location in Philadelphia was very attractive to me. Philadelphia is a vibrant city which is a great learning environment for planners. Countless hands on opportunities are available to students including summer internships as well as the second-semester workshop class.

What has been your favorite class so far
Thus far, my favorite class has been the first year Workshop course. Although very time and energy intensive, this course was the most rewarding that I have taken. The opportunity to work with professional planners with a group of my peers for an actual client led to a great deal of both technical knowledge acquisition as well as group dynamics training.

What are your career ambitions
Ideally, after graduation I would like to work either for a large municipal transit agency or for a city's department of transportation.