#cityplanningBU Alumna Spotlight

Lauren Masiar, MCP ’16, shares her journey to becoming the Assistant Town Planner for the Town of Milton, MA

Lauren Masiar, MCP '16
Lauren Masiar, MCP ’16, became the Assistant Town Planner for the Town of Milton, MA, in July 2017.

 

Current Position: 

Lauren Masiar is currently the Assistant Town Planner for the Town of Milton, Massachusetts. Under the supervision of the Director of Planning and Community Development, she assists in the review of development proposals and site plans for conformance with bylaws, plans, and regulations of the town. She acts as a liaison between various committees, developers and the town. Lauren sits regularly in the Town Planning Board meetings, assisting the Planning Board with their evaluation of zoning amendments, permits, site plans, and other proposals. Recent projects that Lauren has been working on include drafting a Complete Streets Policy for the town and assisting the Planning Board with permitting process improvements. 

Initial Interest in Environmental Design and Planning:

It all started when Lauren took an Advanced Placement Environmental Science course in high school, where she became fascinated with the concepts of climate change and human impact on the environment. This eventually lead her to the realization that she was interested in pursuing a career that would allow her to explore ways to contribute to the built environment in a conscious and sustainable manner. This is how Lauren became interested in Environmental Design and Public Policy, which ultimately lead her to the path of City Planning.

Timeline of Education/Professional Achievements:

  • May 2014: Graduated from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a B.S. in Environmental Design with a Concentration in Urban Studies and an Undergraduate Certificate in Public Policy
  • September 2014: Enrolled full-time in BU Master of City Planning program
  • June 2015: Began full-time job as Transportation Management Association (TMA) Program & Policy Manager for the 128 Business Council (maintained connections with members and their employees, educating them about alternative and sustainable transportation options)
  • May 2016: Graduated from BU with Master of City Planning degree and Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability; Recipient of the Excellence in Graduate Studies Award for the department
  • Assisted in founding BU CPUA Student Association, (President February 2014-May 2016)
  • July 2017: Began position as Assistant Town Planner for the Town of Milton

BUCPUA Program Experience/Takeaways:

Lauren’s experience in the Boston University Master of City Planning Program provided her with an understanding of the intricate balance between economic vitality, sustainability, and social equity. Each course taken during her time in the Program pushed her to challenge herself to change her perception of the surrounding environment. The professors in the City Planning & Urban Affairs Program offer a diverse learning experience that combines academic theory with pragmatic solutions to provide students with the critical thinking skills necessary to solve real-world planning problems.

During Lauren’s enrollment in the program, she chose to take advantage of the multitude of topics offered each semester. By combining required courses such as economic development, planning theory, and qualitative and quantitative research methods with elective topics ranging from planning law, urban design, impacts of climate change, geographic information systems, etc., she was able to experience the multifaceted dimensions of the planning profession. This diverse background in planning principles provided the framework necessary for Lauren to begin her career in municipal planning. 

By Lauren Masiar, MCP ’16, and Andrea Ciminelli