Meet Our Summer Interns!

August 4, 2025

What is it like to intern at DVRPC? Twelve interns working at departments across the Commission share about themselves and their internship experience.

This summer, 12 interns worked alongside DVRPC staff across the organization’s different departments. Each intern, with their unique skills and perspectives, contributes greatly to DVRPC’s work and vision. In the interview below, the interns share their interests, their experiences at DVRPC, and more. 

You can learn more about each intern on our Instagram where we will be featuring them throughout the month of August.

Which school are you currently or were you most recently enrolled in? 

• Emily Bannan - Transportation Operations Intern, Office of Transportation Operations Management: I am graduating from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture in December with a B.S. in Community Development.
• Emily Cahill - Communications Intern, Office of Communications and Engagement: I graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Communications, concentrated in Public Relations and Advertising, and am currently getting my Master's of Business Administration, concentrated in Marketing, at La Salle University. 
• Grace Drewicz  - Freight Planning Intern, Office of Freight and Clean Transportation: I graduated from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture with a B.S. in Architecture and a concentration in Design.
• James Foley - Energy Intern, Office of Sustainable Energy: I graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, minor in Public Policy, and certificate in Geographic Information Systems, and am currently studying to attend law school in the fall of 2027.
• Ginger Hansen - Environmental Planning Intern, Office of Climate and Environment: I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Art History, from Villanova School of Law with a J.D., and am currently in Temple University's Master of Landscape Architecture program.
• Michael James - Planning Intern, Office of Community and Economic Development: I graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a B.S. in Environmental Economics and a minor in Community and Regional Planning, and am currently getting my Master's in City and Regional Planning at Temple University.
• Priscilla Kayku - University of New Hampshire Sustainability Fellow, Office of Sustainable Energy: I graduated from Skidmore College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, concentrated in Renewable Energy. I will be starting my Master’s in Energy and Sustainability with a Sustainable Finance concentration at Northwestern University this fall. 
• Katie LaCava - Planning Intern, Office of Capital Programs: I graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in Public Policy and B.S. in Energy & Environmental Policy.
• Will Parker - Transportation Planning Intern, Office of Mobility Analysis and Design: I just graduated from Rutgers’ Bloustein School with a Master's of City and Regional Planning, with a concentration in Transportation.
• Simon Sun - Travel Modeling Intern, Office of Travel Modeling: I’m currently pursuing a Master’s of City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania and have just completed my first year. 
• Benjamin Timberlake - Transportation Safety Planning Intern, Office of Safe Streets: I’m currently a junior at Vassar College pursuing a B.A. in Geography with an Urban Studies concentration.
• Kate Witiak - Operations Intern, Office of Operations: I'm pursuing a B.A. in Sociology from Temple University, where I plan to graduate in the spring.

What has been your favorite project or experience as a DVRPC intern? 

• Drewicz: I enjoy attending the Goods Movement Task Force meetings and getting to know other professionals in the freight industry.
• Hansen: So far, my favorite project has been drafting case studies outlining how one of our technical assistance partners, EPIC, helped water utilities in our region with various important regulatory tasks that the utilities were unable to do on their own. 
• James: My favorite project has been working on researching and drafting a Municipal Implementation Tool (MIT) brochure about data centers and what municipalities can do to plan for them, given their increasingly central role in the modern economy.
• Sun: So far, I’ve been working on a single project focused on optimizing parameters for Volume-Delay Functions. I’ve really enjoyed this project because it combines analytical research with practical applications. It has given me a deep understanding of the complexity involved in handling real-world large transportation datasets.
• Timberlake: I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to Regional Vision Zero initiatives, including the Wissahickon Avenue corridor study and collaborations with local counties.
• Witiak: My work pertains to the internal organizational side of DVRPC's work more so than planning projects. Nonetheless, I've enjoyed learning how various funding and project development mechanisms come together (or don't!) to lay the groundwork for the public works I encounter in my daily life. 

What are you looking forward to working on or experiencing at DVRPC?

