Author: Courtney Thraen

Affordable Housing Leader Shares Practice-Based Lessons with #BUCPUA Students

On Thursday, November 3, Kristin Carlson, a Senior Project Manager with Harborlight Community Partners, clicked through images of empty lots transformed into beautiful, vibrant buildings. “Everyone knows there’s a need for affordable housing,” she said, as she pointed to projects her non-profit has worked on. BU Adjunct Faculty member Lily Song , PhD, hosted Carlson […]

#BUCPUA Faculty Practitioners Lead Seminar, Offer Fresh Insight on Economic Strategies

BU City Planning and Urban Affairs adjunct faculty members, Anne Gatling Haynes and Lily Song, led an economic seminar entitled, “Economic Development in Cities: Understanding the Urban Economic Development Gap.”  Across Massachusetts and the United States, specialized economic development strategies have produced uneven success in light of varying socioeconomic contexts.  The impact of these development […]

To get ahead, #BUCPUA students go visual

As #BUCPUA students complete their Fall 2016 course projects, they might stop to assess how these courses have immediately enhanced their professional standing. Many #BUCPUA students are mid-career professionals who juggle the demands of work, school and family. Alumnus Davis Valecillos (MET’14) knows this stress far too well, but he aggressively urges students to start […]

Unforgettable Celebration Heightens Gratitude for #BUCPUA alumni

The minutia of courses, homework deadlines, and late nights can take its toll on graduate students.   But ask any alumni, and the dividends of immersive learning are more than paid in full. Throughout the academic year, BU City Planning and Urban Affairs (#BUCPUA) alumni have returned time and again in a variety of roles to […]

Global energy leader inspires students, forges partnership at #BUCPUA Keynote Event

On Thursday, October 13, students and stakeholders from across Greater Boston gathered to hear about the powerful and resilient capacity of district energy.   Rob Thornton, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International District Energy Association (IDEA), captivated the audience for more than 90 minutes.  The #BUCPUA Fall 2016 Keynote Lecture, “District Energy in Cities: Unlocking […]

#BUCPUA Students up their Marketability at Digital Design Skills Workshop

Alumnus Brian Creamer (MET’15) clicked forward in his presentation, pointing to a plain Cape Cod street image. He advanced to the next slide, pointing again to the same street, but enhanced: the image now included both a wide sidewalk and bright bike lane. Creamer explained how software applications like Photoshop and InDesign can transform existing […]

#BUCPUA Professor reveals how to land the best job ever

On September 29, more than 250 policymakers and job seekers gathered at the 8th Annual Massachusetts Green Careers Conference held at the DCU Center in Worcester.  BU City Planning and Urban Affairs (BUCPUA) Adjunct Faculty Professor Eugene Benson, JD addressed the entire crowd and also led a smaller breakout session.   Benson compelled the audience to […]

Beyond the Classroom with Professor Yesim Sungu-Eryilmaz

Professor Yeşim Sungu-Eryilmaz is on the go. She travels 50 miles by commuter rail between Brown University in Providence and Boston University, where she teaches urban planning courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels.   Despite this tiring arrangement, she reliably stops and delivers genuine attention to students through career advice, research direction, or professional camaraderie. […]

4 principles of powerful policy writing – #BUCPUA students get the scoop

On September 21, students from across BU packed into the Academic Writing for Professionals workshop.  Led by Adjunct Professor William Koehler, this is the first installment of the #BUCPUA 2016 Fall Student Learning Enrichment Series.  For more than 90 minutes, students absorbed free, critical instruction to enhance their professional and academic writing skills. “You will […]