Alumni
What I do:
Journalist & TV producer
Why I do it:
I worked inside the tech industry for many years. Now I cover it from the outside.
How I got here:
Tech Industry for 25 years; Journalist for 15.
What my background in Urban Studies has done for me:
Allowed me to leverage my…
What I do:
I am Vice President for Conservation Services at The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit land conservation organization. I oversee an array of programs focused on our dual charter of environmental protection and economic development. We work in both urban and rural areas with…
What I do:
I am the city manager for the City of Santa Cruz. I oversee the operations of all city departments, with approximately 900 employees.
Why I do it:
Of all the levels of government, municipal government touches everyone on a daily basis, through trail and street maintenance,…
What I do:
As the Deputy Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Austin, I review changes to historic buildings, help neighborhoods that want to become historic districts, and staff our preservation commission. I also lead public engagement and community partnerships, which offer ongoing…
What I do:
Parking Operations Coordinator for Stanford University Parking & Transportation Services
Why I do it:
Initially, being offered a part-time opportunity to conduct field surveys (i.e., working outside on foot and on bike) and to use GIS (Geographic Information Systems) while also…
What I do:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
What my background in Urban Studies has done for me:
Deepened my understanding of systemic injustice and prepared me to work for social change through a Master of Social Work.
What I do:
Public Policy Consultant (focus: housing/homelessness)
Why I do it:
I love working at a social impact consulting firm because I get to learn every single day, like I never left school. I love our public sector clients because together we create systems change to improve conditions for…
What I do:
As Stanford Real Estate’s Managing Director of Asset Management, I am primarily responsible for strategic planning and management of the world-renowned Stanford Research Park in Palo Alto, the preeminent real estate asset of Stanford University, comprised of 700 acres and 10.3…
What I do:
Venture Capitalist
Why I do it:
I invest in startups working to solve hard problems and reshape markets. Generally speaking, my work tends to focus on three areas: infrastructure (I've recently led investments in telecom infrastructure & green energy infrastructure projects),…
What I do:
In recent years I have worked at EHDD Architecture in San Francisco as Project Manager on the Stanford Green Dorm and Project Architect on the Global Ecology Research Center, an interdisciplinary research department operated by the Carnegie Institution on Stanford's campus that won a…
What I do:
Founder and Executive Director, The Bronx Charter School for the Arts
Why I do it:
I take the arts very seriously. I believe arts education is critical to human development and learning. The Bronx Art School is founded on this principle.
How I got here:
After…
What I do:
Housing Developer
Why I do it:
Building new multifamily housing is endlessly detailed (and complicated!), so it never gets old, and no two days are ever alike. Although it sometimes takes years, we have a real, tangible impact on the communities we serve, providing new homes that will…
What I do:
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Why I do it:
I tried working outside of academia (I did some non-profit work as a policy advocate and grantwriter) but kept yearning for the seasons and intellectual stimulation of academia. I love being able to teach and learn every day!
How I …
What I do:
Dale Margolin Cecka is a clinical professor of law and the founder and director of the Jeanette Lipman Family Law Clinic at the University of Richmond School of Law. A graduate of Stanford University and Columbia University School of Law, Professor Cecka is a member of the Virginia…
What I do:
I am the Real Estate Strategy and Urban Planning Manager for Genentech, Inc. in South San Francisco.
Why I do it:
After nearly a decade in urban planning consulting, it is fascinating to think about planning from the perspective of a corporate campus -- which in this case is even…
What I do:
At the Kennedy School, I am studying how countries' and cities' broad institutional arrangements affect processes and outcomes of equitable development. My academic interests center on multi-sector democratic problem-solving in the realm of urban governance. From public-private…
What my background in Urban Studies has done for me:
Urban Studies helped formed my interest and got me my start. I am one of the rare few who is doing their undergrad major. It started with Fred Stout's intro class and moved to a studio with Gerry Gast. I learned to write. I learned to…
What I do:
Community Organizing in Education
Why I do it:
I find this work continually interesting, challenging, and meaningful. How you got here: I first was a teacher in Teach for America and then wanted to transfer the knowledge of the school system into organizing work.
What my …
What I do:
Strategy and Organizational Change Consulting
Why I do it:
I love helping organizations thrive and reach their goals.
How I got here:
Since graduating, I have spent time in education policy research, philanthropy, and consulting in Washington, DC. As I grew…
What I do:
Affordable housing developer
Why I do it:
I like to solve hard problems to get to an outcome that means something! I get to work on challenges from persuading planning staff and City Councils, to negotiating complex legal agreements, to managing a construction team.
How I got…
What I do:
Edtech curriculum development
Why I do it:
We are democratizing college admissions by leveraging technology to support high schoolers with their college applications. It's exciting to develop online tools and a values-based curriculum that will provide expert guidance at an affordable…
What I do:
Greater China Real Estate Developer & Investor
Why I do it:
Real estate is the best job in the world. We have the privilege to mold cities, create spaces, and cultivate experiences that shape the lives of everyone around us.
What my background in Urban Studies has done for…