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To view Jeanette's project, Tribune Harbor t, click here. Jeanette's project was prepared for the required specialization course UPP 556, Urban Design Studio.
What is your academic and work background? What did you do before enrolling in the MUPP program at UIC?
Before I enrolled in the MUPP program. I was a student at UIC where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies. After graduation, I worked for an architect for three years as an architectural drafter. I assisted in creating and correcting floor plans for various residential and commercial renovations as well as new constructions projects. I always new I wanted to go back to school and receive my master’s degree in a field where I could apply my architectural skills but on a broader context. That’s when I decided to enroll in the MUPP program for Urban Design.
What attracted you to planning and made you decide you
wanted to be a planner?
What attracted me to planning, specifically physical planning, was its similarity to architecture. I wanted to do something where I could apply my architectural skills but also learn about social, economic and design factors that are impacted by urban design and planning, in hopes of designing better communities and cities.
Why did you want to study planning at UIC?
I wanted to study at UIC because I feel Chicago is the best “lab” any planning student can have. Because so many projects are based in areas within the city, it allows students to gain hands on experience and visit sites in person. I also feel that the faculty and staff who are associated with the MUPP program are very helpful and knowledgeable in their fields of work.
What are some of the highlights of your time as a student--classes, projects, internships, volunteer involvement?
My overall academic progress has been the best it’s ever been in my years in school. I also feel that my work has been recognized among several professors, which boosts my confidence in what I do and I feel proud of the work I have done. A poster I created in a class was selected for display at an event at UIC and having an urban design project considered for the program’s student work website have been the most recognizable highlights during my time in the MUPP program.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I look forward to working for a multi-disciplinary consulting firm. I have experience in both the architecture and urban planning fields, so I would like to see myself in a position where I can apply both skill sets in designing buildings as well as neighborhoods throughout urban communities.