Turning passion into planning

花季传媒鈥檚 geography department has long empowered students to connect academic theory with real-world impact. From preserving historic villages in Ohio to revitalizing brownfields in Southern California, Bobcat alumni are helping shape sustainable, inclusive communities across the country. Here's how four graduates have turned their planning degrees into dynamic, purpose-driven careers.

Jenn Rubal, BS 鈥�22

Assistant Village Planner in Granville, OH

Just three years after earning her B.S. in urban planning and sustainability , Jenn Rubal is making her mark on local government. Starting as a zoning administratorzoning administrator, she now serves as the assistant village plannerthe assistant village planner for the Village of Granville, Ohio. Rubal has worked with local, state, and federal agencies on environmental restoration and roadway improvement projects, but she鈥檚 most proud of helping rewrite local ordinances to support historic preservation.

鈥淭his role has given me the connections and tools to implement planning and sustainability initiatives at a local level,鈥� she said. Whether it鈥檚 encouraging pollinator-friendly landscaping or improving downtown walkability, Rubal uses her position to spark meaningful change across the community.

Jacob Collins, BS 鈥�20

Assistant Planner in Carson, CA 

Jacob Collins combines a passion for economically distressed communities with technical expertise in GIS and brownfield redevelopment. While at OHIO, he co-led a student team that secured $10,000 from the Learning by Giving Foundation to support workforce development tied to the Baileys Trail System. That early experience fueled his career trajectory.

Today, Collins serves as an assistant plannerassistant planner in Carson, California, where he recently helped secure $1.7 million in brownfield cleanup grants and built a citywide brownfield inventory using GIS, a skill he first developed at 花季传媒. With a  from USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and a certificate in real estate development, he continues to champion sustainable, equitable development and even tends a community garden in his spare time.

Kyle May, BS '09

Planner and Associate Principal at MKSK

As a nationally recognized planning consultant, Kyle May has led community planning efforts across the U.S., from rapidly expanding suburbs to historically underserved cities. His work with  focuses on helping Central Ohio prepare for transformative growth. Whether guiding strategy for Johnstown and Upper Arlington or facilitating inclusive public meetings in Dayton, Kyle leads with curiosity and care.

He believes planning is most powerful when rooted in authentic community engagement.

鈥淧lanning is about empowering people and places to unlock their fullest potential,鈥� he says. A proud OHIO alum, May earned his Master of City Planning from Ohio State University and has since become a go-to voice for strategic growth and investment.

Carpenter graduated from 花季传媒 in 2021 with a B.S. in Geography with an emphasis on urban planning. He continued his education and graduated from The Ohio State University with a Master鈥檚 degree in City and Regional Planning in 2023. After graduation he began work as a Planner II with the City of Columbus鈥� (Ohio) Building and Zoning Department. Carpenter engages members of the community on various development proposals, ranging from guiding a developer on rezoning a large manufacturing site to issuing zoning clearance for a residential deck. Carpenter works with a constantly evolving zoning code, which includes Phase 1 of the "Zone-In" initiative adopted by Columbus City Council in 2024, with more updates to come.