URP alumna Kayla Doshier receives 2016 graduate student award for AICP Outstanding Student

Kayla Doshier was awarded the 2016 AICP Outstanding Student Award by the American Planning Association for her work on a master's degree in Urban & Regional Planning (URP) at Michigan State University.

Kayla Doshier, graduate student recipient of the 2016 AICP Outstanding Student Award

Kayla Doshier was awarded the 2016 AICP Outstanding Student Award by the American Planning Association for her work on a master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning (URP) at Michigan State University.

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the study of planning by students graduating from Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)-accredited planning programs, such as the URP Program in the School of Planning, Design and Construction. A student is chosen at both the graduate and undergraduate level by each program. To be considered for the award the students must first be nominated via a formal letter from the program lead at their university.

Doshier was nominated to receive the graduate student award by a vote of the URP faculty. To be considered for nomination, a student must demonstrate high levels of academic achievement, leadership and commitment to planning.

When Doshier got word that she was going to receive the award, she was shocked. “I think I asked several times ‘Are you serious?’ before it finally set in,” she said. Then, she felt a great sense of pride and honor. “It’s rewarding in a sense that all the hard work and effort was worth it,” she commented.

Doshier completed her undergraduate studies at Grand Valley State University majoring in Geography and Planning with an emphasis on environmental planning, and minored in environmental studies with a focus on the socio-cultural perspective on the environment. Through an internship with the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan she found her passion for fair and equal housing, and decided to attend MSU to get a master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning.

Her biggest accomplishment this year was the completion of her Master’s degree Plan B report titled “An Exploratory Analysis and Visual Representation of the Boston 2024 Olympic Bidding Committee,” which looked at how the internal social network structure of the organization impacted the Olympic bid.

Another significant accomplishment was her completion of the practicum course, a required rite of passage for all URP students. Doshier, participated as part of team of students to assist their client, Taking Pride in Alpena of Alpena Township, with their corridor revitalization plan for the South Bay Corridor. The group reviewed zoning, land use, tourism and marketing in order to give recommendations. “It was wonderful to become part of a community, and to see the influence that planning can make,” she said.

Currently, Doshier works as a planning aide for the City of Grand Rapids, and is also an instructor for the MSU PDC 491 course this summer. She hopes to earn a PhD and pursue a career in academia or research in the future.

Please join us in congratulating Doshier for her achievement!

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