Ann Zhang

Hometown: Shanghai, China
Education Background: B.A., Wesleyan University

How did you get interested in your field?
During my undergraduate studies in art and architectural history and psychology, I start to think about the relationship between human and built environment, its physicality and history. I love the interdisciplinarity of city planning and hope to learn more practical tools in this field that compliments my undergrad liberal arts education.

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?
Triple majored in Art History, Psychology, and Science in Society Program.

Why did you choose Penn?
Penn offers many practical courses related to spatial analytics, which I find the most helpful and important.

What has been your favorite class so far?
MUSA – 508 Public Policy Analytics
Despite 508 being a mandatory course for MUSA, It offers a valuable spatial analytical toolkit using R. Through looking at relevant urban themes such as housing price, bike share, and public safety, I became familiar with spatial data analytics and effective visual communication.

MCP – CPLN 577 International Development with Prof. Eugenie Birch
This class introduces topics intersecting at international development (institutions, policies, etc.), climate resiliency, and public finance for mega-projects. It sparked my interest in international development and eventually decided to propose my DIY concentration in this field.

What are you learning right now that will help you in the future?
The two classes I mentioned above speak for two types of knowledge that are significant for most jobs in this field – data analytics & communication, and critical thinking skills regarding public policy.

What do you like best about Philadelphia?
Philadelphia Museum of Art – it hosts a shockingly large and diverse collection, great masterpieces, interesting curations, and is way less crowded than most of the major art museums in the country.

What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in?
Last year I was a graduate fellow at Perry World House, where I attended workshops and events for enhancing policy communications and writing skills while learning from leading experts in different industries.

What are your career ambitions?
Potentially deploying my knowledge in planning and spatial data analytics in emerging economies / internationally.