Drachman Institute Launches Community Engaged Scholars Program

CAPLA’s Drachman Institute recently launched the Drachman Community Engaged Scholars Program, a new initiative that connects students with faculty mentors to work on projects that serve local communities.

Funded through Drachman sources, the program provides each scholar with five hours a week of faculty-mentored work on community-engaged research or coursework. In addition, students meet monthly with Drachman faculty and staff to build their skills in community engagement.

This fall, seven students were selected as the inaugural cohort. Their projects span housing policy, ecological design, cultural preservation and documentary storytelling.

Housing Policy and Zoning Reform - Linus Friedman

For Sustainable Built Environments and German Studies student Linus Friedman, the program is an opportunity to apply his interest in policy to pressing issues in Tucson.

Friedman is paired with faculty mentor Bill Mackey on a project focused on housing policy and zoning reforms for the City of Tucson, funded through the Arizona Research Center for Housing and Economic Solutions (ARCHES). He said he is intrigued by policy’s wide-reaching effects and sees it as a powerful tool for shaping communities.

“I find policy super intriguing as a way to make change, since its impacts are widely spread across a city, state or country,” Friedman said. “I hope that our work helps inform the City of Tucson on best practices, and that eventually housing becomes more affordable in the city due to policy changes.”

Planning for the Future - Evie Stillgebauer

Evie Stillgebauer is collaborating with faculty mentor Kristi Currans, whose background in civil engineering offers a new perspective.

“I am thrilled to work with Dr. Kristi Currans on this project, particularly because of her background in civil engineering,” she said. “She has a different perspective than what I am used to from my architecture mentors, so I am looking forward to broadening my horizons.”

She said she is eager to learn how planning projects anticipate change over decades and serve evolving communities. 

Documenting Community Stories - Ana Ponce

For Architecture student Ana Ponce, the program represents a chance to blend storytelling with design and preservation.

She is working with faculty mentor Sandra Bernal on the Sieges of Naco documentary project, which involves capturing narratives through film and interviews. Ponce said she is particularly interested in how translation and communication can uncover overlooked histories.

“What draws me in is the art of translation and communication, how they can uncover the layers of history and bring hidden concerns into view with a fresh perspective,” Ponce said. “I hope to craft stories that are not only well-grounded, but also capable of touching viewers in ways that linger and inspire.”

Designing With Ecology - Jayani Natarajan

Architecture student Jayani Natarajan said her experiences as a first-generation Asian American have shaped her perspective on the role of community in design. 

“I have family back in India, and whenever I visit, I notice a stark contrast in the essence of human interaction and communal support, and I believe that many different societies can learn from each other,” Natarajan said. “Altering the built environment can be a strong step towards improving social interaction and its environmental impact from everyday life in the circularity of community.”]

Working with faculty mentor Sheehan Wachter, Natarajan is researching “More-Than-Human Design Methods in Sonoran Ecology.” Her work will support pre-design planning for the Land With No Name Sanctuary, a nonprofit that brings land, art and people together.

Advancing Housing Affordability - Paul George-Blazevich

For Urban Planning and Real Estate Development graduate student Paul George-Blazevich, the program is a chance to contribute to vital housing research in the Southwest.

“I'm really excited to be part of ARCHES,” George-Blazevich said. “This collaborative research effort between multiple universities is doing some great work on housing affordability.”

Working with faculty mentors Dan Kuhlmann and Kenny Wong, George-Blazevich said he is eager to contribute to research that addresses housing costs and attainability in Arizona.

Preserving Cultural Sites - Dennis Nichols

Architecture student Dennis Nichols said his interest in interdisciplinary research and cultural preservation drew him to the program.

Nichols is working with faculty mentor Helen Erickson on mapping Arizona’s historic and cultural sites. He said Erickson’s expertise in historic preservation and community work complements his own interests in environmentalism and cultural heritage.

“I’m interested in this topic because I deeply value the knowledge offered by cultural and historical sites of Arizona,” Nichols said. “I hope my work will not only contribute to the preservation of the diverse elements of the environment, but also document history in a truthful and revealing way.”

Supporting Drachman’s Mission - Lamika Ortet

Lamika Ortet is working directly with Drachman Institute leadership to provide research and program support. 

“I am interested in helping faculty and students accomplish the goal that the Drachman Institute stands by, which is serving as a nexus for research and design projects that center around outreach work,” she said.

Collaborating with faculty mentor Courtney Crosson and the institute’s research coordinator, Ortet will help projects run smoothly while advancing the institute’s community engagement mission.