This Interior Architecture course, Sustainability & Human Wellness (CIAR 4560/6560), looks at novel conceptions of sustainability. How would you say the program broadened your understanding of the subject?
As I walked through Lisbon for the first time, I was surrounded by something I had not expected: people walking slowly, cafés filled with conversation, public spaces alive with energy, and streets designed more for people than for cars. At that moment, I began to understand that sustainability is not just about energy systems or green buildings, but about creating places where people feel healthier, more connected, and happier.
Through my LEED-focused study, I realized that Lisbon’s historic urban design, including its walkability, mixed-use neighborhoods, and integrated transit, naturally reflects the same human-centered principles promoted by LEED and the WELL Building Standard. What made this experience even more powerful was seeing how these principles extended beyond infrastructure into the local economy through initiatives like Mind the Trash, a community-supported business that reduces waste while promoting conscious consumption, proving that sustainability can also drive economic resilience.
More than any classroom lesson, Lisbon transformed my understanding of sustainability by showing me that when cities are designed around people, they create healthier communities, stronger local economies, and a higher quality of life. This insight now shapes both my research and my future career.
You mentioned that you are enrolled in the Trachtenberg school's Masters of Public Administration program. Did your time in Lisbon shape your perspective on the policy side of sustainability challenges?
My experience in Lisbon deepened my understanding of how sustainability policy can generate measurable societal and economic benefits beyond environmental outcomes. Lisbon’s integrated mobility system demonstrated how walkability, mixed-use development, and transit access not only reduce emissions but also lower public health costs by encouraging physical activity and reducing sedentary lifestyles.
My research on Washington, DC, on the other hand, highlights how fragmented transportation systems contribute to higher infrastructure costs, increased emissions, and long-term healthcare burdens.
The group joined city officials for a presentation on Climate Change and flood mitigation work.
Judith Obregon at the Quinta de Regaleria UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Inspired by Lisbon, I proposed a Human-Scale Mobility Corridors policy to address the inefficiencies in DC by creating continuous, multimodal networks that improve accessibility while reducing reliance on private vehicles, ultimately decreasing government spending on transportation maintenance and health-related costs.
Drawing from sustainability and human wellness frameworks such as LEED and WELL, this approach promotes walkable, transit-oriented communities that reduce car dependence while supporting healthier lifestyles, stronger social connections, and more inclusive public spaces. By integrating these frameworks, the policy advances a more resilient and economically efficient urban model, one that enhances public health, strengthens local economies, and creates more connected, livable communities.
Beyond the classroom, how did this experience contribute to your personal growth as a graduate student and individual?
Studying in Lisbon transformed me not only as a Master of Public Administration student, but as a future public leader committed to building healthier, more sustainable communities. Immersed in a new cultural and urban environment, I strengthened my critical thinking, interdisciplinary analysis, and observational skills by walking through neighborhoods like Chiado, analyzing mobility systems, and applying LEED and WELL frameworks to understand how urban design, public policy, economic vitality, and human well-being function as one interconnected system.
What made this experience especially powerful was realizing that sustainability is not just an academic concept. It is something that directly shapes how people live, connect, and thrive within a city. Walking through neighborhoods like Chiado and observing how design influences accessibility, community interaction, and quality of life challenged many of my assumptions and expanded my global perspective. Through applying LEED and human-centered policy frameworks in real-world settings, I gained greater confidence in translating classroom knowledge into solutions that create public value.
Most importantly, this experience strengthened my commitment to evidence-based leadership with empathy, and it will continue to shape how I design policies and lead initiatives that build more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities, both locally and globally.