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VCU MURP Students and Alumni

Stay up-to-date with URPSA events

Urban and Regional Planning Student Association

The Urban and Regional Planning Student Association (URPSA) is composed of all full- and part- time students in the Master of Urban and Region Planning (MURP) program and related certificate programs in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. All students enrolled in these programs are highly encouraged to participate in URPSA activities.

Throughout the school year, URPSA organizes several events that give students greater exposure to the Planning profession. Events include monthly Meet the MURPs luncheons, community service projects, and trips to conferences and lectures. The Association also has a strong social component which usually culminates in students gathering at the end of the week to blow off steam and trade thoughts on jobs, school projects, and other topics.

URPSA EVENTS

URPSA is now having weekly get-togethers at local restaurants. Days and times change to accommodate everyone's schedules.

The next social will be Thursday, February 9th at The Local, 1106 W. Main Street, beginning at 7:30 pm.

Past socials have been held at Legend Brewing Company, Banditos, Mojo's, Baja Beanery, and more. If you have a place in mind for a future social, please contact Lema Jaber, URPSA president.

URPSA 2011 Officers

Mark Aaron Hill, President
Bio: Mark Hill is a second-year graduate student in the Urban and Regional Planning program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to his arrival in Richmond, Mark studied Business Administration at the University of Mary Washington. His interests include sustainable development, urban design, and community engagement. He has a passion for environmental issues and the built environment and hopes to be able to integrate these fields in his future career.

Andrea Houseman, Vice President
Bio: Andrea is in her final semester in the MURP program. From Towson, Maryland, Andrea received her undergraduate degree from Savanah College of Art and Design and worked as a planner for the City of Baltimore in the field of historic preservation. Andrea loves living in downtown Richmond because of the vibrant atmosphere.

Emily Ruf, Secretary
Bio: I am in my first year of the MURP program, with a focus in community and economic development. I grew up in Northern Virginia but have been in Richmond, VA for the past few years. I went to VCU for my undergraduate in planning although I started as a Fine Arts major and then spent a year as an International Studies major. I am interested in a multitude of subjects and topics, which is why planning is my favorite field. I hope to incorporate my diverse interests and varied background in helping communities in the Richmond area build a more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable future.

Navdeep Kaur, Treasurer
Bio: My name is Navdeep Kaur, and I am a first-year student in the VCU’s MURP program. I am originally from Chandigarh, India, a Le Corbusier designed city and graduated from Chandigarh College of Architecture with a Bachelors in Architecture. After working for a while in architecture and design firms in U.S, I decided to go to graduate school and chose urban planning as I want to positively impact communities by helping to make them more livable, equitable and sustainable. I cannot imagine myself without contributing to the community. My area of focus is Community revitalization and Economic development.

Testimony: I have lived in Northern Virginia and felt Richmond quite different from D.C. area. Especially the urban design element of Richmond inspired me a lot. Monument Avenue is one of my favorite streets. The VCU’s Masters of Urban and Regional Planning program has a challenging course curriculum, extensive internship and volunteer opportunities, composition of accomplished and experienced faculty members and a healthy and stimulating work study environment. I am happy with my decision of choosing VCU as my graduate school and enjoying my time in Richmond.

Toluwalase Ibikunle, Minority Outreach Officer
Bio: Tolu Ibikunle is a second-year graduate student studying Urban and Regional Planning. Her interests in Urban and Regional Planning began when she attended East Carolina University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in the field. Originally, she is from Worcester, MA but moved to Raleigh, NC with her family during her teen years. From an early age, Tolu was taught the importance of volunteerism within her community and to embrace multiculturalism. These values reflect her academic interests in community revitalization and international development planning. Even though these are her primary interests, she looks forward to exploring other areas of planning to improve neighborhoods and create truly sustainable communities.

URPSA 2010 Officers

Tyler Klein, President

Bio: Architecture and urban history have always been fascinating to me growing up. Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, I graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2009 with a degree in Political Science and History (Go Hokies!). Presented with the opportunity to take urban studies electives at Virginia Tech, I quickly became enamored with urban issues facing America and the World and the innovative and dynamic field of urban and regional planning. Through various travel overseas and work experiences I have developed interest in sustainability, urban greening, alternative transportation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). My love for Virginia and the urban landscape landed me here in Richmond and at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Testimony: The VCU Masters of Urban and Regional Planning program presents a unique opportunity to study with world-class faculty, in a hands-on capacity in a rapidly evolving city. Richmond provides many great opportunities for up-and-coming planners in both a professional and academic capacity. Techniques and skills learned in the classroom are translated to real world urban problems through interactions with local residents and planners. Collaboration and interaction with a diverse faculty and students provides insightful and meaningful discussion and project outcomes. Richmond’s rich cultural and architectural history along with volunteer and internship opportunities at the local, state and federal level make it the perfect city to study urban planning. These are some of the many reasons why the MURP program at VCU has been a great experience so far.

