You can view professional placement information for our doctoral program graduates on the Ph.D. Alumni Table maintained by the School of Social Ecology's Graduate Affairs office. Filter the list by Program using the drop-downs at the top of the page.
Hilary Nixon, Ph.D., 2006
Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at San Jose State University and Director of Research and Technology Transfer at Mineta Transportation Institute.
"The faculty, staff, and students at UCI UPPP are unsurpassed. The level of support, encouragement, and mentoring I received while a student in the department allowed me to develop intellectually and professionally to a level that far exceeded my expectations."
Anne Taufen Wessells, Ph.D., 2007
Associate Professor in the Urban Studies Program at the University of Washington, Tacoma.
“My doctoral education at UCI provided me with the freedom and encouragement to develop an interdisciplinary theoretical approach to urban waterfront development and watershed management. UCI provides unique advantages for a developing scholar of urbanism: an institutional culture of interdisciplinarity, an extraordinary faculty, and a location that blows apart tired urban constructs of the singular, central city.”
Rick Funderburg, Ph.D., 2005
Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois, Springfield.
“The planning program at UCI provides the right mix of practice and theory, quantitative and qualitative analysis, inductive and deductive reasoning I endeavor to pass on to my students. In my research and teaching, I draw on the experiences and challenges along the multiple dimensions of planning that characterize a rigorous education at UCI.”
Alexis Hickman, Ph.D, 2012
Alexis Hickman obtained both her Ph.D and MURP degrees at UCI. Her MURP Capstone Project was a Professional Report entitled: ‘A City-State under Pressure: Singapore’s Housing and Policy Reform in an Age of Globalization’. The research opened her eyes to a variety of problems occurring in other globalizing cities in Southeast Asia. Alexis’ desire is to understand and contribute to the knowledge and practice of improving growing and globalizing cities in and current social and environmental conditions within. Alexis is concentrating on the significance of the parts and processes that make a livable city; her current research is focusing on environmental regulation in Bangkok, Thailand.
"My time at UCI has not only provided me with useful training and education through my work with inspiring professors and practitioners, it has also has allowed me to personally and professionally utilize planning as a tool to potentially effect change at any scale."
Bryan McDonald, Ph.D., 2008
Bryan McDonald is Associate Professor of History and Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State University. He undertakes original research, develops educational programs, and contributes to national and international policy discussions on topics such as transnational threats like terrorism and pandemic influenza, links between environmental degradation and peacebuilding, and food security and food safety.
"My graduate education at UCI helped prepare me for the fast-paced and interdisciplinary world of international research and policy work as I help organizations at many levels navigate today’s changing security landscape."
Miryha Gould Runnerstrom, Ph.D., 2008
Miryha Gould Runnerstrom studies the connections between physical and social environments, and human health and well-being. For her dissertation research, Miryha developed a new conceptualization of the positive mental health benefits that result from participation in creative writing activities. Since graduating, Miryha has been a lecturer for the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy, and the Program in Public Health at UCI. Her future plans include continuing her research and teaching programs as a university professor.
Roxanne Ezzet-Lofstrom, Ph.D, 2002
Roxanne Ezzet-Lofstrom is a faculty member in the Department of Sociology at Sonoma State University. She earned bachelor degrees in economics and applied math, her M.A. in applied sociology and her Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning. Prior to joining SSU, she taught at the University of Texas at Dallas, and at San Jose State University. She also worked at a research center examining the effects of social programs on at risk children and families in San Diego. Her research focuses on quality of life, effects of affordable housing on communities, migration decisions, and urban planning and policy.
In addition, Dr. Ezzet is active in her community, serves as a planning commissioner in her town, and has been active on other local boards and commissions. She has presented her research at the annual meetings of the Urban Affairs Association, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, the American Association of Geographers, and the Regional Science Association International. Dr. Ezzet-Lofstrom was the recipient of the Urban Affairs Association and Sage Publications' 2002 Emerging Scholar Award, recognizing work that exemplifies commitment to research on significant urban issues.
