{"id":146200,"date":"2025-11-11T06:57:31","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T12:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/?p=146200"},"modified":"2025-11-18T13:49:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T19:49:07","slug":"architecture-and-urban-planning-student-draws-up-plans-to-make-a-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/architecture-and-urban-planning-student-draws-up-plans-to-make-a-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Architecture and urban planning student draws up plans to make a difference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Architecture has always been an area of interest for UWM master\u2019s student Dulce Carreno, but in high school, she didn\u2019t consider it a viable option. Instead, after graduating from her Las Vegas high school, Carreno served in the U.S. Air Force for six years, preparing and maintaining aircraft for military use.<\/p>\n

Her military journey was borne out of necessity \u2014 to help her pay for a college degree \u2014 but in hindsight, Carreno says her military service ultimately charted her course to architecture and urban planning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the military, I saw the real-world difference I was making through my job,\u201d she said. \u201cI knew I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to impact people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Carreno is enrolled in UWM\u2019s joint Master of Architecture and Urban Planning degree program,<\/a> where she is learning how to build strong communities. The dual degree allows students to pursue two related professional degrees at once and complete them both in less time than it would take to earn them separately.<\/p>\n

A surprising foundation<\/h2>\n

During her military service, Carreno worked full-time and earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University. After graduating in 2022, she briefly worked in the digital marketing field before realizing it wasn\u2019t the right fit for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though marketing can be fulfilling, I didn\u2019t feel the same level of impact as I did in the military,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As Carreno was considering what she might explore next, she learned about UW-Milwaukee from her boyfriend, who grew up in the Milwaukee area. The coordinated MArch and MUP degree program was uniquely appealing, because it offered courses that would prepare her to design buildings and create communities that support people\u2019s well-being and health.<\/p>\n

Committed to community<\/h2>\n

Carreno, who is Mexican-American, understands firsthand the systemic issues affecting people of color and other marginalized groups. The first in her family to pursue a master\u2019s degree, Carreno sees her background as an asset.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a more diverse workforce, we can better meet the needs of different communities,\u201d she said. For example, architects of color may have specific ideas about what resources and spaces communities of color need to thrive.<\/p>\n

After graduation, Carreno hopes to work as an architect designing community-focused buildings such as libraries and K-12 schools. Her long-term dream is to use her skills to work in disaster zones and help communities as they rebuild.<\/p>\n

For now, Carreno\u2019s commitment to community shines through in her role as co-president of the student chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects<\/a>. The chapter leads architecture firm tours and helps students establish direct connections in the field before they graduate.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven one professional connection can help someone get an internship or even a job,\u201d Carreno said.<\/p>\n

More architects and urban planners from diverse backgrounds means urban spaces and communities that serve and address the needs of everyone \u2014 not just a few. Carreno is glad to be a part of the effort, saying, \u201cI truly feel most fulfilled when I\u2019m helping people and communities thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UW-Milwaukee dual master’s student Dulce Carreno is pursuing her dream of becoming an architect committed to community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15092,"featured_media":146204,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174,361],"tags":[],"section":[258,124],"display_categories":[352,116,363],"related-coverage":[362],"uwmnews-feed":[],"class_list":["post-146200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-waves-stories","section-architecture","section-students","display_categories-top-story-tertiary","display_categories-top-story-section","display_categories-waves-spotlight","related-coverage-make-new-waves"],"yoast_head":"\nVeteran studies architecture to serve communities<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UWM grad student Dulce Carreno blends military 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