• Cahill: I’m looking forward to continuing to support projects that promote public transit through outreach and community engagement. 
• Drewicz: I am looking forward to contributing to the Regional Freight Plan!
• Foley: I'm looking forward to working with all of our regional partners who are equally motivated by our utility efficiency goals.
• Hansen: I'm looking forward to experiencing an inside view of some of the priorities and projects in our region related to the environment. Attending meetings with task forces or committees with folks from other organizations helps me understand the status of major issues in our region and where my place might be within them.
• Kayku: My main project as a fellow through the University of New Hampshire is researching and mapping networked geothermal systems in economically burdened communities in southeast Pennsylvania.
• LaCava: I’m looking forward to publishing an update of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) StoryMap, or TIP 101 product, that helps the public get to know and understand the TIP. 
• Timberlake: I look forward to furthering the Regional Vision Zero initiatives by delving deep into fascinating datasets and developing impactful maps, charts, and resources.

Why did you apply for an internship at DVRPC?

• Bannan: I applied because I had a friend who did an internship here and had a positive experience. 
• Cahill: I applied for an internship at DVRPC because of my drive to learn, specifically to learn more about regional planning and public engagement, and to deepen my understanding of the Philadelphia area’s transportation and infrastructure needs. 
• Drewicz: I have always been interested in the planning side of the built environment, so this was a great opportunity to experience something completely different from what I have been learning throughout college. 
• Kayku: Coming straight from undergrad, I wanted to be able to apply the skills I have learned in a very practical, hands-on way. The fellowship at DVRPC through UNH was the perfect opportunity, as it was project-based and I would end up with deliverables to show for my work. 
• Parker: I have been a fan of DVRPC for years—everybody here does great work and makes the region better, bit by bit.
• Sun: I’ve always thought the metropolitan scale is one of the most meaningful levels for planning. As an MPO, DVRPC can plan across municipal and state boundaries, responding to real patterns of population and economic flow. I'm excited to learn how planning happens in such contexts.
• Timberlake: As a local resident with a deep interest in geography and planning, I knew that contributing to DVRPC’s work would be a highly rewarding opportunity.

What is your dream job and why?

• Cahill: My dream job would be anything to do with a mix of professional sports, traveling, and community engagement. But I love Philadelphia so much, I don’t know if I could ever really leave! 
• Drewicz: I have always wanted to open a small restaurant where I serve rotating home-style meals! I grew up learning how to cook from my mom, and those meals evoke a nostalgia from my childhood that I would love for others to experience.
• Foley: My goal is to become a lawyer specializing in energy, ideally working with governments or public interest organizations. I've always liked reading and problem-solving, so applying those skills to a major problem area I am passionate about feels like a no-brainer. 
• James: My dream job would probably be Planning Director for the City of Omaha. I grew up there, and Omaha has been growing steadily, with strong growth projected in the coming decades. Currently, it is very car-oriented, but I believe it has the potential to develop into a much denser, urban city with more walkable neighborhoods and reliable transit. I'd love to play a role in improving Omaha and lessening its reliance on cars to move about the city. 
• Kayku: I am very interested in the energy space, specifically decarbonization and the creative ways to reduce emissions at this critical point in time. I am also interested in energy access and mitigating financial hurdles that create burdens on a larger scale. 
• LaCava: My dream job is any well-paying position that challenges me to work hard, exhibits a comfortable and uplifting environment, and has a unifying goal to make a positive difference in people’s lives. 
• Parker: A small-town everything planner. I would love to do a bit of everything—environmental and transportation work, GIS, public engagement, design, grants, etc.
• Witiak: I'd love to ride on the coattails of Alex Press and become a respected labor journalist. That's my most far-fetched, utopian dream and not at all something I expect, but it's what the question called for!

What do you like to do for fun?

• Bannan: In my free time, I enjoy doing crafts like sewing and embroidery while I listen to something (podcast, music, TV, audiobook). I like playing video games with my friends. 
• Hansen: I absolutely love walking on the Schuylkill River Trail while talking to a friend or my husband, walking a dog, or listening to an audiobook. I also read a lot of novels—romantasy is my favorite! And sometimes I have fun doing things that I haven't done since I was a kid, like roller skating or going to a trampoline park.
• James: Outside of work, I am a photographer focused on street photography in Philadelphia and when I travel. I also run a lot and can often be found on the Schuylkill River Trail or running throughout the city, and I enjoy hanging out in coffee shops!
• Sun: I enjoy playing riichi mahjong, a Japanese variant of a traditional Chinese game that is both intellectually engaging and a lot of fun. I also watch soccer in my free time and enjoy walking around cities, experiencing the unique character of each place.
• Timberlake: Other than creating maps, I like taking long walks, and lately I’ve been enjoying learning to play the guitar and paint with watercolors.
• Witiak: I like going to the theater when I get the chance. The last movie I watched in a theater was House (1977), which was good but perhaps not as good as I expected it to be. Lately, my partner and I have been playing frisbee, and it's always a good time. We also go on long bike rides. 

