Faye Wettstein, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Faye Wettstein is a senior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, double majoring in Urban Planning and Sustainable Design. She is passionate about reimagining cities to reduce health risks from extreme weather events, while promoting equity and disaster preparedness. Faye has gained experience across public-sector, research, and sustainability initiatives. As a Sustainability Intern with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), she has worked on climate resilience, flood preparedness, and sustainable infrastructure projects. At the University of Illinois, she works with Facilities & Services on campus waste reduction and sustainability initiatives. Her research has explored environmental health and infrastructure inequities, including work on water access and regulation in Jardim Pantanal, São Paulo, and urban mangrove conservation in Panama through the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. She has also conducted research on community-led green infrastructure in Rio de Janeiro. Outside of academics and professional work, Faye enjoys traveling, backpacking, long-distance running, ceramics, learning Spanish and Portuguese, yoga, and exploring new cities.

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