{"id":9433,"date":"2026-06-15T14:09:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/urban-studies\/?page_id=9433"},"modified":"2026-06-19T08:19:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T13:19:35","slug":"alumni-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/urban-studies\/about\/alumni\/alumni-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Liam Farin and Isabella Lemieux <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(Urban Studies BA, Urban Planning MUP, 2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Liam<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Liam and Isabella are both completing their Master of Urban Planning degree at the same time as their BA in Urban Studies as part of the accelerated urban studies BA -urban planning MUP program. Read the full story<\/a> about their experience.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Natalie Hernadez <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(BA, Urban Studies, 2023)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UWM<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Natalie discusses\u00a0her experience as an Urban Fellow in New York City.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read her story<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Jordan Villegas <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(BA, Urban Studies, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jordan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jordan speaks about his experience working as a program manager for the home-buying coaching program at Acts Housing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read his story.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dakota Crowell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BA Urban Studies & Sociology Minor, 2018 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dakota
Dakota Crowell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a student at UWM, Dakota Crowell led an initiative to open a food pantry to combat food insecurity on campus. Crowell was a leader within the Student Association (UWM\u2019s student government.) Back then he commented that it didn\u2019t surprise him that some of his classmates were having a difficult time finding enough food. But seeing the actual numbers was a little staggering. Crowell explained: \u201cI had met students or have known friends who have experienced this\u2026but I didn\u2019t realize the percentage of that [issue] would have been so high.\u201d He also says that he\u2019s trying to be sensitive in the ways the pantry is marketed, keeping in mind that there may be different stigmas or barriers associated with receiving assistance. Crowell took on the project as his first project after being elected to Student Association. The food pantry has more than two-thousand pounds of food and other items. That includes food like ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, as well as personal toiletries, laundry detergent, and diapers for students who may also be parents. Crowell stated: \u201cSecuring these basic needs for students is quintessential to their academic success. We can\u2019t really expect someone to be passing their classes if they know maybe they haven\u2019t eaten for the last day, or are struggling to find where their next meal is going to come from.\u201d (Dakota is currently a Planning Supervisor with the City of Bloomington in Minnesota).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about Dakota Crowell\u2019s efforts and the UWM Student Food Center and Pantry in the article from WUWM 89.7.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

See UWM Graduation Video that features Dakota:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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