Baruch College Graduate Students Named NYC Community Planning Fellows

November 30, 2022

Four Baruch College graduate students are gaining first-hand experience as urban planners this year after being selected as Community Planning Fellows and placed with New York City Community Boards.

The students—all pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs—are among only 17 Fellows chosen from Baruch, City College, Columbia University, Hunter College, New York University, The New School, and Pratt Institute for the coveted program.

The Community Planning Fellowship Program, sponsored by the Fund for the City of New York, provides second-year graduate students who are studying urban planning, architecture, urban design, historic preservation, and public policy the opportunity to work with local Community Boards on a specific project over the course of an academic year.

In the Community Board offices, Fellows face real-world community planning issues such as zoning, transportation, retail development and other land use projects. They assist board members and staff in finding solutions to quality-of-life issues of importance to local neighborhoods.

Meet the Community Planning Fellows

William Cooch

With this fellowship, Cooch wants to learn planning policies and processes affect what is being built—and how—as well as contribute to urban development that addresses social justice and environmental issues.

As a Fellow, Cooch hopes to draw upon his experiences collaborating with broad stakeholder groups and managing diverse teams for development projects across the New York area.

“I want to assist local citizen groups in considering issues in their community such as sustainability, housing affordability, poverty, equity, and economic opportunity,” Cooch says. “With thoughtful development and broad citizen involvement, I hope to help foster vibrant and supportive communities.”

Catherine Davis

Catherine Davis, who is concentrating in urban development and sustainability, wants to expand her understanding of the city’s policy landscape and combine that knowledge with the skills acquired during her 20-year career in publishing.

Her interest centers on policy development and implementation involving growth, sustainability, resilience, and equity in New York City. During her first year of graduate studies at Marxe, Davis’s research ranged from an analysis of the city’s organics recycling program to a case study of the green infrastructure within a Manhattan neighborhood.

Benjamin Engel

Benjamin Engel (’24) wants to participate in public service to “address not only environmental sustainability for our region, but to also help usher our political systems into a resilient future.”

He believes that changes start locally, and “hopes to bridge his passion for helping others into a meaningful career that focuses on transit, green infrastructure, and land use projects at a neighborhood scale.”

Carla Roussos

Carla Roussos (’22), who aspires to a career in community planning, wants to create and enhance locally based programs and services for older adults in low-income communities. She envisions programs that include healthcare access, mental health services, and affordable housing.

“Senior citizens are a vulnerable population and there is a need to improve their quality of life through advocacy and the direct provision of targeted services,” Roussos states. “It is important that all Americans should be afforded the opportunity to stay healthy, active, and engaged.”

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