Division Scholars
Urban Design and Preservation Division Scholars
Program Goal
The Urban Design and Preservation Division Student Scholar Program promotes interest and career development for emerging professionals in urban planning, urban design, and historic preservation by providing an opportunity to network with senior leadership professionals and contribute to Division outreach and research initiatives.
Meet Our 2024-2025 Division Scholars
Division Scholars Emily Stood and Nour ElZein
Emily Stood (left) is our 2024-2025 Historic Preservation Scholar and will work with our Historic Preservation Committee to update the 1997 APA Historic and Cultural Resources Policies. She is a candidate for a Master of Science in Historic Preservation at Tulane University’s School of Architecture. Before her time at Tulane, Stood earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies at Kent State University, where she also completed minors in History, Historic Preservation, and Scenic Design.
Stood has held several internships in the field of preservation. Her first internship was at the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, working in their Office of Preservation Initiatives to assist with climate change and recruitment projects. She has also held a position as a Cultural Resources Intern through the National Council for Preservation Initiatives at the Midwest Regional Office of the National Park Service. There, she worked on inventory updates in line with Section 110 regulations. Stood’s future interests lie in developing her policy experience and building an understanding of how preservation can help both people and the historic properties they love.
Nour ElZein (right) is the 2024-2025 Design-Preservation Rapid Assistance Team (D-PRAT) scholar supporting our upcoming community engagement in Enfield, Connecticut. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the American University of Beirut, a field that allowed her to explore her appreciation for the outdoor environment creatively. With several years of professional experience as a designer at Vladimir Djurovic Landscape Architecture, she gained invaluable insights into the practical aspects of landscape architecture, from conceptual design to project implementation. Throughout her career, Nour developed diverse technical and soft skills, contributing to projects ranging from residential communities to large-scale urban master plans by collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
Nour is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Her professional experiences have underscored the significant impact of urban planning on the environment. Nour is passionate about exploring the intersection of urban planning and landscape architecture to create healthier, more sustainable community spaces. She is committed to designing environments that balance the needs of both nature and society by integrating environmentally sustainable strategies and fostering community collaboration.
-------------------------------
About the Program
The intent of the Division Scholar Program is to foster increased interest in the study of, and specialization in, urban design and historic preservation, and the interrelationship between these two areas of planning at the advanced undergraduate and graduate levels.
Up to two paid scholarships are awarded annually. The term of the scholarship may span anywhere from six months to one year and will include approximately 80 work hours. The scholar will receive a stipend commensurate to the agreed-upon work hours. Scholars conduct their duties remotely, and report directly to the Division's Executive Committee.