Rachel is fascinated by cities and the complex people who inhabit them. She is excited to learn about urban environments through the lens of development while overseeing the Transformative Transit-Oriented Development Planning Project with her supervisor Dr. Tracy A. Corley. She looks forward to the year ahead as MassINC’s Tisch Scholar Intern and expects to learn a lot about qualitative research, public policy, and community interaction.

Originally from Oakland, CA, Rachel has not spent much time in the Bay since she moved to the Bay State in 2016. A member of Tufts’ graduating class of 2020, Rachel is double majoring in Environmental Studies and Religion with a minor in Urban Studies. She recently returned from seven months abroad in Israel where she studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and conducted research for her Senior Thesis, entitled “The Use of Religion in Environmental Peacebuilding in Israel.” Outside of school and work, Rachel is involved with Tufts DREAM, a mentorship program for children living in subsidized housing, women’s ultimate frisbee, and climate justice advocacy. Her last Tisch Scholar internship placement was with Groundwork Somerville where she helped lead their Green Team youth and jump-started the Green Team Jobs Network to provide meaningful employment to members following graduation. She has also worked for Interfaith Power & Light as a policy and community outreach intern and hopes that her experiences with both of these organizations will aid and inform her work with MassINC.