Katie Schwing, URPSA Vice President

Bio: Attending one public hearing was all it took for me to decide that planning was the career for me. I grew up in Durham, North Carolina and graduated in 2006 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a degree in Environmental Studies. This degree helped me understand how the choices we make every day can affect our physical environment, public health, economy, and quality of life, and served as an introduction to the many challenges one may come across in the field of urban planning. Before moving to Richmond I participated in local government in a transportation-related town board, and seeing democracy in action only solidified my desire to get a master’s degree and start facilitating a great future! As a student here at VCU my interests lie in transportation and metropolitan planning.

Testimony: My experience at VCU has been fantastic. After living in Richmond for only a few months, I have already fallen in love with this quirky, vibrant city and its many charms. There is a strong planning community here and the bustle of the state capital affords enriching cultural experiences, as well as many internship and volunteer opportunities. Everyone I have met in the department has been welcoming, and the emphasis on practical, hands-on learning has been a great fit for me.

Jennifer Peterson, URPSA Secretary

Bio: I’m Jennifer Peterson, a second semester student in VCU’s MURP program. Originally from Virginia Beach, I received my undergraduate degree at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Interested in economics but also the somewhat opposite fields of sociology and anthropology, I worked with an advisor to design my own program of study there, Cultural Economics. I am still deciding between pursing either the environmental or the social aspect of urban planning and am also interested in Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Testimony: Coming from small-town Williamsburg to the City of Richmond was definitely a change, but I have found that Richmond is the perfect place to becoming immersed in planning. The MURP program itself boasts incredibly intelligent and experienced professors who are also generally supportive people, always willing to help, not just with getting good grades in the classroom, but also with your future goals in the planning field. I also really enjoy the diverse backgrounds of my fellow classmates, and it’s interesting to draw upon their experiences and interests.

Heath Henshaw, URPSA Treasurer

Bio: My name is Heath Henshaw, and I am a first-year student in MURP Program. I am a native of Richmond. In 1998, I graduated from the VCU Urban Planning and Studies program. Since, I have applied skills learned in the program to employment in the areas of geographic information systems (GIS), planning support, real estate, and subdivision development. Along similar lines, my interests continue in GIS analysis and geodata design; modeling urban and regional transportation; and, especially “smart-growth” in economic development and policy.

Testimony: VCU’s MURP program is challenging and rewarding. From an academic perspective, the professors, honestly, deliver lectures that will motivate you to “change the world.” And whether your emphasis on historic preservation, environmental sustainability, transportation, economic development, or another geo-spatially related discipline you will be inspired by the fundamentals of the systems process and the principles of strategic urban design. From the outset, you will experience the renaissance occurring as a result of planning efforts! And as you adopt your own methods of action, I believe, you too will enter the planning profession knowing how you shape the American landscape.

Latasha Allen-Hyde, URPSA Minority Outreach Officer

Bio: My name is Latasha Allen-Hyde and I am a first-year student in the M.U.R.P. Program. I was born in Norfolk, Virginia and grew up in various parts of the country, from Seattle, Washington to Chesterfield County, Virginia. I am a veteran of the Army National Guard. My background reflects a B.S. in Individualized Studies with a focus in Business Administration from Virginia State University and an imminent B. S. in Communications from Old Dominion University. I am currently a Relationship Manager for Jefferson County Assisted Housing Corporation (JeffCo) and I serve as the Treasurer for the Mid- Atlantic Digital Alliance (MADA), The consortium for HUD Neighborhood Network Centers. My interests are in, comprehensive community development, housing and urban revitalization. My goals as a Minority Outreach Officer are to plan a array of outreach and awareness programs and special events in the community to promote a diverse Urban and Regional planning program that contributes outstanding and trailblazing alumni to the profession.

Testimony: VCU’s Masters of Urban Planning Program takes primarily a practiced based learning that equips you to do the job and make a difference in the community. As I interviewed universities to determine my place of study, VCU stood out because of the attention given from faculty to make sure all my questions were answered during the application process. The professors have a passion for the field and are very helpful in providing clarity to thought-provoking concepts. I am continuously inspired by our faculty and my fellow students whose diverse backgrounds make learning an exciting experience!

Christopher Michael, President

Craig Carver, President