Elizabeth Mitchell, a 2024 concurrent 91ÉçÇø¸£Àû graduate of the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) and Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) at UNC-Chapel Hill programs, recently shared insights into why she pursued graduate education, the impact it has had on her career and her advice for anyone considering 91ÉçÇø¸£Àû and more.  

Mitchell is a resilience planner at Arcadis. In her role, she works with clients to design and implement resilience plans and projects, mainly for municipal clients. This work includes assessing clients’ vulnerability to hazards and working with communities to find suitable adaptation actions that will improve local resilience.

How did your master's 91ÉçÇø¸£Àû shape your career trajectory, long-term goals and opportunities?

I knew that I wanted to go into the resilience planning field but also needed to pursue a graduate 91ÉçÇø¸£Àû to gain the skills and experience needed to break into the field. My classes at the Nic School helped me understand not only resilience planning but also fundamental environmental principles that have made me an informed planner. I also wouldn’t have the job I have today without this program. I took a career development class my first semester at the Nic School and reached out to alumni in the resilience planning field for informational interviews for class. The first person I spoke with to learn more about the field is now my amazing supervisor at work!

What skills or experiences did you gain at Duke that have been most beneficial in your professional life? 

While many of the skills I built at Duke have helped me in my professional life, one of the most beneficial experiences was the . Working independently on a self-designed project and holding myself accountable while balancing other responsibilities helped me better understand how to manage tasks independently and juggle many moving project pieces. I also loved exploring my topic, pre-emotive managed retreat, which confirmed my interest in resilience planning! 

Why did you choose Duke? What advice would you give to students considering or currently in the program?

I chose Duke because of the rigorous class opportunities, the sense of community, and the amazing alumni network. The wide range of classes helped me build skills ranging from GIS to teamwork and public speaking. The student body is welcoming and encouraging, and rather than competing with each other the students work together.

The alumni network is also unparalleled. Duke alumni are open to helping students explore career paths, through informational interviews and job talks or by sharing internship opportunities.

What is your favorite memory from your time as a student at Duke?

One of my favorite memories from my time at Duke is celebrating the start of summer with friends after we completed our first year. We reflected on our first year, talked about what excited us for the second year, and ate a delicious potluck spread. Despite knowing these people for only a few months, I knew I’d found fantastic, motivated, and supportive friends.