January 2026 Student Spotlight

Mohammad Chaudhry

Tell us about your experience as a Master of Science in City Planning student so far. Do you have any favorite professors, classes, or lessons you’ve learned?
My experience as an MSCP student has been amazing. I don’t have one particular favorite class, but I’ve really enjoyed learning about the foundations and theories behind planning. It’s helped me understand how the field has evolved and how those ideas still shape cities today. One of my classes includes field trips around New York City, and it’s been so fun seeing firsthand how planning decisions have influenced different neighborhoods. It makes everything we learn in class feel real and connected to the city around us.

How do you see your career taking shape? Has your time in the MSCP program thus far contributed to your professional vision?
I want to be one of the most impactful urban planners for New York City. My biggest passion is making the city affordable again for native New Yorkers. That’s what drives everything I do. Being part of the CUNY system and studying at the Marxe School has been a huge help because I’m surrounded by people who share that same dedication to equity and public service. The program pushes me to think critically about housing, policy, and the kind of change I want to create for the city and its long-term residents.

How vital is it for native New Yorkers to take part in shaping their own communities?
It’s absolutely vital. Native New Yorkers are the ones who built these communities and continue to hold them together. We’re the ones who stick with the city through every challenge. The reason I got into urban planning in the first place was because I’ve seen how native New Yorkers are being phased out and not valued the way they should be. Too many of us can no longer afford to live in the city we grew up in, and that’s a real travesty. Through planning and policy, I want to help make sure that doesn’t continue.

Tell us about your love of the New York Knicks. How does this feed back into the work you hope to accomplish in NYC?
I’ve loved the Knicks since I was a kid, and being a fan has always given me a sense of community. If they win the championship this year, I honestly think I’ll cry. The Knicks represent everything I love about New York: grit, toughness, and perseverance. That same spirit is what I want to bring into my planning work. I want to channel that “dog mentality” into helping New York neighborhoods fight for affordability, equity, and the chance to thrive again. Let’s go Knicks!