My time studying Public Administration and Political Science has helped me uncover a passion for public affairs. More specifically, I am excited about using urban planning to address and provide solutions for social and environmental problems facing societies today. I also appreciate using GIS in research; I think visualizing problems through maps can be powerful. These interests are decidedly interdisciplinary, but their intersectionality is what makes them timely and important in today’s world. The interaction individuals have with their environments impacts society at large, and considering the many factors that can impact this interaction is important to me. My interests all relate back to the public. Research in public affairs opens doors …show more content…
Though it sounds naïve and oversimplified, I know that is my mission in my future career. I can see myself as an educator, as I love to help people understand concepts and grow in their knowledge, and I would be able to perform research professionally. I would enjoy working with communities to research and develop unique plans to fit their needs like some of the professors in the Humphrey School have done. For example, what Dr. Quick has done with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Reading the research of professors at the University of Minnesota, I saw a lot of people doing the work I hope to accomplish later in my …show more content…
Although my past research is not necessarily directly tied to my research interests, the skills I have attained are directly transferable. I am confident in my ability to perform research and become a successful graduate of the University of Minnesota. The diverse, interdisciplinary research interests of faculty in the Public Affairs PhD program would foster my personal and professional growth. In particular, I see my research interests melding most with Dr. Quick and Dr. Allen. Dr. Allen’s research intrigues me through my interest of planning with specific populations, like immigrants and refugees, in mind. Dr. Quick’s research relates to much of my own interests; using research to solve real-world consumption, waste, and planning problems in urban areas is at the heart of why I value public affairs. The ecological attribute of Dr. Fan’s research also inspired me to apply to this program. The interaction between individuals and their environment holds ramifications for the future of city planning, and Dr. Fan’s research is inspiring in this way. Part of what drove me to want to study urban planning was an inspiring lecture from Majora Carter about how she worked with community members to revitalize their community; they created unique solutions to their problems, and in the process,