Experiential Impact Spotlight: Mollie Ping
“I knew I always wanted to go back to school, and this program checked all the boxes for me. My main goal was to integrate hands-on, experiential learning with accessible evening and some remote-learning classes so that I can still work a full-time job during the day.”
Where do you consider your place of origin?
I am from a. Charleston, South Carolina.
Which Policy School degree do you have?
I will graduate in December 2026 with a master’s degree in Urban Planning & Policy.
What drew you to the Policy School?
I knew I always wanted to go back to school, and this program checked all the boxes for me. My main goal was to integrate hands-on, experiential learning with accessible evening and some remote-learning classes so that I can still work a full-time job during the day.
What policy issues or areas of research are you focused on?
I am interested in researching more methods of adaptive reuse of older buildings in Boston to create more housing in our city. Using real estate development in this capacity is my goal.
How has your personal background shaped your policy interests and passions?
I am a lover of travel and walking to places as often and frequently as I can. This innate interest, paired with my political science background, made me keenly aligned to join the Policy School’s Urban Planning program.
Where did you complete your Policy School co-op?
City of Boston Planning Department in the Development Review division.
What kind of support or mentoring did you receive prior to and during your co-op?
Luckily staff at the Planning Department are so kind and helpful. They are always happy to slow down and explain an acronym (and there are many of them!) to me and bring me into meetings with them so I can be involved with day-to-day operations.
What do you consider the highlight of your co-op experience?
I planned our staff’s Spring Retreat Week where I brought together guest speakers who work in city planning in Seattle and Austin, organized a tour of Simmons University’s new Living and Learning Center, and a team potluck lunch. It was great!
What impact did your work make on your host organization, the community, or beyond?
Hearing from professionals who work in different cities brought an interesting perspective to our work. It was a great way to learn mechanisms of how other cities prepare for growth while balancing the need to preserve affordable housing.
How did your co-op experience change you?
It helped me narrow on my interest in adaptive re-use real estate development.
If you were talking with a prospective student or potential co-op host, what is the one aspect you would want them to know about the value of experiential learning?
Say yes to everything! Join meetings, ask colleagues out to coffee so you can learn more about what they do, and ask questions. No question is a silly question.
What are you dreaming of for the future? What do you hope to accomplish?
After my co-op, I hope to continue my work in the greater world of real estate development. I’m not sure yet if that will be on the public side or the private side. Time will tell!