By Leah Shafer
When passion meets purpose, remarkable journeys unfold. For Farzana Ahmed, an urban planning technician, the path from architecture to community resilience has been both challenging and rewarding. As she prepares to begin her Ph.D. program in spring 2025, her journey offers insights into the evolving landscape of urban planning and environmental management.
Ahmed’s story begins in Bangladesh, where she completed her bachelor’s in architecture at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). While unexpected to some, the transition from architecture to urban planning represented a natural progression of her interest in how built environments shape communities. This led her to pursue an M.Sc. in Urban Planning at Texas A&M, which she completed in 2024.
“Building relationships and understanding the broader impact of your work are essential in fields like planning and environmental management,” Ahmed said. “Technical skills are important, but engaging deeply with community stakeholders and focusing on projects that promote sustainable and equitable outcomes is crucial.”
Since December 2022, Ahmed has been serving as a Program Aide with WOW-E at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services, contributing to various community health and wellness initiatives across South Texas.
One standout project has been her work in Rio Grande City, where she spearheaded a walkability and wayfinding project. The success of this initiative wasn’t measured just in technical achievements but in how community feedback shaped the final design into something that truly served local needs.
“I am particularly proud of the walkability and wayfinding project in Rio Grande City,” she said. “Leading efforts to design and plan active living infrastructure allowed me to incorporate community feedback into the design, resulting in outcomes that truly reflect local needs.”
Alongside her WOW-E work, Ahmed has been actively involved with the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, working on U.S. Department of Energy-funded projects. These initiatives focus on addressing critical environmental challenges, particularly flood and air pollution impacts in Texas communities. A notable achievement has been her work on social vulnerability mapping using Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) in Southeast Texas. This project went beyond traditional mapping, empowering communities to identify and address their own vulnerabilities.
Through these experiences, she’s developed crucial skills in spatial data analysis, participatory planning, and community engagement. Ahmed’s ability to bridge the gap between technical expertise and community needs earned her the Impact Award from Texas A&M’s LAUP department in 2024, recognizing her contributions to improving built environments and quality of life in Texas communities.
“Working with WOW-E has taught me the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaborative planning,” Ahmed said. “This experience has enriched my ability to facilitate productive dialogues and implement community-driven solutions, especially when addressing complex issues like community wellness and urban park planning.”
Her time with WOW-E has provided valuable insights into community wellness and urban park planning. Some of her most successful projects have emerged from facilitating productive dialogues and implementing truly community-driven solutions.
As she prepares to begin her Ph.D., focusing on community-based development, environmental hazard management, and park & recreational space planning, Ahmed is building on a strong foundation of practical experience. Each project, community interaction, and challenge has reinforced her belief that creating resilient, sustainable communities requires both technical expertise and genuine community engagement.
Her journey from architecture to urban planning, and now to environmental hazard management, might appear winding. However, it’s unified by a single thread: the commitment to creating better, more resilient communities for everyone. Ahmed’s story demonstrates that when academic expertise meets community engagement, the potential for positive change is limitless.