Aside from her Master of Urban Planning, Harig also completed graduate certificates in sustainable transportation and community development.
By Kellie Britch, College of Arts and Sciences
Amanda Harig graduated with her Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) from the School of Public Affairs in August 2020, and she has been paving the way for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) planning in the Tampa area ever since. She credits her already impressive career to the hands-on experiences she got during her time at USF.
“I chose USF because of its high job placement rate and proximity to downtown where
a lot of urban and regional planning opportunities are,” Harig, who is the senior
planner at Benesch, said. “Because of the program’s partnerships with municipalities
and private firms, I was given the opportunity to start interning as soon as I started
the program.”
For Harig, the School of Public Affairs’ programs and internships ultimately led to her first full-time (and current) position after graduation.
“The professors care about the students and are truly shaping the urban planning profession
in the Tampa Bay area,” Harig said. “Current students, professors and staff continue
to foster partnerships with cities, counties and private firms through the Mentor a Planning Student (MAPS) program and internship opportunities.”
Harig has continued USF’s legacy of fostering professional development by serving
as a mentor for the MURP MAPS program and sharing her passion for urban planning,
which stems from the potential for community impact.
“I love that my position allows me to make a difference in the communities we work in,” Harig said. “Through our public engagement efforts, we see the difference that an ADA Transition Plan can make for someone with a disability in the community.
We strive to provide solutions that will allow for the greatest access to the largest number of people in our reports.”
Harig’s work takes her beyond the office. She travels all over the country to assess facilities for their compliance with the ADA, and she serves as an advisor to clients as well as an advocate for the disabled community.