Colleen Mc Hugh
About Colleen Mc Hugh
Colleen McHugh is a Senior Adaptation Planner at The Water Institute of the Gulf, specializing in equitable urban planning solutions for climate resilience. She has a background in resilience planning and urban design, with previous roles at the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and the City of New Orleans.
Current Role at The Water Institute of the Gulf
Colleen Mc Hugh serves as a Senior Adaptation Planner at The Water Institute of the Gulf. In this role, she focuses on developing strategies for coastal community adaptation. Her work emphasizes creating equitable urban planning solutions that address climate resilience. Since joining the institute in 2018, she has contributed to various initiatives aimed at integrating urban design with environmental adaptation strategies.
Previous Experience in Urban Planning
Before her current position, Colleen Mc Hugh held several roles in urban planning and resilience. She worked as a Resilience Design Manager for the City of New Orleans from 2016 to 2018, where she focused on resilience strategies. Prior to that, she served as a Resilience Planning Fellow at the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority from 2013 to 2016. Additionally, she gained experience as a Research Assistant at the Department of Urban Studies + Planning at MIT from 2011 to 2013.
Educational Background in Urban Planning
Colleen Mc Hugh studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she earned a Master in City Planning and a Certificate in Urban Design from 2011 to 2013. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Geography from the University of California, Los Angeles, which she completed from 2005 to 2009. Her educational background supports her expertise in urban planning and environmental adaptation.
Internship Experience
Colleen Mc Hugh gained early experience in urban planning as an Editorial Intern at SPUR from 2009 to 2011. This role provided her with foundational knowledge and skills in urban policy and planning, contributing to her professional development in the field.