Testimonials

Cards

Paula Christina Viala

Paula Christina Viala, ’21

Chief Resilience Officer, North Bay Village

“The MPS in Urban Sustainability and Resilience at the University of Miami has been a transformative experience for me. The program’s interdisciplinary approach—blending climate science, urban design, and policy—has given me both the technical skills and practical exposure to address real-world challenges facing cities today. I’ve had the chance to work directly on applied projects, and this hands-on learning has truly prepared me to contribute meaningfully to creating more sustainable, resilient urban futures.”
Sofia Bond

Sofia Bond, ’24

Education and Outreach Associate, Miami Waterkeeper

“Working as a research assistant on an NSF-funded coastal resilience project has been one of the most valuable parts of my experience in the MPS in Urban Sustainability and Resilience. It allowed me to apply what I was learning in the classroom to real-world challenges—developing strategies for green infrastructure planning and nature-based solutions to protect vulnerable coastal communities. Collaborating with faculty, peers, and community stakeholders not only enhanced my technical knowledge but also reinforced my commitment to promoting equitable, science-based approaches to resilience.”

Haozheng Zu

Haozheng Zu, ’23

GIS Division, City of Coral Gables

“A defining part of my graduate journey was working on a scholarly journal paper mentored by MPS core faculty: Prof. Richard Grant and Shouraseni Roy. I was a co-author of this paper published in the journal of Cities titled: Unexpected urban comparisons: Airbnb-ization in Cape Town, South Africa, and Broward County's coastal cities, Florida, United States. This was an incredible experience to have scholarly publications while studying my courses.  I was able to engage deeply with data analysis, visualization, and methodology, while also learning how to contribute to global debates around resilience and sustainability."

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