PhD Student

Specialization: Land Use and Environmental Planning

Hometown: Denver, CO

Previous Degrees: BS Environmental Engineering – Stanford ‘11, MSPH Environmental Sciences & Engineering – UNC ‘14, MCRP Land Use and Environmental Planning – UNC ‘14

Kyle has studied water and sanitation planning in low and middle-income countries in some form or another since his time as an undergraduate student at Stanford. Through his various degrees, he has examined the topic from the perspectives of engineering, public health, and land use planning. He chose to become a doctoral student at Carolina Planning because the department offered the multidisciplinary skillset needed to support his research, which touches on the complex issues and intersections of economics, climate change, and social justice.

At Carolina Planning, Kyle has acted as the PhD program’s admissions coordinator, assisted with several graduate courses and taught an undergraduate class. On campus, he has been involved with Stigma Free Carolina, a campaign advocating for de-stigmatization of mental health issues and treatment. In the community, he has assisted with public health surveys and information campaigns in the rural areas of the Piedmont region.

Carolina Planning and the university at large have taught Kyle the skills needed to conduct rigorous and credible social science research, as well as how to navigate the professional worlds of academic, public-sector, and nonprofit research. But despite the quality of education and resources Kyle is able to access through Carolina Planning, when asked what he likes best about the department, he says that he “could not ask for better colleagues.”

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Specialization: Housing & Community Development

Hometown: Madison, WI

Previous Degrees: BS History & Political Science – University of Wisconsin ‘14, MURP – University of Minnesota 16’

Atticus’ experience as an affordable housing researcher in the Twin Cities led him to Carolina Planning as a PhD student. Through a range of research experiences, he has examined how the built environment reflects and perpetuates systems of privilege and disadvantage, particularly with respect to neighborhood conditions and access to affordable housing. He chose to pursue a planning doctorate, not only to further explore these topics, but also because the applied nature of planning gives him the opportunity to work toward advancing more equitable urban planning practices.

Atticus was attracted to Carolina Planning because the department housed multiple faculty whose work aligned with his interests. On top of that, he would also have the opportunity to take courses from other leading scholars at Duke and North Carolina State. He liked that the curriculum has a strong focus on methods because that would prepare him to work in both academic and non-academic environments after graduation.

In the department, Atticus serves Carolina Planning as the PhD admissions assistant, which requires him to provide administrative assistance to faculty and help coordinate spring visits for admitted doctoral students. He also works as a research associate at the Center for Urban and Regional Studies, where he conducts ongoing evaluations of the Charlotte Housing Authority’s Move to Work and Jobs Plus programs. In the broader campus community, Atticus teaches workshops on applied research and data visualization for the Carolina Center for Public Service.

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