Fanessa de la Rosa

Hometown: New York, NY
Education Background: B.A. in Engineering Studies and International Affairs at Lafayette College

How did you get interested in your field?
I have always been curious about how communities form and how the built environment shapes that process. Growing up in Washington Heights (uptown Manhattan, NY), I experienced what it means to live in a strong, tightly connected immigrant neighborhood. Over time, I also saw how development pressures began to change my home at the expense of the people who had been living there for generations. Witnessing that tension made me want to understand how planning could support growth without erasing a community’s identity.

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?
Before coming to Penn, I spent a few years working in housing and economic development in New York City. Most recently, I was a Commercial Revitalization Program Manager at Fordham Road BID in the Bronx, where I supported small businesses through business support and placemaking initiatives. Before that, I was an Assistant Project Manager at The Hudson Companies, Inc., helping to manage affordable housing projects.

Why did you choose Penn?
I chose Penn because of the collaborative environment that the School of Design creates. It brings together planners, designers, and architects to learn from one another inside and outside of the classroom. I was also drawn to the fact that many faculty members are grounded in community development work and how the program bridges local and global perspectives through initiatives like PennPraxis. I also wanted a full-time program that would let me fully immerse myself in both the theory and practice of community and economic development.

What has been your favorite class so far? 
Case Studies in Urban Design Explorations has been my favorite class so far because I was able to explore urban design challenges from cities around the world. The course was collaborative, fast-paced, and interdisciplinary, giving me exposure to other disciplines at Weitzman and how we can work together. It was a great glimpse at real-world projects we could soon contribute to.

What are you learning right now that will help you in the future?
I am really excited about the classes I am taking right now, especially as they align well with my interests in economic development. One course that stands out is Financing Climate Resilient Cities with Professor Genie Birch. We are exploring how cities manage budgets and fund large-scale green infrastructure projects on the global stage. This class has given me insight into what the intersection of urban planning, climate finance, and governance looks like. It has also given me the opportunity to engage directly with mayors, international development banks, and other key stakeholders that are shaping climate resilient efforts globally.

What do you like best about Philadelphia?
I like how Philadelphia balances the energy of a big, bustling city with pockets of calm and neighborhood warmth. I love how each area has its own sense of community and places where people really know and look out for each other.

What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in?
I am the co-chair of Student Council’s regular Happy Hour, the co-founder of Raíces, a Weitzman Latinx group, and on the board of the Student Planning Association.

What are your career ambitions?
I would love to contribute to the international development field, specifically focusing on community-wealth building models that enhance equitable and sustainable growth. I am especially interested in advancing this work in Puerto Rico, and more broadly across the Sub-Saharan African and the Latin American and Caribbean regions.