What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?
CPFM's Campus Planning Office.
What is your current position?
I am a senior planner.
What are your job responsibilities?
Primarily, I oversee land use and transportation planning for the university, manage planning projects, and supervise the Planning Associates. An example of land use planning and a planning project is the North Campus Conditional Use Permit project, a City land use application for 77 acres of the university’s land north of Franklin Boulevard, mainly between the Millrace and Willamette River. It’s a complex planning project that is part of a multi-step process to incorporate this area into our Campus Plan and accommodate future needs and opportunities. An example of transportation planning is coordinating with the City of Eugene on its redesign project for Franklin Boulevard (from Alder Street to I-5) to better accommodate all modes of transportation. Much of the land along this stretch is part of campus, so it is essential for us to coordinate. Lastly, I have the pleasure of supervising and working closely with my colleagues in the Campus Planning group. With expertise in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, and sustainability, we make a great team.
What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?
I developed an interest in the built environment as a child and became interested in city planning when I was a senior in high school. It was no surprise that I majored in Urban Studies at Vassar College. Right after college, I moved back to New York City (where I’m from) and worked in various fields related to planning. My interest in Portland, OR, led me to move across the country and pursue a master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning at the University of Oregon. Upon graduation I noticed a posting for a Planning Associate in Campus Planning. It sounded very interesting but I was Portland-bound and also didn’t have the years of experience required. I ended up working as a planner for the State Department of Land Conservation and Development, and then at the City of Tigard while living in Portland. When I became ready for a change in my career and to move for personal reasons, I remembered that position in Campus Planning and looked at the university’s job postings. Coincidentally, three years later, there was a posting for a Planning Associate and it obviously worked out for me; I’ve been with Campus Planning since 2008.
What do you like about your current position?
First, I like working towards a public mission, and I fully support the mission of this university. Then I like the wide variety of tasks that I have, the analytical nature of my work, and working with various groups of people, both within and outside the university. It’s always interesting! In addition, planning at the university is like planning for a small city, but with much more flexibility and speed (if you can believe that).
What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?
I developed an interest in the built environment as a child and became interested in city planning when I was a senior in high school. It was no surprise that I majored in Urban Studies at Vassar College. Right after college, I moved back to New York City (where I’m from) and worked in various fields related to planning. My interest in Portland, OR, led me to move across the country and pursue a master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning at the University of Oregon. Upon graduation I noticed a posting for a Planning Associate in Campus Planning. It sounded very interesting but I was Portland-bound and also didn’t have the years of experience required. I ended up working as a planner for the State Department of Land Conservation and Development, and then at the City of Tigard while living in Portland. When I became ready for a change in my career and to move for personal reasons, I remembered that position in Campus Planning and looked at the university’s job postings. Coincidentally, three years later, there was a posting for a Planning Associate and it obviously worked out for me; I’ve been with Campus Planning since 2008.
What do you like about your current position?
First, I like working towards a public mission, and I fully support the mission of this university. Then I like the wide variety of tasks that I have, the analytical nature of my work, and working with various groups of people, both within and outside the university. It’s always interesting! In addition, planning at the university is like planning for a small city, but with much more flexibility and speed (if you can believe that).
(Updated July 2018)