By Andrea Klick, Student Reporter
Joan Lee, a junior majoring in urban studies and planning, was one of 20 students from across the country selected for a new two-year scholarship and mentorship program through Charter Communications, Inc. and its various nationwide nonprofit partners.
As a Spectrum Scholar, Lee will receive a $20,000 scholarship over two years, meet with an assigned professional mentor and have the opportunity to pursue an internship at Charter, a leading broadband and connectivity company.
Lee said PPD 300, a course focused on social justice issues in public policy and urban planning, pushed her interest in advocating for equity within the planning and policy sectors. She’s excited by Spectrum’s focus on social impact and hopes to bring the lessons and perspectives she learned through that course to her work in the program.
“I want to work toward increasing equity,” Lee said, “whether that be in housing or public transportation, I just know that increasing equity in cities is what I want to do.”
The program, a partnership between Charter and various organizations including The American Indian College Fund, the Organization of Chinese Americans-Asian Pacific American Advocates, The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the United Negro College Fund, also aims to help more people from underrepresented backgrounds enter the field.