Student and Alumni Spotlights

Abigail Alvarez

Meshing Creativity and Community with Placemaking and Equity

Abigail Alvarez

Planning & Public Policy Class of 2025 / Master of City and Regional Planning Class of 2026

  • Certificate: Women’s Leadership

  • Hometown: Edison, NJ

  • Activities at Rutgers: Co-President, Her Campus Rutgers 2022-2024; School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program; Leadership Scholar, Institute for Women’s Leadership; Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship Program, Summer 2023; Rutgers Scarlet Service – DC, Summer 2024

 

A passionate urbanist and community-builder, Abigail Alvarez’s path to city and regional planning wasn’t linear but it led her right where she belonged.

“In the span of one year, I changed schools. I changed majors. I changed career paths,” she said. Originally an English major at The College of New Jersey, Abigail realized she wanted to shift from analyzing novels to advocating for real people through planning and policy. “The strong foundation in writing and critical thinking, paired with my interest in community engagement and social justice, launched my Planning and Public Policy career at Rutgers.”

Raised in Edison, NJ, Abigail found herself drawn to the vibrancy of city life. From a young age, she admired how cities like New York created space for community, creativity, and mobility. “Even though my journey into urban planning didn’t start at the age of five with a Lego in one hand and a toy train in the other, I discovered that my life experiences have always drawn me towards activism, placemaking, and community-building,” she explained.

“As much as I love picnicking in the green space of Hoboken’s waterfront Pier A Park or strolling along the walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge, I am most passionate about ensuring that all communities have access to vibrant, sustainable, and equitable cities.”

Her move to Rutgers was driven by the opportunities offered at the Bloustein School. Pivoting from an English major, she found grant writing an innovative way of applying her writing skills to gain funding for nonprofit and government entities to expand their capacity for providing social services aiding the community. She came across a course at Bloustein, Writing Grant Proposals, which connected her writing skills with meaningful community impact. “I loved my undergraduate courses at Bloustein so much that I decided to pursue the 3-1-1 program and earn my undergraduate and graduate degrees in five years,” she said.

One class that stood out in her academic journey was Designing Healthy Cities with Professor Kelcie Ralph. “Our ‘Healthy City Manifesto’ assignment at the end of our class continues to serve as a guiding torch of inspiration for the work that I do,” she said. “We celebrated with a class-wide gallery walk and potluck; it’s a memory I will always cherish.”

Her internship experiences further solidified her career path. In Summer 2024, she worked in Washington, D.C., as a Policy Analyst for the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center through the Rutgers Scarlet Service DC program. “I reviewed successful grant applications, planned and participated in the annual SMART Summit, and researched how behavioral economics can influence transportation choices,” she said. “It solidified my commitment to advancing innovative transportation initiatives and sparked an interest in smart city advancements.”

Even beyond the workplace, Abigail’s creativity and passion for community continue to shine. As part of her Honors Capstone and Social Action Project, she partnered with the Bloustein School and the Institute for Women’s Leadership to host a three-part symposium titled Mosh n’ Mingle, blending her love for underground music with urban planning. The event featured a panel discussion, an interactive “Find Your Third Space” fair, and a high-energy live music performance that drew nearly 200 attendees.

“I am not only an urban planning nerd, but an avid show-goer,” she said. “I love jumping into a mosh pit and crowd surfing.”

After earning her undergraduate degree, Abigail will intern at NJ Transit as a Transportation Planner. “I am a frequent rider of the Northeast Corridor, so being able to impact something I use is incredibly important to me,” she said. “People should feel respected, confident, and safe as public transit riders.”

Abigail encourages students to explore the full range of opportunities at the Bloustein School. “Try everything—even if you may not initially be interested in a specific class or internship, give it a chance. Learn how to draw connections between your coursework and your internships.”