Lida Aljabar is an undergraduate in Public and Urban Affairs with a concentration in Environmental Affairs and a minor in Landscape Architecture. Although classes are Lida’s main priority, she also works on land preservation and agricultural viability projects as an intern for the Floyd County Department of Community and Economic Development. In addition, she interns for the office of Senator Mark Warner in Roanoke, Virginia. Her key responsibilities are to take opinions from constituents, assist with casework, and research various state issues and policies.
Lida is primarily interested in the areas of urban planning where social progress and environmental stewardship intersect. Sustainable community development, neighborhood revitalization and brownfield redevelopment, growth control measures, and land conservation are some examples. She has also come across a recent interest in models of local, sustainable food systems, because she believes that this type of system can meet social, environmental and economic goals. In addition, planners can feasibly implement several measures to help the cause.
Lida has found that the knowledge she has gained in the UAP Program has been applicable to a wide array of endeavors that she has been involved in. She said the generously liberal education gives her basic knowledge in many disciplines, but has equipped her with the ability to understand all of the topics in the context of policy, public service, and urban development. For example, Lida was able to critically analyze various potential land policies for Floyd County’s suitability to determine the county’s needs. She was able to apply her UAP education to conduct detailed SWOT analyses and also communicate her findings in an understandable language to local residents. Lida believes that public speaking and presentation skills are important strengths of the UAP Program. Because of the UAP Program, she has been able to refine her communication skills, and intends to teach workshop methodology in an upcoming event for the Town of Blacksburg.
When asked why UAP appealed to her, Lida said that the degree in Public and Urban Affairs inspires deep intellectual thought, while covering diverse aspects of society and highlighting their interconnectivity. Furthermore, Lida is ready to kick off a career in community building and sustainable development with the solid platform UAP at Virginia Tech has given her. Lida says that the undergraduate study in UAP gives her a skill that may sound vague, but believes many do not have. She has a firm grasp of communicating with all key players at the table (whether it be architects, environmental scientists, transportation planners, social workers, or entrepreneurs), and to relate each of these parties to the overarching goal in a way that utilizes each of their skills.
Lida is primarily interested in the areas of urban planning where social progress and environmental stewardship intersect. Sustainable community development, neighborhood revitalization and brownfield redevelopment, growth control measures, and land conservation are some examples. She has also come across a recent interest in models of local, sustainable food systems, because she believes that this type of system can meet social, environmental and economic goals. In addition, planners can feasibly implement several measures to help the cause.
Lida has found that the knowledge she has gained in the UAP Program has been applicable to a wide array of endeavors that she has been involved in. She said the generously liberal education gives her basic knowledge in many disciplines, but has equipped her with the ability to understand all of the topics in the context of policy, public service, and urban development. For example, Lida was able to critically analyze various potential land policies for Floyd County’s suitability to determine the county’s needs. She was able to apply her UAP education to conduct detailed SWOT analyses and also communicate her findings in an understandable language to local residents. Lida believes that public speaking and presentation skills are important strengths of the UAP Program. Because of the UAP Program, she has been able to refine her communication skills, and intends to teach workshop methodology in an upcoming event for the Town of Blacksburg.
When asked why UAP appealed to her, Lida said that the degree in Public and Urban Affairs inspires deep intellectual thought, while covering diverse aspects of society and highlighting their interconnectivity. Furthermore, Lida is ready to kick off a career in community building and sustainable development with the solid platform UAP at Virginia Tech has given her. Lida says that the undergraduate study in UAP gives her a skill that may sound vague, but believes many do not have. She has a firm grasp of communicating with all key players at the table (whether it be architects, environmental scientists, transportation planners, social workers, or entrepreneurs), and to relate each of these parties to the overarching goal in a way that utilizes each of their skills.
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