What is your favorite place in the Greater Philadelphia region?

• Bannan:  I really like going to Pennypack Park to ride my bike. I have also gone there to do crafts and have picnics with my friends.
• Cahill: I’m biased because I’m a Phillies Ballgirl, but it’s undoubtedly Citizens Bank Park. The energy, food, and fans are the best not only in Philly, but in the world. I always look forward to game days!
• Drewicz: FDR Park is one of my favorite places to go, especially since they have the Southeast Asian market on the weekends and a lot of picnic areas. 
• Foley: I love Marsh Creek State Park in my hometown of Downingtown!
• James: My favorite place in the region is probably Ridley Creek State Park. Anytime I get out of the city, I love to go on hikes here or simply drive around this area as it's very scenic, especially in the fall!
• LaCava: My favorite parts of the region include the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk, the hammocks at Spruce St. Harbor Park, and the Parkway Central Library. 
• Parker: The Wissahickon, Bella Vista, and little roads in the hills of Hopewell Township in Mercer County.
• Sun: Old City is one of my favorites; there are a lot of creative and distinctive small shops. It’s a great area to wander around alone and discover something new.

What is your favorite food/food spot in the Greater Philadelphia region?

• Bannan: My favorite food is custard egg tarts, and the best place to get them is at KC’s Pastries in Chinatown (they are 2 dollars)!
• Drewicz: You will always find me at Pho 75 on Washington Ave.
• James: Favorite food spot has got to be a tie between Ratchada or Fountain Porter (can't beat the $6 cheeseburger here) in South Philly. 
• Parker: The Crispy Gnocchi at Ambrosia Italian Restaurant.
• Sun: Rittenhouse Square has a great mix of food from around the world; it’s one of the best places to explore diverse cuisines.
• Timberlake: My favorite restaurant, El Limon, is in Ardmore—they make killer loaded nachos!
• Witiak: I used to frequent Kamal's Middle Eastern when I worked at Reading Terminal—can't recommend it enough!

If you could implement any one plan in the region tomorrow, what would it be?

• Cahill: I would ensure every neighborhood has safe, well-maintained baseball and softball fields, especially in underserved communities, to promote youth sports and community wellness.
• Foley: Anything to make housing more affordable. 
• James: I would fully protect the Spruce/Pine St. bike lanes and then complete the rest of the proposed High Quality Bike Network in the Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan.
• LaCava: The Disney Skyliner. Everywhere. It’s such a genius way to move people via elevated capsules with cables, and it’s so efficient, cost-effective, simple engineering, and just a fun experience for those using it! 
• Parker: Removing roadway surface wherever possible for trees, buses, and bike lanes.
• Sun: I would expand public transit coverage and increase service frequency. Transit only becomes truly useful when it is regular, frequent, widely accessible, and connected as a network.
• Timberlake: I’d make sure SEPTA was well-funded and perhaps even add some new routes to bring safe, accessible, and sustainable transportation to more residents.

What advice would you give future DVRPC interns?

• Bannan: Just say “yes” to things, and take advantage of how easy it is to walk places in the city. 
• Foley: There is a great office culture, so take advantage of in-person days and get to know the team!
• Hansen: Ask Mike Andrews how to make specialty drinks with the espresso machine. Total game changer!
• James: Meet everyone you can and be open to any and all possibilities for projects here. Many offices' work overlaps or is related to each other, so there's always an opportunity for collaboration!
• Sun: If the weather’s nice, take advantage of the nearby Indego bike stations and protected bike lanes (which DVRPC helped plan)! Also, talk to interns whose work is in different areas to hear about everyone’s interesting experiences both on and off the job.
• Timberlake: Be passionate about the work you’re doing to make our great region a better place to live!