URBAN STUDIES PROGRAM SPRING 2005 ALUMNI PANELISTS Sean Gallegos (2004) Planner I—Planning Division City of Campbell Sean graduated from the Urban Studies Program in August 2004; he has a previous BA in Public Administration from California State University, Chico. He interned with the City of San Mateo’s Planning Department and it evolved into a paid position, which provided valuable experience in current and long-range planning. He began his search for a permanent planning position during the spring of his senior year, and he was ultimately hired by the City of Mill Valley as an Assistant Planner for a short term position (six months). Just as that six month period ended, he was referred by a co-worker from San Mateo for a planning position in the City of Campbell. He obtained the position and began in February 2005. His current work involves reviewing new single-family homes, additions, second-unit and commercial development projects, as well as sign, fence and business applications. His email address is seangallegos@yahoo.com. Kevin Kitchingham (2004) Project Development Assistant Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition Kevin graduated from the Urban Studies Program in 2004. As a student, he worked on Urban Action as a contributing editor. After “tons of informational interviews” he obtained a job with the Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition, a non-profit housing developer. He was initially hired for a three-month position, but it evolved into a project management position. His job includes obtaining local corporate support for housing assistance for low income farm worker families in Santa Cruz and writing loan and grant applications as well as doing site assessments for potential affordable housing developments from Capitola to Healdsburg. His email address is kkitchingham@midpen-housing.org Marianna Marysheva (1998) Budget Director City of Oakland Marianna graduated from the Urban Studies Program in 1998, and entered the Masters in Public Policy program in UC Berkeley the same year, graduating in 2000. While at SFSU, Marianna worked with a number of clients on research/consulting projects (in the areas of urban development, affordable housing and child care), as well as with ABAG and the SF Controller’s Office. While completing her graduate study, Ms. Marysheva continued providing research assistance/consulting; her clients included the SF Department of Telecommunications and Information Services as well as the Harvard University/Ford Foundation. Upon graduating from UC Berkeley, she joined the City of Oakland as a Financial Analyst in the central Budget Office; she is now the Budget Director, in charge of a team responsible for the development and monitoring of the City’s and Redevelopment Agency budgets (including operating and capital volumes). Her email address is mmarysheva@oaklandnet.com Laura Moye (1998) Research Analyst San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families Laura graduated from the Urban Studies Program in 1998. While at SFSU, she was a managing editor of Urban Action and did two internships, one in public affairs at Macy’s (where she worked full-time), and a second internship working on San Francisco childcare policy. After graduation she obtained a job at the Public Policy Institute of California, where she did research on social welfare policy. In 2001, she was hired by the SPHERE Institute where she managed social policy research projects. And in 2003, she moved from the world of private research to the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, where she manages research and evaluation projects on city projects relating to children and youth. Her email address is moyesf@comcast.net. Lindy Lowe (1995) Coastal Planner San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission Lindy graduated from the Urban Studies Program in 1995. She did her internship in the City of Daly City’s Planning Department. She obtained a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA in 1997, where her focus was environmental planning. While at UCLA she worked as an intern and then an assistant planner in the Advance Planning Division of the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department. After graduating from UCLA, Lindy was hired by the City of San Diego. She began as an assistant planner in the Current Planning Department and after two years became a senior planner in the Community and Long Range Planning Department. In 2000, Lindy returned to the Bay Area to work for San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Lindy’s work has consistently focused on environmental issues, including preserving environmental resources and addressing the concerns of rural and unincorporated areas; at BCDC she is working on research and policy development for transportation and water quality (with a focus on mercury contamination in the Bay) issues. Her email address is lindyl@bcdc.ca.gov. Karl Heisler (1990) Senior Project Manager Environmental Science Associates Karl graduated from the Urban Studies Program in December of 1990. While in the program, he was a coediito of Urban Action as well as a contributing author. He did his internship in the Transportation Planning section of the San Francisco Planning Department. He was hired by Environmental Science Associates immediately after graduation, where his work primarily involves reviewing EIRs. He has remained at ESA except for a two year job in the early 2000s working for a law firm, where he worked more as a project advocate, helping to prepare EIRS and researching issues regarding project approval. He views his work on Urban Action as excellent preparation for his current job: a lot of writing and assembling documents for publication. And the work at the Planning Department introduced him to many of the people with whom he interacts while at ESA. His current work includes CEQA reviews for city development projects such as the proposal to rezone much of eastern San Francisco. His email address is kheisler@esassoc.com