The School of Planning Designer in Residence Endowment Fund provides students with unique opportunities to learn from practicing professionals, explore innovative design approaches, and strengthen the integration of design thinking into the future of planning.
This fund was launched through a seed gift from Karen Bowles Hammond, whose years of teaching and service in design have made a lasting impact on the School of Planning and the Faculty of Environment. In recognition of her contributions as both an educator and benefactor, the fund will help advance excellence in design within planning education.
What the Designer in Residence (DIR) will do:
- Teach a new project-based studio course that leverages the DIR’s unique expertise
- Mentor students and foster interdisciplinary collaboration
- Enrich classroom learning by applying cutting-edge tools used in the profession
- Collaborate with the Planner in Residence, faculty, and community partners on training events, design competitions, and other experiential learning activities.
To bring this vision fully to life, we need to grow the fund. The initial gift created a strong foundation and will allow the School of Planning to launch the program in Fall 2026, however, additional support from alumni, industry partners, and friends is essential to sustain and expand the program for future generations.