“Do not worry if you cannot remember historic dates, read as much as you can, ask professors about their research, and consider joining groups of students with similar academic interests- collaborate your ideas with others. Do not allow others to box you in, learn as much as you can from other disciplines and apply them accordingly.” - Ella Faulkner

While having recently defended her Master’s thesis in Geography and currently a graduate student in the Regional and City Planning Department at the University of Oklahoma, Ella Faulkner proudly states that she has not strayed far from her core training at VCU, and “will never abandon it.” Above all she stresses the value of cultivating student-professor relationships with the faculty, who are genuinely committed to both their field and the students they teach. In particular, Ella cites Dr. Christina Turner’s contagious “pursuit of knowledge and happiness” as an inspiration that literally changed the course of her life. Initially an engineering student, while on a month long study abroad trip to the Yucatan Peninsula Ella was able to first appreciate the intqqqqqqerdisciplinary nature of anthropological field work, geography and planning. Although now as a graduate student she primarily studies impacts of Brownfields among blighted communities. Ella is a couple semesters away from being a Certified Planner and is thrilled that her work in public policy would influence events that will be beneficial to communities that need it the most. Ella still utilizes the anthropological research methods she picked up in the classroom at VCU. She also notes that Dr. Christina Turner demanded not only should one be a good researcher, but a great writer. Through Dr. Turner’s commitment and drive for excellence Ella learnt to not only how to observe what’s external but focus on expression and allow the reader to be captivated. Today Ella is thankful for Dr. Turner’s ‘tough love”. In fact, Ella has an article that will be published in Planning (a journal from the American Planning Association) entitled “Return To Trinidad” in July 2008 issue. It was ultimately this combination of guidance, methodological training, and experiential curriculum that lead Ella to find her true calling in Public Policy and Environmental Planning and so far that insight has helped her to land a prestigious internship with the National Geographic Society, earn a Master’s Degree and begin an ambitious career helping to unravel some of the most pressing issues facing communities in the United States.

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