While I did not begin my undergraduate journey as a Geography major, it did not take me long to realize it was the right program for me after taking a Geography of Western North America course in spring of my sophomore year. I was quite interested in the intersection of places and people and once I discovered this was the heart of the geography discipline, I was ready to hit the ground running.
UMW’s Geography program offers a wide variety of courses that teach both hard and soft skill sets. I loved learning the fundamentals of GIS and pairing those technical skills with an understanding of complex topics like human migration, international development, and urban planning. Professors facilitated a wonderful learning environment from seminars and lectures to trips and out-of-the-classroom activities. I had the opportunity to travel throughout my studies. including trips to Guatemala as part of a research team and throughout the Mid-Atlantic in a Field Methods course with Dr. Bowen.
I took the Introduction to Planning course in the fall of my junior year which set a new trajectory for my academic coursework and my career. Internships with nearby planning offices – the George Washington Regional Commission and the Stafford County Department of Planning and Zoning – helped me get a better understanding of what a career in city planning would look like and gave me good reason to attend Georgetown University after graduation for a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning.
I formed great relationships with professors and peers in the Geography program and can see how my coursework and the skills I developed at UMW set me up for success. In my current role, I serve as a Transportation Planner with the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization where I have the opportunity to shape transportation infrastructure and programming in Fredericksburg.