Hello! This is me

☞

I’m a student at Columbia GSAPP interested in the design of cities and how they influence human behavior, as well as urban digital tech / AI ethics.

Look around my website to see how I spend my time and what I’ve learned from it. Click here for my resume.

ames.spencer@columbia.edu

Education

  • Shape of Two Cities: New York / Paris

    Conducted comparative research on urban history and planning in New York and Paris, assessing strategies for sustainable urban development

  • B.A. in Urban Studies, Architecture/Design concentration; Sustainability minor

    Coursework including urban studies, environmental studies, architecture, psychology, and economics. Activities include: Vassar Urban Enrichment (club that seeks to promote community participation in imagining the Vassar campus), Master Planning Committee, Arboretum Committee

  • Design and Innovation for Sustainable Cities (DISC)

    Collaborated with a small team to develop urban intervention strategies and present a sustainable, transit-oriented redevelopment proposal for a vulnerable and marginalized urban site

Experience

  • Conducted detailed research on urban planning departments and their comprehensive plans to identify strategic engagement opportunities with deindustrialized cities impacted by urban renewal. Analyzed data to provide actionable insights on the accessibility and effectiveness of government offices and planning initiatives as they relate to racial and environmental justice

  • Collaborating on multifaceted innovation projects for clients. Responsibilities include market and consumer research, identifying and analyzing opportunities for growth and innovation, and developing materials for presentations and clients

  • Conducted field research and interviews for a housing vacancy study for the City of Poughkeepsie. With this data, the city government is deciding what areas are in a housing crisis and are eligible for rent control

  • Collaborated with architecture/design firm partners to design and edit a series of informational newsletters about environmental racism in the South Bronx

  • Collaborated with architect Cara Cragan to develop the firm’s project archive and online presence

  • Worked on client projects including 3D modeling and analysis of construction documents