About
Engagement
URP Engagement
UF URP is proud to offer a number of opportunities for students to engage in planning-related groups and events. The department also offers a number of international and study abroad opportunities. Upon completion of their studies, URP graduates are well-prepared to enter the job market and make significant contributions to society both local and global.
Mentorship Program
The UF Department of Urban and Regional Planning’s mentorship program is designed to foster a meaningful and purpose-driven mentorship experience. The program pairs graduate planning students with practicing professional planners as they prepare to graduate and exit their academic programs. It is a year-long commitment centered around relationship-building, networking, and professional development. Our mentorship program is part of a larger professional development program that includes workshops, internships, the AICP certification program, and experiences such as attending APA Florida and APA national conferences. Click here to read about the UF MURP mentorship experience from students and mentors.
If you have specific questions about the program, please contact Liz Abernethy, AICP, URP Planner in Residence at eabernethy@ufl.edu.
Student Planning Association
The Student Planning Association (SPA) is a student-run, faculty-supported organization within UF’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP). SPA’s goal is to cultivate relationships and professional development for students by connecting them to university faculty and professionals, creating invaluable networks for aspiring urban planners. All students in the URP program, and any student interested in planning, are eligible members and are welcome to become involved throughout their studies at UF.
Many SPA members take advantage of joining the San Felasco Section of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association, which is the local section of the American Planning Association. Through the San Felasco Section, students are able to meet with and learn from professional planners in the local area by attending lectures, meetings, and social events.
SPA is dedicated to engaging with students in a variety of ways, including hosting guest speakers, AICP prep workshops, field trips to explore walkable towns and effective public transit, group bicycle rides along Gainesville’s Hawthorne Trail, volunteering opportunities at Grace Marketplace, and much more. Check out SPA’s current E-Board below and feel free to reach out with any questions about the organization:
Emily Teodoru
SPA PresidentEmily is a second-year student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program. Emily is a double gator, having completed her bachelor’s degree in Public Health. She is passionate about community-building, walkability, transit connectivity, and environmental resilience. As SPA’s President, she helps plan community-oriented events, increase professional development opportunities for MURP students, and works to enhance the student planning community across Florida.
Grace Wilson
SPA Vice PresidentGrace Wilson is a second-year student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program. As a triple gator, she earned her undergraduate degrees in economics and geography from UF. Her planning interests include housing, community development, crime prevention, and urban design. As SPA’s Vice President, she’s excited to interact with new students, help create a thriving community of emerging planners, and provide new growth opportunities for the program.
Sidra Gray
SPA TreasurerSidra Gray is a second-year student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program from Leesburg, Florida and serves as SPA’s Treasurer. Her interest in planning grew from the idea of creating communities that enabled people to thrive economically, socially, and politically. Her goal is to work in local government or for a nonprofit.
Elshamma Saint-Lot
SPA SecretaryElshamma is a second-year student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program. Having grown up in Fort Myers, Florida, and recently earning her undergraduate degree in Sociology, she is passionate about housing, community development, and campus planning. She is excited to continue to serve the URP community by supporting the organization of events and student-led activities.
Ana Luiza Lanat
SPA CommunicationsAna Luiza Lanat is a second-year master’s student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, with a bachelor’s in architecture and urban design. She is deeply passionate about environmental planning and design, and enjoys creating more sustainable and inclusive urban spaces. As SPA’s Social Media Coordinator, she develops engaging content to connect students, share planning opportunities, and build a stronger community among students.
Lavender Lewin
SPA Online LiaisonLavender Lewin is a first-year student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program , and currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Environmental Studies and serves as SPA’s Online Liaison. She helps monitor the new student group chat – helping to plan online events and connect students throughout the year.
Student Engagement
Students in the URP Program are involved in a variety of different clubs and activities on campus. The department hosts events such as tailgates, symposiums, and annual celebrations that bring students, faculty, and alumni together. Please look at our DCP Events page for more information on current events.
Some of the clubs in which our students are involved include:
– The Student Planning Association (SPA)
– Students for New Urbanism
Our students also participate in study abroad programs such as:
– The Preservation Institute: Caribbean
– The Preservation Institute: Nantucket Summer Program
– Urban Planning and Design in Brazil
– Urban Planning and Design in China
– UF in Hispaniola
For more information on student involvement and study abroad programs, please contact URP administration.
URP Alumni
Where do Gators go after graduation?
URP graduates from the University of Florida are leaders in government, community organizations, development and real estate firms, and private consulting practices. Because our department enjoys an excellent national and international reputation, employment opportunities are not limited to Florida; our graduates are employed throughout the U.S. and the world.
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of our program and the ever-evolving role of the professional planner, our graduates can expect to perform a variety of activities in many locations around the world throughout their careers.
Some examples of places where our graduates work:
– California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
– City of Gainesville
– City of Alachua
– ESRI
– Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
– GeoAdaptive
– GIS Associates, Inc.
– Kimley-Horn
– LandDesign
– Morris Architects
– National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
– North Central Florida Regional Planning Council
– Urban Design Solutions, Inc.
– Urban Land Institute
– US Fish & Wildlife Service
– WilsonMiller Stantec, Inc.
– WGI
How do they get there?
Our program is challenging, and faculty expose our students to cutting-edge research, technology, design and planning practices. Due to the academic rigor of our program, its excellent reputation, and a citizenry and legislature that recognize the need for planning, we ensure our graduates enter a strong job market upon graduation.
Our graduates also benefit from a strong network of distinguished alumni who provide resources for new graduates as they seek employment. This network is further aided by the department’s Professional Advisory Council, which consists of accomplished professionals from public planning agencies, non-profit organizations, and private consulting firms.