Society, Law & Politics

Beyond Green Spaces: The Challenges of Sustainable Urban Planning

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:05:30 +0000

Beyond Green Spaces: The Challenges of Sustainable Urban Planning Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 11:05

Kelsey Yandura

Azza Kamal wears many hats — besides teaching sustainable planning and urban design in CU Boulder’s Environmental Design (ENVD) department, she is an urbanist, policy researcher, and licensed architect in Egypt with a passion for building better and just cities. Her work tackles some of the toughest challenges in urban planning — housing instability, affordability and equitable development — while incorporating cutting-edge geotechnology and a commitment to social and environmental sustainability.

What is sustainable planning and urban design?

Many factors affect sustainability — walkability, resource allocation, population density and the relationship with cars and the transit system. Sustainable planning examines how these factors intersect and addresses policy gaps that impact how and where people live, how they move around the city and the cost for all of this.

What is the link between social and environmental justice and sustainability?

Sustainability without social equity is a problem for everyone. It drives up costs — when we design and build beautiful, green-certified buildings, they often become unaffordable for large portions of the population. This exclusion can increase our carbon footprint, even as we aim to reduce it. Balancing housing affordability with sustainability is complex. We need to ensure we’re not just adding asphalt and concrete but creating livable, environmentally sound spaces that meet the needs of both people and the planet.

What’s an example of these consequences?

When there isn’t enough affordable housing near transit hubs and jobs, low- and moderate-income individuals often have to live farther from their workplaces. This leads to long, costly commutes, which can consume 60% or more of some households’ income while also increasing emissions. Everyone should have access to high-quality, healthy, walkable communities designed with strong environmental policies.

What is the solution?

Developers must be aware of community needs, supported by policies that ensure underserved populations benefit from sustainable, high-quality development. Both affordability and sustainability should be lenses for every project we build and every policy we create at the city and state levels. Otherwise, we risk solving one issue while exacerbating another. It’s complicated to advocate for these policies, but educating students to become thoughtful planners is essential. This is how we can move things in the right direction.

What major changes have you witnessed in urban planning?

For years, local governments have approached urban planning in silos — different departments working independently without much connection. But in the last 10 to 15 years, as we’ve seen more tangible impacts of climate change, cities have begun to adopt a more connected approach. Departments of sustainability are looking at the built environment from a holistic, performance-centered approach: how developments are shaped, how people move to jobs, schools, goods and service areas and how infrastructure interacts with sustainability goals. This perspective is crucial if we’re going to design resilient cities for the future.

What does your day to day look like at CU?

My primary role is teaching and research, but I’m also part of an interdisciplinary team addressing housing affordability in the Mountain West. When I arrived at CU Boulder in January 2024, we received a seed grant to model affordability forecasts for Boulder County. We’re analyzing data to understand what areas are affordable, how the housing market is behaving and the characteristics of households in different areas. This research supports future policies that promote equity in housing access.

What other policy gaps are you addressing in Boulder and across Colorado?

Colorado has made strides in emissions reform, particularly through policies tied to some typologies of affordable housing like ADU [Accessory Dwelling Units] and minimum parking requirements. But the state hasn’t yet measured how impactful these changes are and whether they suffice growing demand for low-cost housing or whether they meet the target emission reduction. That’s the next step — quantifying their effects. This spring, I’m working with students to study developments around transit hubs. We’ll analyze how reducing parking requirements impacts density, increases non-car commuting and reduces CO2 emissions.

What drives you to make an impact?

Justice for everyone. Developing according to the status quo might be easier and faster, and often more profitable, but it eventually harms us all. We must approach development with social and environmental justice in mind, ensuring that those who need affordable housing don’t fall through the cracks. High-quality, affordable housing should be the norm, not the exception. That’s far more important than flashy, high-end buildings.

What brought you to CU Boulder?

Colorado is known for its high quality of life, and the Environmental Design program is multidisciplinary, focusing on social and environmental justice. It’s one of the best programs for educating students on these critical issues. CU also attracts a high percentage of out-of-state students, giving it a broader impact. I see this as a privilege — I get to mentor students who will carry these lessons back to their communities and make meaningful changes wherever they practice.

How does technology fit into your work?

