Students in the Master of Urban Planning program got a chance to meet with the planning directors of the nation’s 30 largest cities at an evening reception on October 8. The event was part of the Big City Planning Directors Institute, which is offered every fall by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and the American Planning Association along with the GSD. The institute examines emerging public policy questions as they pertain to the planning and design of large cities and their metropolitan regions.
While the institute’s meetings are closed to visitors, the attendees met with first and second year MUPs in the evening to discuss the planning field, urbanism and jobs. Jerold Kayden (professor of urban planning and design) gave the introductory remarks.
Kevin McDonald (MUP ’13) said of the event, “The planning directors really offered some great insights for us to understand the new opportunities for innovative planning that are emerging in large cities across the U.S., in addition to hearing about remaining challenges that need to be addressed. I’m glad I had the opportunity to go and learn.”