We are thrilled to welcome Alta’s 2023 summer interns, as they have already begun infusing Alta’s work with their diverse viewpoints and enthusiasm.
Alta’s internship program aims to establish routes toward careers in active transportation. Our interns are not limited to merely taking meeting minutes or performing data entry tasks; they are valued team members who receive compensation and are entrusted with meaningful project responsibilities. Additionally, they receive comprehensive training and mentorship. We offer a hands-on learning experience that empowers interns to make a difference in communities, gain exposure to various projects, and collaborate with a passionate and diverse team across different disciplines and locations.
Meet this summer’s Alta Internship Class:
Kay Wolf: Planning Intern — Baltimore, MD
Kay earned his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Minnesota and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering at Aalto University in Finland. Throughout the transition between these two degrees, he led a nomadic lifestyle and held a diverse range of positions. His experiences encompassed soil analysis in Alice Springs, Australia; installation and troubleshooting of water monitoring equipment in Melbourne, Australia; bicycle repair and assembly in Juneau, Alaska; and treatment of stormwater runoff in the Seattle region. His passion for cycling, combined with his exposure to different cities, sparked a keen interest in transportation networks. While he holds a particular fascination for cycling infrastructure, his ultimate commitment lies in creating a fair, safe, and accessible world for all individuals. Kay anticipates that his time at Alta will enable him to acquire the skills needed to make comprehensive, multimodal planning decisions.
Maisie MacNaughton: Engineering Intern — Toronto, ON
Maisie MacNaughton has joined the Alta Canada team as an Engineering Intern based in Toronto, ON for the next 16 months. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto, where she has resided her entire life. Throughout her studies, Maisie has extensively researched cycling transportation networks in cities like Toronto, Canada, and Sydney, Australia. Her objective has been to devise solutions for various issues, such as segregating cyclists and pedestrians on urban streets and establishing cycling routes connecting suburban communities to a central business district. Maisie, an enthusiastic cyclist herself, relies on her bicycle as her primary mode of transportation year-round, including the snowy Canadian winter. When not in the office, she enjoys sailing, canoeing on Lake Ontario, and strumming folk tunes on her guitar. At Alta, Maisie aims to gain insight into the practical application of engineering in real-world scenarios while utilizing her skills to enhance the safety and satisfaction of all active transportation users.
Aswatha Raghunathasami: Planning Intern — Portland, OR
Aswatha has recently earned a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State University. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Anna University in Chennai, India, and gained experience collaborating with architects and real estate developers, designing structures influenced by local vernacular building techniques. Her areas of passion encompass climate adaptation and mitigation, public health, and the design of urban green spaces, all of which have a deep connection to active transportation systems. Throughout her internship at Alta, she aspires to explore the intersections of design and planning, actively engage with communities, and acquire knowledge about the practical opportunities and challenges involved in active transportation projects.
Soozy Zerbe: Engineering Intern — Los Angeles, CA
Soozy is a Master of Landscape Architecture student at Cal Poly Pomona, holding an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering. During her time completing her engineering degree at San Jose State, she realized her desire to gain a deeper understanding of the interaction between people, nature, and engineering systems. She possesses a strong passion for fostering environments where individuals and the environment can flourish harmoniously. A key aspect of this is enhancing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in urban areas to promote increased access to both active transportation and green spaces. Soozy aspires to apply her interdisciplinary skills at Alta, while also acquiring knowledge of sustainable and human-centered design principles.
Lidet Bayou: Planning Intern — Minneapolis, MN
Lidet Bayou is a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota, where she studied Urban Studies and minored in Architecture and Sustainability Studies. Through her studies and past work experiences, she has gained hands-on experience in transportation planning and community engagement with local government agencies and non-profit organizations in the Twin Cities. Lidet aspires to engage in meaningful work that utilizes equitable and sustainable systems to contribute to the development and infrastructure of urban communities and landscapes, specifically in the realms of urban planning and community development. She is eagerly looking forward to working on planning projects that aim to enhance transportation, accessibility, and safety through multidisciplinary collaboration and community engagement in the upcoming months.
Teresa Chang: Planning Intern — Seattle, WA
Teresa Chang is a Master of City Planning candidate at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering from National Taiwan University, where she discovered her interest in climate change and sustainability. She desires to learn more about the intersection of technology, policy, and planning to promote a greener future. Teresa aspires to bring her data analytics experiences to Alta and learn how geospatial data science can improve urban infrastructure and decision-making, while also ensuring civic engagement and equity. As an avid user of shared bikes and e-scooters during her travels around the world, she is looking forward to acquiring knowledge from micro-mobility and active transportation projects and further solidifying her data analysis skills.
Not pictured: Damien McCue, Engineering Intern, Atlanta.
