Miellette McFarlane | Urban Land Institute, Terwilliger Center for Housing
“My summer was challenging as I struggled to translate English into “developer-housing-speak” and the work was truly rewarding, giving me a sense of purpose as I was able to apply the skills I had gained during my first year at MSB directly into my projects. However, the most daunting burden of the summer was lifted when I was awarded a SIIF grant to help support me during my internship… SIIF is a clear symbol of Georgetown’s dedication to giving back to its local community and the world by supporting its students. The appreciation I have for all those who have made SIIF possible is immense and will be forever lasting.”
I thought I had everything—well, at least a rough plan—in place when I walked into Georgetown McDonough School of Business on my first day of orientation. I had worked for a Wall Street finance firm before dropping the corporate path to join a policy team for a new Governor in a state I had never been to before. My state government experience offered me the opportunity to dive into problems that I had previously only looked at as passions, not as a realistic field of work. Motivated by the idea of private, public, and nonprofit sectors working together to grow economies and build stronger communities, I applied to business school. Georgetown was my top choice and—shhhh—the only application I sent out. Who said you need a “Plan B?”
The summer internship recruitment process for me felt like an MBA version of a tragic sitcom, minus the comedy, with rejection letter after rejection letter screaming at me as they appeared in my inbox. Questioning everything, I decided to reset my internship search and focused on organizations doing work on issues directly affecting my family and friends. I came across the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and saw they had an internship opportunity with their Terwilliger Center for Housing. Coming from the Bay Area and specifically Oakland, CA, the housing crisis has been deeply felt at home as in most all cities throughout the country. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to join this organization.
ULI is a nonprofit with the mission to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. The Terwilliger Center for Housing within ULI conducts research and develops best practice recommendations on residential land use and development priorities, with special attention to housing affordability. This summer, I was able to conduct interviews and write case studies highlighting ULI’s engagement in local housing challenges in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. I also participated in and supported a ULI Advisory Service Panel that gave recommendations to the D.C. Mayor's Office on housing attainability and development within the District.
My summer was challenging as I struggled to translate English into “developer-housing-speak” and the work was truly rewarding, giving me a sense of purpose as I was able to apply the skills I had gained during my first year at MSB directly into my projects. However, the most daunting burden of the summer was lifted when I was awarded a SIIF grant to help support me during my internship. The financial commitment to attend business school is no joke and I was in no position to take on more debt in order to support myself during the summer with a very minimal income. SIIF allowed me to put my all into my internship without having to wake up every day with the anxiety of figuring out how to make ends meet. SIIF is a clear symbol of Georgetown’s dedication to giving back to its local community and the world by supporting its students. The appreciation I have for all those who have made SIIF possible is immense and will be forever lasting.