USC Price Blog

Recent Executive Master of Urban Planning (EMUP) online graduate, Chrishelle Palay, spent the last two decades in the architecture field before she decided to pursue a different, related passion: housing policy advocacy. “I transitioned from architecture because I realized it wasn’t something I wanted to do anymore. Actually, Hurricane Ike kind of led to that…

USC Executive Master of Urban Planning (EMUP) alum Frank Byrd recently began working as the coordinator of unit acquisitions for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Originally a scholar of philosophy and fine arts, Byrd shifted his studies to the real estate and urban planning sector during the pandemic. Seeking to expand his knowledge…

Boxy mid-rise structures known as “podium” apartments have cropped up across the country. From Nashville to Los Angeles, the structures look the same – typically including retail stores or parking on the first floor – which draws the ire of neighbors and some architecture critics who find the buildings bland or downright ugly. “I think…

What led double Trojan Philippa Burgess from studying urban planning to pursuing a third USC degree in human security and geospatial intelligence? Burgess says she was inspired to continue her education because of what she learned in the Executive Master of Urban Planning online program, “I fell in love with the data science class…I couldn’t…

Lance Gilliam is a founding partner at Houston firm Waterman Steele Real Estate Advisors and is chair of the Coalition for the Homeless Houston board. He graduated from the USC Price Master of Urban Planning program online in 2021. Gilliam discusses how the EMUP degree provided a collaborative environment and helped him enrich his career….

Architect Colin Montoute works for the New York firm W X Y + architecture + urban design. He graduated from the USC Price Executive Master of Urban Planning program online in 2021. Montoute discusses how the EMUP degree provided a collaborative environment, helping him to learn the necessary skills to help boost his career to…

Stefen Chraghchian works for Marcus & Millichap as associate director of capital markets doing loan originations. He graduated from the USC Price Executive Master of Urban Planning program online in 2021. Chraghchian discusses how the EMUP degree provided a challenging, yet collaborative environment which helped him to boost his career trajectory.

Mike Lanza works for Path Ventures, which is the real estate development arm of PATH, a homeless services provider. He graduated from the USC Price Master of Urban Planning program online in 2021. Lanza discusses how the EMUP degree helped him to transition his professional career from the music industry to real estate development by providing him with valuable tools and knowledge to succeed in this new field.

Alyssa Tullar works for the Air Force Civilian Service as a military-based urban planner. She’s stationed on JBAB, the Joint Base Anacostia-BoLling, located in Washington, D.C. Tullar graduated from the USC Price Executive Master of Urban Planning program online in 2021.

Over the past ten years, the County of Houston has been able to rehome over 25,000 unhoused individuals, many of whom have been able to stay in housing after 2 years. Working with county agencies, local health providers, and nonprofits, Houston reduced its number of unhoused individuals by a stunning 63% since 2011. Lance Gilliam,…