THE CAPSTONE PROCESS

Students are expected to complete the capstone sequence of classes (PSUS 6213: Advanced Research Methods: Individual Mentoring and PSUS 6233: Capstone) in their last 2 semesters before graduation. These two courses are self-paced and offered every semester. The student should coordinate with their capstone mentor prior to registering and notify the Program Director of their intent in writing. PSUS 6213 should be used to flesh out the capstone idea and create a reading list, outline, and timeframe for capstone completion. Students should work with their mentor to create a problem statement and abstract for their capstone and to design a program of reading and research. This should entail background reading to evaluate the viability of the topic, identify an appropriate methodology, and articulate the value of the project to the field. 

The capstone class should be taken in the student’s last semester, either in conjunction with other courses or only this course, depending on the student’s level of comfort and time. The capstone should present the results of a well-defined and original effort that involves: the analysis of primary or secondary data sources; the analysis of primary or secondary document sources; the analysis of primary or secondary ethnographic sources (an example of a primary ethnographic source is a set of interviews with city planning directors whom you interview personally, a secondary source would be a set of interviews someone else collected but which you interpret in your own original way); or the use of other academically legitimate analytical techniques (such as history, jurisprudence, or philosophy) with approval and guidance from your capstone mentor.

In Fall 2025, two SUP students presented their capstone projects:

• Madison Pasche (Heat Warnings and Housing Inequities: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Heat Health Warning Systems in US Public Housing)

• Kyle Strobel (Our Evolving Relationship with the Chicago RiverL Understanding and Expanding Ecosystem Services)

In Summer 2025, two SUP students presented their capstone projects:

• Arielle Plavcan (Resilient Rebuilding: What two US Cities Teach Us about Integrating Green Infrastructure into Flood Disaster Recovery)

• Michael Shenk (Unpacking Opportunity Zones & Public-Private Financing for Equitable and Green Projects)

In Spring 2025, five SUP students presented their capstone projects:

• Anna Berman (Are Community Development Block Grants Working? Assessing CDBG’s Impact on Homeownership in Ward 8)

•  Robert Christopher (Green Banks in Action: Lessons and Frameworks for Financing Sustainable Infrastructure)

• Emma Habosky (Heat Resilient Corridors: Transporting Cities Toward a Cooler Urban Environment)

• Molly Lambert (Bridging the Gap: A Framework for Inclusive Transportation)

• Megan Steiner-Potier (Reclaiming Brownfields, Rebuilding Wealth: Brownfield Redevelopment’s Impact on Local Job Markets)

In Fall 2024, two SUP students presented their capstone projects:

• Mikayla Feil (The Frontlines of YIMBYism: Jurisdictional Policy on Accessory Dwelling Units

• Elizabeth Rose (Beyond Coal: Rethinking Low-Carbon Solutions and Economic Transition in Coal Communities) 

In Summer 2024, six SUP students presented their capstone projects:

• Ashley Casimir (Building Climate Resilience Through Community-Based Approaches for Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Case Studies of Food and Water Sectors in Fiji and Trinidad & Tobago)

• Madalyn Hensel (Planning for Growth: What is Housing’s Role in Coal-Impacted Economies?)

• Arielle Lofton (Strengthening Urban Resilience: Exploring Innovative Financing for Green Infrastructure)

• Tambo Prince (Indicators of Successful Equitable Development in Washington, DC)

• Nidhi Shashidhara (Addressing Climate Mobilities: Policy Recommendations for Resilient Urban Planning)

• Ariana Vasquez (Powering Prosperity: Energy Transition Investments as a Catalyst for Economic Expansion in Buffalo, NY)

In Spring 2024, four SUP students presented their capstone projects:

• Judy Chang (Equity in Extreme Heat Adaptation: An Analysis of Two Cities’ Approaches)

• Jason Kendall (Triple Bottom Line: Ecosystem Services with Native Plant Design)

• Joy McFadden (Adapting Child Care: Adaptive Reuse to Fill Gaps in Early Childhood Education in Baltimore, MD)

• Vanessa Walters (Economic Redevelopment Practices that Lead to Revitalization of the Finger Lakes Region, NY)

In Fall 2023, one SUP student presented their capstone project:

• Katie Anderson (Three Models of Affordable Housing Development)

We were also joined by a panel of program alumni to discuss their capstone experiences and provide advice to current students:

• Becca Garman, MPS '20

• Raven Nee, MPS '22

• Samantha Maglinao, MPS '21

• Kristian Maldonado, MPS '23

In Summer 2023, four SUP students presented their capstone projects:

• Justin Hartman (Mapping Transit Deserts)

• Hailey Kerben (Commercial to Residential Conversions: Creating a Sustainable Mixed-Use City)

• Kristian Maldonado (Rethinking the Western Ethos: Implementing Sustainable Development Solutions in Mid-Sized Desert Cities)

• Arletta Thirus (Individualism in the Built Environment)

In Spring 2023, five SUP students presented their capstone projects:

• Robera Tassisa (Family Housing Gap Along Transit Corridors in the Maryland Suburbs of DC) 

• Bianca Boggs (Analysis of U.S. City Homelessness Policies and Housing First)

• Sarah Baryluk (Evaluating Participatory Planning Outcomes and Best Practices in Arlington, VA)

• Ugonna Njeze (Microgrids and Geothermal Heating)

• Courtney Carothers (Technology Transfer: Ecosystem-Based Adaptations)