Meet Amie Thomas, 2024 Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics Fellow

The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is happy to announce Amie Thomas (GRS Statistical Practice) has been selected as this year’s City of Boston Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM) Fellow. This fellow will have the opportunity to explore an interest in public service and civic innovation while positively impacting the surrounding community. The MONUM Fellow will work with a larger cohort of MONUM summer fellows to implement creative and thoughtful new prototypes and experiments to benefit the residents of Boston. The fellow will also participate in professional development opportunities to gain a broad view of careers in city government. The Office of New Urban Mechanics is Boston’s civic innovation team, responsible for promoting participatory urbanism, smarter city infrastructure, and innovative service delivery. They are the catalyst and clearing house for civic innovation projects involving the City of Boston and its partners, from residents and community groups to universities, companies, and other government agencies.

We asked Amie to introduce herself and provide some insights into her passion and interest in working with MONUM as a fellow.

Introduce yourself! Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Amie Thomas, and I am a graduate student in the Math & Stats department. My expected graduation date is December 2024. I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Arkansas State University, where I fell head over heels for the intricate workings of the human mind and behavior. Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology are all fascinating to me. I plan to use my Master of Science in Statistical Practice to use data to gain insights into human behavior, driving societal advancement. When I’m not delving into the depths of statistical analysis or unraveling the mystery of the human experience, you can find me exploring Boston on my bike or reading my latest book in the Commons.

What made you want to apply for this internship/fellowship?

I was drawn to apply for the New Urban Mechanics fellowship by the opportunity to explore new avenues to utilize my enthusiasm for public service and apply my skills on a city-wide scale. I love that the fellowship takes an interdisciplinary approach, acting as a platform for those who want to contribute creative, fresh, and innovative solutions to solving urban challenges but don’t have a strict background in urban planning. I know it will be a great place to put my problem-solving and creative thinking abilities to good use.

How did you first become interested in Civic Innovation?

Studying at Boston University is how I first became interested in civic innovation. I have always harbored a deep love for public service, but I was never quite sure how to best utilize this passion. BU has opened my eyes to the endless pathways I can take to make real change in my city. I am drawn to leveraging creativity and technology to address societal challenges and improve governance. The potential of innovative solutions to empower communities and enhance the quality of life inspires me to delve deeper into civic innovation. My interest in civic innovation has blossomed naturally through BU.

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

I am most looking forward to exploring how my background in psychology and statistics can be used for various initiatives and projects to drive positive change on the local level. I believe it will strengthen my passion for civic innovation and fuel my commitment to contributing to advancing my community. Additionally, I look forward to cultivating a fulfilling, impactful career through the professional development opportunities provided by the fellowship.