RACH NYHART
I am a critical social scientist studying intersections of climate & environmental justice, urban planning, and health. I’m currently a PhD student in Colorado State University’s Department of Anthropology and Geography. I am also a fellow for the Interdisciplinary Training, Education, and Research in Food-Energy-Water Systems National Research Traineeship (InTERFEWS NRT).
Research and teaching are never neutral. For this reason, I aspire to continually engage in scholarship and educational opportunities that center life and justice. I employ a participatory mixed-methods approach that draws from feminist geography and political ecology. I am also passionate about critical and radical pedagogies that invites students to engage with positionality, power structures, and possible just futures.
Prior to Colorado State University, I was a public health emergency planner during the coronavirus response. This experience highlighted the relationship between built environments and health, as well as the systemic factors that drive health inequity.
I received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from University of Colorado, Denver in 2020. During this program, I focused on human-(built)environment interactions through walkability assessments, bicycle and pedestrian systems planning, community center master planning projects, and environmental planning projects. I hold bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and English Literature from Kansas State University.
I have also worked on a wide range of videography projects, including short documentaries about refugees in Rome, octogenarian “pool sharks” in a retirement community, and prairie conservation in Kansas.
Research
This Page is under construction.
Urban Planning Projects
Gilpin County Community Center Campus Master Plan
COURSE: PLanning capstone
CLIENT: gILPIN cOUNTY Parks and Recreation
For my capstone, I worked on a master plan for the Gilpin County Community Center Campus. The Community Center Campus is home to a myriad of activities and events that span fitness classes, aquatics, sports, childcare, senior services, art classes, special events, fairs, and community meetings. For this reason, this project heavily featured community engagement from the children, youth, adults, and older adults who regularly enjoy this space.
Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan
Course: Planning Studio
Client: City of leadville and Lake County
On a team of five students, I worked on the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan for the City of Leadville and Lake County. My role included creating a public participation toolkit with a variety of techniques that span the planning process and offer a range of involvement opportunities. The research process consisted of an assessment of existing conditions, gaps analysis and recommendations, pilot survey, and three presentations to key stakeholders and clients.
DOCUMENT HERE:
Walkability Study: Hudson Neighborhood
Course: Planning Methods
Client: WalkDenver
Four part planning research project with a team of four students. Explores the pedestrian environment of select Denver neighborhoods. Components include site visit, demographic analysis, existing conditions and walking survey, interviews, gaps analysis and recommendations. and a presentations to key stakeholders and client.
Document HERE:
Media Projects
Videography: APA Colorado Conference
These videos were created for the 2018 APA Colorado Conference in Keystone, Co. They were viewed during the Award Ceremony. The City of Boulder and Boulder County were recognized for their collaboration on and the publication of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. The City of Denver was recognized for their creation of the Square on 21st Street. I managed, produced, directed, and edited these videos.
Videography: Johnson County Park and Recreation District
This documentary series on Natural Resource Management features Johnson County Park & Recreation District’s dedication to local prairie restoration. The series reveals the importance of educating youth, involving the community, and collaborating with outside agencies for natural resource management. I managed, produced, directed, and edited this series.
Photography: Urban Planning and Architecture
Photography: Johnson County Parks and Recreation District.
At Johnson County Park & Recreation District in Shawnee, Kansas, I was a photographer for the parks and for events. I visited various county parks during different seasons in order to capture the natural beauty of Kansas. For the events, I attended three triathlons, park and beach openings, 50 Plus events, trout stocking, and natural resource management projects. The photos I took and edited were used for content for the park district’s various social media accounts, marketing materials, and promotional catalogs.