Technology is a powerful tool for planners. For example, we can use virtual and augmented reality to engage communities in urban design projects. When people see realistic models of proposed changes, they’re more likely to support them. This type of community engagement fosters trust and collaboration, helping us create solutions that reflect real needs and concerns.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Although my work seems complex and high-level, it’s rooted in connectedness — every decision we make impacts what we build, how we build and whom we build for. If we don’t consider these connections, we risk falling short of our goals. Teaching this can be challenging because it does not rely on linear thinking, as it involves so many intersecting factors, but I’m optimistic that multidisciplinary collaboration will equip the next generation with the skills and perspectives to make a real and lasting difference.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Patrick Campbell

CU Boulder's Azza Kamal discusses balancing affordability and sustainability in urban design.

Off

Traditional

Spring 2025

White

Anchored in Excellence: From CU to the High Seas

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:52:09 +0000

Anchored in Excellence: From CU to the High Seas Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:52

Erika Hanes

Admiral Stephen T. “Web” Koehler (Phys’86) has dedicated his life to the U.S. Navy. Inspired by his father’s career as a Navy pilot, Koehler began his own career in naval aviation upon graduating from CU, where he was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). After nearly 40 years as a naval aviator, he assumed command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in April 2024.

How did your education at CU Boulder prepare you for a career in the Navy?

My studies in physics made me a more competitive recruit when I joined the CU Navy ROTC. This was especially beneficial when I attended the Navy’s Nuclear Power School later in my career, ultimately enabling me to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

What leadership principles do you prioritize when commanding a team, both in combat and in peacetime?

Whether in war or peace, operating well requires every individual to maintain a constant pursuit of excellence and a mastery of their area of expertise. A highly skilled team is able to make the extremely difficult look routine. Cooperation and teamwork are non-negotiable standards in any mission.

Reflecting on your roles in major operations, such as Operation Desert Storm, Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom, what do you want the next generation of military leaders to know?

Every generation of leaders faces new challenges. Our success, however, depends on compassion, care, standards and true leadership of those who work for and with you. Only with a shared understanding of service and a common purpose will you succeed as a team.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for the U.S. Navy in the coming years?

Since the end of World War II, the U.S. Navy has preserved and promoted a rules-based international order with relative peace and prosperity. In the years ahead, we must continue to strengthen our ability to maintain this peace and prosperity with cutting-edge technologies, the innovation of our warfighters, and enduring coordination with our allies and partners — and we always do so with honor, courage and commitment.

Can you share your favorite memory from your time at CU Boulder?

It is hard to pick a single memory. It varies from hiking and climbing in Chautauqua Park and Eldorado Canyon to the CU football win over Nebraska in the fall of 1986. I still remember that win, because there is nothing like the taste of victory.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Christopher Sypert

Admiral Stephen T. “Web” Koehler (Phys’86) shares his journey from CU to the high seas, highlighting the Navy’s enduring values of honor, courage and commitment.

Off

Traditional

Fall 2024

White

Breaking the News: A Journalist's Perspective

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:50:53 +0000

Breaking the News: A Journalist's Perspective Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:50

Cynthia Barnes

In 2022, Allison Sandza (Jour’09) became the executive producer for the CBS News Streaming Network’s coverage for Washington, D.C. She has also served as a senior producer for Meet the Press, the longest-running show in television history, after stints at PBS and CNN. Born and raised in the capital city, Sandza is committed to reaching an audience that increasingly turns to digital devices for their news.

What led you to journalism?

I grew up in a news household: My parents met in a newsroom before my mom became a lawyer. I grew up with framed newspapers on the walls. So, to say politics and news is in my blood is probably an understatement. It is what I was meant to do.

How do you see streaming platforms evolving for political news coverage, especially in this election cycle?

We are the live and breaking news arm of CBS News. We rush toward the stories, and in this news cycle — especially this political news cycle — it’s just faster than ever.

How did your time at CU and in Boulder affect what you’re doing now and what’s happened in your career?

In my last semester at CU, I took what ended up being my all-time favorite class: a media ethics course. I still think about that class. Every day, every single day, I think, “Is this fair? Is this sourced enough?”

We try to make sure that we are explaining the context and analysis of the whole picture, all while it’s happening in real time. I learned those nuts and bolts in journalism school at CU.

How do you balance breaking timely political coverage with the desire for, as you said, more nuanced, in-depth reporting on complex issues?

