Kendra Ellner,‘20 BS, ‘21 MUEP

My time at Arizona State University was truly transformative. It guided the beginning of my urban planning career in many ways that I am deeply proud of. When I transferred from Scottsdale Community College in 2018, I took my first urban planning class with Professor Jason Kelley. That class truly cemented my decision to pursue both my undergraduate and graduate degree in urban planning at ASU. What I didn’t realize at the time was how that decision would introduce me to so many incredible professors, mentors, peers, and lifelong friends, ultimately leading me to a planning career I love.

I am especially grateful for the invaluable guidance of Eileen Baden, who encouraged me to take the next step toward earning my Masters in Urban and Environmental Planning (MUEP) with the amazing accelerated 4+1 program offered at ASU. My education was rich with learning experiences, and many highlights from building my first set of maps during my Geographic Information Systems class with Daoqin Tong. To refining my skills in Adobe Suite taught by Tim Boyle. In Deirdre Pfeiffer’s class, I developed qualitative and quantitative data analytics skills and even presented some of my findings through a unique rap presentation that was fun to prepare and share with my peers. I also remember taking a interdisciplinary design class where I was able to work with a team of students from other programs to pitch our innovative garbage truck design. My capstone experience with Meagan Ehlenz was a collaborative applied project on Accessory Dwelling Units where I learned so much about pulling everything I learned together into a beautiful planning report. It also reinforced the importance of practical problem-solving in urban planning where I still reference the ADU report to this day. I look back with pride on all that I accomplished during my time at ASU, especially before the pandemic.

During my last semester things took a turn. I had initially planned to participate in NEURUS a study abroad program, then COVID-19 pandemic dismantled everything. When I thought my life was falling apart my problem solving skills led me to an unexpected opportunity. I was offered a part-time position as a research assistant with Sara Meerow, studying urban heat islands. That experience ultimately got me back on my feet and helped me secure my first internship at the City of Apache Junction which opened the door for even more opportunities to lead me where I am today as a community planning consultant in the Twin Cities with a better life than I could even imagine.

The education and experiences I gained at ASU built a strong foundation for a stable and fulfilling career and life that I am incredibly grateful for. I owe so much to the professors, staff, faculty, students, and peers who supported me along the way. I hope this story inspires others to pursue a degree that they are passionate about and be willing to be adaptable along the way.