Meet Campbell Taylor, 2025 City of Boston Planning Advisory Council Intern

The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is proud to announce that Campbell Taylor (CAS/Pardee/KHC ’28) is the 2025 City of Boston’s Planning Advisory Council (PAC) Intern. Campbell will work under the Executive Director of PAC Katharine Lusk, who is also the former Co-Director of the IOC. This is the first year the IOC is partnering with the PAC (created in 2023), and Campbell will work in a dynamic role that spans many areas of government, working to break down policy and implementation silos with PAC to address challenges and pursue equity in the built environment.

Campbell is a rising sophomore studying Economics and International Relations with a minor in Urban Studies. She is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and studied at the United World College of Costa Rica before coming to Boston. At BU, her primary academic interest is combating urban inequality patterns, and she is a researcher on the 2025 Federal Reserve Challenge team. Outside of class, Campbell enjoys exploring new cities, playing rugby for BU, and dancing to country music.

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

I was initially drawn to the IOC Planning Advisory Council internship because I want to connect more deeply with the city I will be living in for the foreseeable future. Getting involved with local government seemed like a great way to understand Boston’s unique urban identity and meet people of all backgrounds within this great city. I also appreciated the Planning Advisory Council’s focus on overcoming resource silos in the City of Boston, as urban amenities are often hidden from those who need them most. 

Tell us about your interest in cities. 

I have always loved cities because they are centers of connection, innovation, and new experiences. Comparing the three cities I have lived in – Boston, San Antonio, and San Jose, Costa Rica – I realized that the characteristics I value in one city are often the greatest challenges facing another. My interest in combating urban inequality stems from the belief that the opportunities and amenities of city living should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their location.

How did you first become interested in governance and planning? 

I became interested in governance and planning without even realizing it. I’d always loved noticing small details in public spaces, and often wondered whether they were naturally occurring or intentional. In high school, whenever we got to pursue our interests, I gravitated toward understanding patterns of urban life, ranging from demographics and inequality to where people liked to sit in a park. I loved each topic for its differences, not realizing they were all answering the same central question: how do people live in a community? When I finally realized these ideas were intertwined, I knew I wanted to be involved in shaping change, rather than just experiencing it. 

What are you most looking forward to this summer? 

I’m looking forward to gaining a deeper understanding of Boston’s strengths and challenges, and determining what I can do at an individual level to contribute to the city I now call home. This summer, I hope to meet as many new people as possible and hear what would make their daily lives better. I’m also very excited to learn about the seemingly mysterious intricacies of local government from people with years of experience. My motto for this summer is learn, learn, learn!