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VOICEOVER: This is Alumni Aloud, a podcast by Graduate Center students for Graduate Center students. In each episode, we talk with the GC graduate about their career path, the ins and outs of their current position, and the career advice they have for students. This series is sponsored by the Graduate Center’s Office of Career Planning & Professional Development. 

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Idil Onen: Welcome, Kelsey. I’m so happy to have you today.
I am Idil Onen, and I am a fellow at the Office of Career Planning and Professional Development at the Graduate Center.
We’re going to start with a description of your current work. Would you mind giving us an overview of your organization’s mission and your role there?

Kelsey Kahn: I work as a community engagement specialist and urban planner. Essentially, it’s my responsibility to communicate between members of the public and municipalities, local governments, cities, or states—the people actually running projects. I make sure that individuals affected by these projects understand what is happening, how they will be affected, and that they have opportunities to provide feedback—whether concerns or positive input. I also make sure that project teams hear and incorporate that feedback into the work.

It’s an interesting job because some project sponsors feel they are engaging communities only because they have to, and they may not truly care what the public thinks. On the other hand, there are members of the public who have a lot of privilege—time, resources, and influence—and may oppose projects that would benefit the broader population. So, it’s a real balancing act to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and considered equally, if that’s possible.

I work for a consulting firm called IMAG, an engineering firm based in the Midwest. My firm was acquired by them last year—we’re the first planning division within the company. It’s a large organization with about 2,000 employees. My office has about 15 people and is located in the Financial District. I love my coworkers—they’re the best—and I’ve been there for about seven years.

Idil: That’s wonderful. It sounds like you’re really doing valuable work for the public. Could you tell us what a typical day or week looks like for you? Do you work from home at all, or are you always in the office?

Kelsey: My schedule is extremely flexible. I usually work from home two days a week and go into the office three days a week. There are also many times when I’m in the field running public meetings or events, or doing site visits. I support environmental planning projects and sometimes go out to take photos of project areas.

Sometimes I work a straightforward 9–5 schedule. Other days, especially when we have public meetings far away, I might work until 10 p.m. or midnight. I usually have between 7 and 15 active projects at a time. Consulting work really ebbs and flows depending on which projects are funded and active.

What I love most is that every day is different. Some days I spend planning events—printing materials, making name tags, things like that. Other days I’m doing design work—creating posters, presentations, or graphics. I build project websites, develop press releases and social media plans, write proposals and reports. The variety keeps things exciting and is a big reason why I’m still doing this work.

Idil: You mentioned what makes the job exciting, but could you say more about what you enjoy most?

Kelsey: I love getting out of the office and talking to people. Many aren’t familiar with urban planning or engagement processes required by city, state, or federal agencies. So every conversation is an opportunity to help people understand how they can be involved. I enjoy going to street fairs, community board meetings—anywhere the public gathers.

I also love being around people with different skill sets and areas of expertise. As a community engagement specialist, I have general knowledge across many fields without deep technical specialization, so I ask a lot of questions—and people are generous in helping me learn. That keeps the work exciting.

And honestly, my coworkers make even the hardest days manageable. I’m a social person, so being around supportive people brings me joy.

Idil: Let’s go back in time a bit. How did you become interested in this field? Did you explore other career options?

Kelsey: I’ve always been drawn to environmental work. In middle school, I was in environmental clubs and advocacy groups. In college, I majored in Environmental Studies at a liberal arts school in Portland, Oregon. I designed my own major and wrote my thesis on hydroelectric dam deconstruction in the Pacific Northwest, focusing on the NEPA process—National Environmental Policy Act.

NEPA is a federal environmental review process for projects that use federal funding. It looks at environmental impacts like wetland disturbances, species effects, emissions, visual impacts, even shadows. But it’s not well designed to prioritize local communities—it focuses on the “environment” first, which sparked my interest in mediation and advocacy for affected populations.

After graduation, I worked in sustainability consulting for film and TV for three years. I enjoyed it but wanted to return to issues I explored in college. Informational interviews helped me understand career paths in mediation and planning. I learned mediation wasn’t really happening in NYC, but through networking I connected with someone at my current firm. They didn’t have a job available but said, “We’ll make one for you. Keep in touch.”

Eventually, they hired me—initially as an office manager! I ordered snacks and kept things organized, but within a year I was promoted. I learned from colleagues and worked my way up. Eventually, I decided to get a master’s in urban planning at Hunter College.

Idil: Networking can be intimidating. What advice do you have for GC students about networking and job searching?

Kelsey: I hate networking! It often feels like selling yourself, which is uncomfortable. What helps me is reframing it simply as talking to people about shared interests. People love talking about what they do.

Informational interviews were a game changer for me. Even reaching out cold to someone—“Hi, I’m X, I’m interested in Y, could we meet for 30 minutes?”—is often well received. It’s easier for someone to advocate for you once they get to know you as a person.

I probably did a chain of five informational interviews that eventually led to my job. Unfortunately, knowing someone often matters as much as your resume. Making those personal connections really helps.

Idil: What strategies worked well for you in making those connections?

Kelsey: I made a spreadsheet. I started with someone I already knew—my college friend—and asked him who else I should talk to. Each person connected me to someone new. If you have a dream organization, find someone on their website whose job you’d love and reach out. Send a message, follow up once or twice, and move on if you don’t hear back. Reasonable persistence is okay!

Idil: How did you balance working and pursuing your master’s degree?

Kelsey: It was definitely challenging. I did school full-time while working 20–30 hours most weeks. Sometimes 40. I was lucky because my firm had a precedent of supporting employees in school, and they respected my boundaries.

At Hunter, some people took classes part-time over many years. I knew I didn’t have the stamina for a long timeline, so I pushed through two full academic years and a summer—September 2022 to May 2024. It was intense, but I’m really glad I invested deeply. I built strong relationships with professors and classmates—some of which have become close friendships.

Idil: For students interested in this career, especially those with different academic backgrounds, what should they know?

Kelsey: Urban planning is incredibly broad—transportation, land use, engagement, environmental planning, GIS, architecture, engineering. You do not need a planning master’s degree to get started. Many planners come from liberal arts and communications backgrounds.

If planning sparks your interest, there is a way in.

Idil: What should GC students focus on now to prepare for your field? How can they strengthen their resumes?

Kelsey: GIS experience is highly valuable. Many planners rely on it daily. Design software like InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop is also extremely useful—I use those all the time.

And interviewers love when candidates have specific interests. Show curiosity about a planning issue and articulate why it matters to you. That stands out.

Idil: Final question — is there anything you’d do differently when starting out?

Kelsey: I struggled with imposter syndrome—and still do. Even with years of experience, I sometimes question whether I’m “really” a planner. I would tell my past self: You are doing the work. Own your expertise.

I’d also encourage myself to explore more early on—try different types of planning before getting too specialized. Step outside your comfort area and see what else interests you. Try lots of things!

Idil: That’s perfect advice. Thank you, Kelsey! Good luck with your work, and I hope you continue enjoying your job and your coworkers.

Kelsey: You’re welcome!