The Urban Planning Student Association (UPSA) is a student-run organization whose mission is to help students develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of various planning issues. We provide quality lectures and programming which reflect the interests of students while introducing them to new ideas. UPSA also strives to improve and raise the profile of Wagner’s Urban Planning Program within the school and among other planning schools. UPSA welcomes all students to participate in the organization, and seeks to collaborate with other student groups to provide the best possible opportunities for all Wagner students.

Meet the 2013-2014 UPSA Executive Board

Alex Powell, President

Alex hails from California but currently lives in an “intimate” three bedroom in Chelsea. He would like to use his background in Economics and experience with consulting fiscally distressed cities in CA to specialize in Economic Development to help create sustainable and prosperous communities! He misses wine tasting and earthquakes in CA but loves NYC for the art galleries and the NY Football Giants.

Connect with Alex: email him at alexander.powell@nyu.edu

Conor Muldoon, Vice President

Conor is UPSA’s Vice President, and works to form collaborations and strategic partnerships with organizations at NYU and the broader New York City region. He specializes in Housing and Economic Development, with an interest in New Urbanism, sustainable real estate development, adaptive reuse, and retrofitting. Originally from Syracuse, NY, he moved to Brooklyn to attend NYU Wagner in the Fall of 2012 after spending seven years in Chicago.

Connect with Conor: Email him at cpm346@nyu.edu

Abbie Rudow, Treasurer

Abbie is UPSA’s treasurer, meaning…drinks are on her! (sorry, not completely true) She is an MUP student specializing in Environmental Planning. Her academic interests include local environmental and sustainability policy and community development. Abbie currently lives in White Plains, but is looking to make Brooklyn her new home. She hopes to get more planning students involved and connected with the program in the coming year!

Connect with Abbie: Email her at asr430@nyu.edu

Nolan Levenson, Social Chair

Nolan hails from the Upper West Side, but currently lives in Brooklyn, and is a lover of cities through and through. Nolan is particularly interested in transit, bicycle, and pedestrian planning: he has served as a community liaison for the Maryland Transit Administration and a BRT research intern at Asociacion de Peatones de Quinto in Equador. He is currently a research assistant at the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management. He graduated from Macalester College with a B.A. in Geography and Urban Studies. Nolan looks forward to helping remind UPSA members the importance of taking some time to socialize.

Connect with Nolan: Friend him on Facebook | Email him at nolan.levenson@nyu.edu

Leda DeRosa, Communications Director

Leda comes from Brooklyn by way of New Haven by way of Korea. She is fond of obnoxious bragging about her rent-stabilized (duplex, with fire-place, back porch, etc. etc.) apartment in Cobble Hill. She hopes to work on preserving and expanding affordable housing, particularly in underserved communities. Right now, Leda is an housing development intern at Housing Works. Before graduate school, she spent 4 years working on civil rights and racial justice issues. Leda graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College with a degree in Urban Studies.