The Urban Policy Lab is excited to announce the 2019-20 cohort of Urban Policy Graduate Fellows, a team of second-year Master of Public Policy students at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy who will contribute to the Lab’s education, research, and outreach projects.
Aidan Carroll holds a B.A. from McGill University in Political Science, Anthropology and Communication Studies. Aidan joins the Lab from the Region of Peel’s Human Services department where he worked on the Housing and Homelessness Services Transformation project team. As a member of this team, Aidan researched and designed new client pathways including a coordinated access system for chronically homeless individuals and families. Aidan is interested in the intersection between levels of government, streamlining service delivery and providing practicable policy solutions to pressing societal issues.
Josh Cho holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of British Columbia. He joins the lab after working for a year as a Policy Analyst for the BC Financial Institutions Commission and, most recently, completing an internship at the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure where he worked on improving provincial support for municipal public infrastructure and assisted with the oversight of Infrastructure Ontario and Waterfront Toronto. Josh’s urban policy interests include public transportation, affordable housing and environmental sustainability.
Jolene Funk holds a Bachelor of Health Studies (Hons.) from York University. She brings with her several years of experience working in community health promotion in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas. Jolene’s urban policy interests include environmental policy and sustainability, the role of physical space in health and wellbeing, and the future of work in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area.
As members of the Lab’s student leadership group, Fellows will direct the Lab’s student-focused initiatives, including the annual case competition and professional development programming. In addition, fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to a real-world urban policy project over the course of the academic year, working closely with experienced practitioners at one of two partner organizations: the Pembina Institute and the City of Toronto’s Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) division.
Under the mentorship of Pembina’s Urban Transportation Team, Josh will participate in policy projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario’s cities, including advancing transit-supportive land use planning, and low-carbon modes of transit and transportation. Meanwhile, Aidan and Jolene will work alongside MLS’ Policy & Strategic Support unit, building skills in community engagement and public consultation.