Hi, I'm Charles

I believe the best cities are those that balance growth with opportunity, resilience with sustainability, and infrastructure with the everyday experiences of the people they serve. That belief continues to shape my work as an urban planner.

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Brief Introduction

I recently graduated with a Master in Urban Planning from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, where I developed a passion for understanding how cities evolve and how planning can shape more resilient and inclusive communities. My work brings together transportation, climate resilience, urban development, and public policy to address complex challenges facing cities today.

Education

Harvard University

Graduate School of Design

Master in Urban Planning

2024-2026

University of Ghana

Bachelor of Arts

Geography and Resource Development

2018-2022

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Experience

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Salata Institute Climate Policy Internship Program

Boston, MA | May 2025 – August 2025

Led legislative research and policy analysis on clean energy, electric transportation, and utility reform. Supporting the office of Representative Mark J. Cusack, I contributed to the development and evaluation of legislation advancing climate action, energy affordability, and a more resilient Commonwealth.

Planning Intern

EPA GCMA

Accra, Ghana | Feb. 2024 – July 2024

Assisted with environmental planning and land use management by reviewing policies, conducting site assessments, and supporting evidence-based planning decisions.

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Service at Harvard

Research Associate

Harvard GSD | Sep. 2024 – Present

As a Research Associate with Harvard's New Towns Initiative under Professor Richard Peiser, I contribute to global research on the planning, governance, and implementation of new towns. My work spans comparative case study research, stakeholder engagement, field investigations, and planning analysis to examine how emerging cities respond to rapid urbanization, housing demand, and sustainable development.

Urban Planning and Design Summer Experience (UPDSE) Coordinator

Harvard GSD | May 2025 – August 2025

In my role as coordinator for the 2025 UPDSE program, I facilitated logistics, summer programming, and communications to bolster the Urban Planning and Design community, focusing on strategies for sustainable urban development.

Graduate Research Assistant

Harvard GSD | Jan. 2025 – May 2025

Collaborating with faculty on research into informal transit systems, I analyzed transport data from Kampala, Uganda, and contributed to developing methodologies for evaluating transit dynamics in rapidly urbanizing contexts while considering the environmental challenges this presents.

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Professional Development

American Planning Association

Project Manager | Urban Planning Post | Int'l Division (Mar 2026 - Present)

Proposal Reviewer | National Planning Conference 2026 (NPC26)

Student Ambassador (Jan 2025 – Present)

Carol Thomas Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee (Jan 2025 – Present)

City Review Committee (Jan 2025 – Present)

City Planning and Management Division (Oct 2024 – Present)

2025, 2026 National Planning Conference (NPC) Travel Grant Application Subcommittee

Eno Center for Transportation – 2025 Leaders Development Conference Fellow
Salata Institute – Harvard Climate Leaders Program, 2024–2025 Cohort