Every day, it’s a conversation and an internal struggle. I do think CBS News is unique in that it’s a place that’s known for taking a beat, for taking context into account with every story. It’s the home of 60 Minutes. It’s the home of in-depth reporting and analysis. So I think we’re very careful — we admit in real time when we still don’t know something. That is really the only way to operate. And I think it’s authentic, which audiences now crave.

Any final thoughts?

It’s a privilege to be able to cover this election, to be able to really write this first draft of history. That’s such a journalism cliché, but I think it’s a cliché for a reason.

Editor’s note: This interview was conducted prior to the November 5 election.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Hugo Ross/ CBS

In 2022, Allison Sandza (Jour’09) became the executive producer for the CBS News Streaming Network's coverage for Washington, D.C. Here's why she's committed to reaching an audience that increasingly turns to digital devices for their news.

Off

Traditional

Fall 2024

White

Filming the Frontlines: Jordan Campbell’s Journey Into Ukraine

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:44:53 +0000

Filming the Frontlines: Jordan Campbell’s Journey Into Ukraine Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 13:44

Audrea Lin

Journalist, photographer and filmmaker Jordan Campbell (Comm’91) is no stranger to the harshness of international conflict. He has reported from South Sudan, Libya and Iraq for publications like National Geographic and Men's Journal. He also founded Ramro Global, a film production company that documents the work of global health and humanitarian initiatives.

But his latest project, an upcoming documentary titled Ukraine Under Fire, is a personal labor — the origins and experiences of which are unlike anything he’s ever undertaken.

International storytelling

After graduating from CU, Campbell started working with outdoor company Marmot as a communications director. Always one to seek out new and interesting perspectives, he befriended a few of the company’s international representatives, becoming close to his Ukrainian colleagues Iryna Karagan and Pavlo Vasianoych.

Over the course of the next decade, Campbell found himself drawn to bigger stories, fueled by his university training in storytelling, geopolitics and political science. His career segued into global journalism and film.

Still, he remained friends with Karagan and Vasianoych. And when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he quickly reached out to Karagan. Concerned, he asked if she would flee. Karagan’s answer was resolved: Not only was she staying put, she was staying “to defend our country.”

Her determination highlighted what Campbell saw as “the most incredible injustice, a David and Goliath story — of resistance, resilience and the quest for freedom, democracy and European integration.”

Documenting conflict

A month later, Campbell crossed the Polish border heading to Kiev, his camera in tow and post-apocalyptic sirens blaring. “It was a ghost town,” he remembered. In areas near Bucha that Ukrainian soldiers had just liberated from Russia, he saw evidence of violence alongside the burnt remains of tanks, buildings and cars.

He returned again that summer and embedded at a military hospital in Pokrovsk, a grisly scene of battered and injured soldiers. “It was a life-changing event,” he said. Campbell decided that the footage he shot would become part of a film, Ukraine Under Fire, that documents Russia’s invasion and Ukraine’s resilience, and includes Karagan and Vasianoych as subjects.

Between visits, Campbell spoke up about what he had seen. At the U.S. Senate Building, he presented before an audience of global politicians during the Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum, speaking about Russia’s use of cluster bombs on civilian targets and what he believed was evidence of war crimes and genocide.

“What he’s doing by humanizing the conflict encourages people to take an interest and support the cause of the Ukrainian people,” said Dan Martinez, a retired Foreign Service Officer and Ramro Global advisory board member who facilitated Campbell’s participation.

Despite the inherent risks, Campbell continued to return to Ukraine, mitigating the dangers by following a few simple rules: “Make the best decisions you can possibly make, given where you are and who you're with,” and, “Pick the people you're going to be with very carefully.”

One such person he shadowed was Peter Fouché, a South African combat medic. During a frigid morning in early 2023, the two men patrolled a quiet hamlet near the front line, peering up at the sky for incoming drones. Fouché, burly and hardened, a Rambo-like figure cradling an AK-47, emerged from the broken shell of a little stone house. Then, he broke into tears.

“The West will be remembered for what they have done or have not done in this war,” Fouché said, staring directly into Campbell’s lens.

Capturing reality

The summer of 2023 was Campbell’s fifth visit to Ukraine — one he now describes as “disastrous.” He was with Fouché at the time, and their nerves were shot from exhaustion, PTSD and a relentless, soggy heat. He didn’t know it, but it would be the last time he’d see his friend.

