I moved to Albuquerque/New Mexico just over one year ago from the Midwest and I have quickly gained such an appreciation for this place and its people. The history, stories, cultures, and landscape have impacted me deeply and inspired new curiosity in myself, and I have a desire to give back and continue to embed myself into the community. 
I live, work, and play in the downtown core and really enjoy my time doing so. This also means I see the challenges and struggles of the city on a daily basis, which makes me very interested in the possible solutions to alleviate these challenges. 

Studying urban planning for my undergrad, I quite enjoyed the never-ending discussions (both with professors and with peers) about how cities can go about complex problems, and how everything is connected. Since leaving undergrad, I continue to seek environments where I can continue these types of discussions with others, learn others' perspectives, and hear new ideas to solve challenges, and I imagine this fellowship opportunity provides just the setting.