Laura Castro
Why pursue a Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Virginia Tech?
Current DC campus student Laura Castro shares her experience:
What attracted you to the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program at Virginia Tech originally?
I liked that the MURP program at Virginia Tech has a campus located in Arlington, Virginia. I moved here from San Diego, and I decided I wanted to study in a city that I also wanted to work in. The program offered a variety of courses, and I was especially interested in the transportation courses.
What are 1 or 2 things you have come to appreciate about the program since you began?
I appreciate Virginia Tech’s commitment to encourage diversity in the urban and regional planning field. As a Latina who is a first-generation college graduate, and now first-generation Master’s student, I have felt supported through Virginia Tech’s Community Scholars Fellowship program. Additionally, I feel a sense of community among my peers who are also seeking a degree in a field to improve the quality of life for other people.
What would you like to do after you graduate?
After I graduate, I hope to work in the transportation field as a transportation planner. I would like to continue to live and work in Arlington County because I think that this county is supporting new and innovative initiatives that I would like to be a part of.
In what ways do you feel connected to your classmates and the program?
I feel connected with my classmates because many of my classes require group work and I have met other students who support planning goals to be more sustainable and equitable in our planning practices. The program is designed to support collaboration and I have enjoyed this program so far.
Are you currently working in the planning field in any capacity?
I am currently working at Arlington County in the Department of Transportation, Engineering, and Operations Bureau, supporting Arlington’s Vision Zero initiative. Vision Zero is a transportation policy aimed at reducing the number of fatal and severe crashes through a systemic and design approach. I analyze data for the Vision Zero program to support strategies that will help reduce crashes and hopefully eliminate fatal ones by 2030. I also have an assistantship with the Virginia Center for Housing Research. I was interested in learning more about the housing field and the program set me up to do research on housing.
Overall, how do you feel about your decision to study at VT for a MURP?
I am very happy with my decision to study at Virginia Tech. I truly enjoy attending my classes and interacting with my classmates.