As Campbell made plans to return, to embed with Fouché and his Ukrainian colleague Tatyana Millard, he learned that the two were killed near the frontlines. The duo were evacuating injured soldiers from the combat zone “like a superhero team,” Campbell said.

“That’s Peter’s essence right there,” Campbell remarked weeks after Fouché’s death, while reflecting on the footage he captured of the heroic medic and his piercing statement about the West’s role in the war. “That's the power of documentary film. It's that close.”

Campbell’s documentary, Ukraine Under Fire, is set to release in December 2024.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photos courtesy Oleg Avilov

In 2022, journalist, photographer and filmmaker Jordan Campbell (Comm’91) headed to Ukraine to report on the war. Now, he’s sharing his experiences in his documentary, Ukraine Under Fire.

Off

Traditional

Fall 2024

White

New Buffs Are ‘06 Babies

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:25:21 +0000

New Buffs Are ‘06 Babies Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:25

Jessi Sachs

This fall, the incoming class of 2028 moved into CU dorms, charged their laptops for class and downloaded syllabi via smartphones. To prove just how much time flies, here are the stories that were shaping the world in 2006, the year many of these first-year students were born.

Politics:

Democrats win control of both the House and Senate in midterms.
Samuel Alito is sworn in to the Supreme Court as an associate justice.
The War in Iraq continues into its third year.

Tech:

Twitter, now known as X, launches and cofounder Jack Dorsey posts first-ever tweet: “just setting up my twttr.”
Google purchases YouTube for $1.65 billion.
The PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii hit consumer markets.

Science & Climate:

Pluto is downgraded to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union.
NASA’s Stardust mission ends, making it the first spacecraft to bring samples from a comet to Earth.
California passes the Global Warming Solutions Act.

Culture:

High School Musical airs for the first time on Disney Channel.
NSYNC’s Lance Bass comes out as gay in a People magazine cover story.
Pop star Britney Spears and then-husband Kevin Federline file for divorce.

Top Music & Film:

“Bad Day” (Daniel Powter)
“Temperature” (Sean Paul)
“Promiscuous” (Nelly Furtado and Timbaland)
“You’re Beautiful” (James Blunt)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Cars
X-Men: The Last Stand

Submit feedback to the editor

Collage by Connor O'Neill

To prove just how much time flies, here are the stories that were shaping the world in 2006, the year many of these first-year students were born.

Off

Traditional

Fall 2024

White

A Legacy of Volunteering: CU in the Peace Corps

Anna Tolette — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:19:57 +0000

A Legacy of Volunteering: CU in the Peace Corps Anna Tolette Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:19

Kelsey Yandura

Last year, CU Boulder ranked No. 4 on the list of all-time top Peace Corps volunteer-producing universities in the nation. These photos are just a few glimpses into the experiences of 2,100+ CU Boulder alumni who have served abroad since the agency’s founding in 1961.

Julia Leone (IntlAf’22) currently works in Madagascar as a health volunteer.

Pamela Civins (Engl’86) served in Nepal as an education volunteer.

Lee Belstock (A&S’63; Law’66) volunteered in Peru doing community economic development.

Ryan Van Duzer (Jour’03) worked in youth development in Honduras.

Page Weil (CivEngr’05; MS’15) helped design and construct local water systems in the Philippines.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photos courtesy Julia Leone, Lee Belstock, Page Weil, Pamela Civins, Ryan Van Duzer

Last year, CU Boulder ranked No. 4 on the list of all-time top Peace Corps volunteer-producing universities in the nation. Take a peek into the experiences of 2,100+ CU Boulder alumni who have served abroad with the Peace Corps since 1961.

Off

Traditional

Fall 2024

White

CU Students Meet the Dalai Lama

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000

CU Students Meet the Dalai Lama Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/16/2024 - 00:00

Christie Sounart

NOW

March 21, 2024

In March, several CU Boulder students who are Dalai Lama Fellows, a program hosted by the university’s Renée Crown Institute, had the honor of meeting directly with His Holiness in Dharamsala, India, to discuss the topic of compassionate leadership. The group also included faculty and staff associated with the Crown Institute and Leeds School of Business, as well as others from the University of Virginia and Dalai Lama Fellows from around the world.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Off

Traditional

White