Meet our Students: KC McFerson / Community and Regional Planning and Law

What city, region, state do you call home?

Wenatchee, Washington (hometown)

In which graduate program are you enrolled?

Community and Regional Planning and Law

What is your area of concentration?

My concentration area is in the nexus of law and planning. I am a concurrent degree student, pursuing both a Master of Community and Regional Planning and a Juris Doctor. My primary interests are in public service, policy, land use, and transportation.

What will you be doing for the Community Service Center (CSC)?

I am working on a project for the Community Planning Workshop (CPW). The project involves working with two, small Oregon cities that need to address water quality issues but lack the resources to do so. Working with a team of graduate students and supervised by faculty and a Graduate Teaching Fellow, we are working with city staff and stakeholders to help the cities comply with state and federal regulations.

How does your involvement with the Community Service Center relate to or inform your graduate studies?

The Community Service Center provides a platform for students to apply and build skills while also providing community service. Where much of academia is replete with theory, the CSC informs my graduate studies by providing the opportunity to work on projects with real clients.

What can you say about the value of your Community Service Center experience?

My Community Service Center experience has only just begun and has already been invaluable. This experience has taught me about project development and execution, community engagement, and technical knowledge about water quality management.

What outcome are you hoping for when your project ends?

When this project ends, I hope to have contributed to improved water quality in and around the communities we are working with.

More about the Community Planning Workshop(CPW)