URP Student Internships
Summer 2023
July 14, 2023
In the warm months of 2023, our Master of Urban and Regional Planning students ventured into an array of unique professional experiences to satisfy their internship prerequisites. Leveraging the insights and practical applications from the URP 6941 internship course, the students further enriched their understanding of planning methodologies and professional decorum.
With immense pride, the URP Department recognizes the wide reach of our students, who are stationed across varied geographic locations, from domestic towns and cities to international destinations. Their collective mission? To transform their respective communities into even better places to inhabit. Delve into the diverse undertakings of our students this summer.
Haley Busch
University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences – Center for Land Use Efficiency
Haley is a second-year student and her internship is collaborating with Dr. Eban Bean at UF/IFAS to conduct a Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) and Low Impact Development (LID) code assessment for Brevard County, Florida. The code auditing tool being used was a project designed by Dr. Bean and his department, in association with the Nature Conservancy. The goal is to unite local government staff and community stakeholders, identify improvement areas, and as a neutral party, thoroughly examine all aspects of land development regulations, comprehensive plan language, among other codes. This is to ascertain where GSI, LID, and other nature-based solutions to development issues can be applied. The intern is finding the experience rewarding as it offers a practical application of technical planning language to foster environmental protections in the urban built environment.
Silas Achidago
CHW Professional Consultants
Silas Achidago is a first-year student and his internship is with the Planning and Design Department at CHW Professional Consultants. His responsibilities include data collection and analysis for updating comprehensive plans, preparing due diligence reports, and providing support in community engagements. Additionally, Silas is using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to prepare maps that back applications and display site details, such as land use, zoning, environmental features, soils, and development standards, in line with the Land Development Code.
Anand Bhatia
Stantec
Second-year student, Anand Bhatia’s workdays are diverse and challenging. His tasks vary from overlaying zoning data on a site with GIS, attending supervisor meetings, to visiting other Stantec offices for collaboration. He works on projects of various sizes, from a few acres to hundreds. This experience allows Anand to sharpen his GIS skills, which are crucial for his future as a full-time planner.
Todd Biron
Pasco County BOCC
Todd Biron is a first-year student and has been tasked with compiling data on the Master Planned Unit Developments (MPUDs) in Pasco County. Specifically, he’s examining the entitlements of each MPUD for construction and cross-checking what has been built since the MPUD’s approval. This information has been organized into a Smartsheet for use by several subdivisions of the county’s planning department.
Yesenia Castaneda
Inspire Placemaking Collective
Yesenia Castaneda’s is a second-year student and her internship experience includes working on diverse projects for both public and private clients. Tasks range from comprehensive planning to writing variance narratives and applications, all contributing significantly to her learning. The planners at Inspire play a crucial role in her experience, providing valuable advice and wisdom that Yesenia plans to incorporate into her future career.
Madison Eichhorn
BGE
Second-year student, Madison Eichhorn, has developed several concept plans for new developments, employing tools like AutoCAD and Photoshop. She has also designed a dog park for a new development, gained experience in creating construction documents, and learned some basics of grading and civil engineering.
Brianne Elisme
Benesch
Brianne Elisme, a second-year student, serves as an ADA Planning Intern with Benesch. Her role involves working on Americans with Disabilities (ADA) projects for state and local agencies. Her tasks, mainly office-based, include assisting with data analysis, report creation, and presentations, all the while deepening her understanding of ADA Standards for Accessible Design. A significant part of her work she enjoys is conducting data collection at project sites to identify accessibility barriers. This internship appealed to Brianne as it enables her to consider perspectives distinct from her own as an able-bodied person, and in-person assessments underscore how even minute details can impact our interaction with the environment.
Bryce Grame
England-Thims & Miller, Inc.
Bryce Grame, a first-year student, is primarily focusing on traffic impact analysis for new developments near Jacksonville this summer. He appreciates the autonomy his mentor provides, allowing him to work independently until assistance is needed. This approach helps Bryce feel that he is effectively contributing to the workload rather than adding to it by needing extensive training.
Stephany Melton
South Carolina Department of Mental Health Housing and Homeless Programs
Stephany Melton, a third-year student with a passion for developing housing for individuals with mental health conditions, is excited about her current opportunity. Her projects include creating maps for the 2021 and 2022 low-income tax credit sites in South Carolina, assisting in updating the data collection process for the rental assistance program, aiding in the creation of training for the same data collection process, and helping to revise the evaluation process for homeless prevention program sites.
Adrian Santiago
AECOM
Adrian Santiago, a first-year student, is currently working with the AECOM Michigan Transportation Planning Team. The role has been challenging, exposing him to a wide range of industry practices and requiring on-the-job learning. He is utilizing his technical skills and gaining a broader knowledge base in professional transportation planning, which aligns with his internship goals. Adrian has worked on a Transit Needs Assessment, a Planning Environmental Linkages Study, and has helped to produce, analyze, and report on public surveys. His tasks include data collection and analysis, visualization materials production, and drafting reports and memos.
Brianna Smith
Town of Gates, Building Department
Brianna Smith, a third-year student, is employed in the Building Department of the Town of Gates. Her duties involve handling and processing all applications for the town’s Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals. She reviews site plans and addresses applicants’ questions about the site plan and zoning variance review processes. Brianna also manages zoning verification requests, processes and issues building permits, and serves as the primary contact at the Town for Stormwater Management practices. Furthermore, she will be updating the Town’s existing Stormwater Management Plan.
Liz Thompson
Rome Floyd Planning Department
Liz Thompson, a third-year student, is engaged in a comprehensive analysis of the Marshall Forest Preserve. She is also responsible for writing grant proposals for the MFP.
Kristie Turner
City of Casper
Kristie Turner, a second-year student, is part of a team working to develop a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) map. This map is designed to display spatial data for all structures, along with their types, that are situated within the flood zones of the county.