Northwest Urbanism Living-Learning Community

This is the sound of the urban life of your dreams.

Do you get excited when you visit new cities? Does the unique architecture, layout of streets, and unique flavors of each neighborhood and their residents spur your curiosity? Welcome to the club!

The Northwest Urbanism Living-Learning Community will bring together a group of Puget Sound students who not only love urban life and their diverse residents, but are interested in exploring careers in urban planning and urban studies. Join us as we take related excursions and field trips, receive specialized guidance from Professor Andrew Gardner, and help each other with homework and projects at home.

“Towered cities please us then, and the busy hum of men.” John Milton

What is the Northwest Urbanism Living-Learning Community?

Members live together in an assigned residence hall with the support of a dedicated Residence Assistant (RA).
First years take SOAN 213: City and Society together and have the opportunity to collaborate on homework and projects outside of class.
Assigned Faculty Advisor Andrew Gardner meets with students to discuss academics and individual educational trajectories.
Go on special excursions, field trips, and social outings related to urban planning.
Being part of a Living-Learning Community does not incur additional costs or impact your financial aid.

Who is the LLC for?

Northwest Urbanism LLC is designed for students interested in exploring future careers in urban planning, urban studies, anthropology, and history – or anyone looking to explore the Puget Sound community and its residents!

How to apply:

To be considered for Northwest Urbanism LLC, enrolled students need to apply by June 4. Click the button below to apply.
Applications are reviewed by a committee which includes the faculty advisor, residence assistant, and members of the housing and admission department.
Selected students will be notified in early June.

Application Questions:

Why are you personally interested in being involved with this community?
What do you hope to gain from this community?
In your life experience so far, what city do you know best? What is interesting about it?
Which city in the world would you most like to someday visit and why?

Associated Course for Northwest Urbanism LLC

Apply to Northwest Urbanism LLC

Meet Professor Andrew Gardner

Professor Gardner is a sociocultural anthropologist whose scholarship focuses on the Gulf States of the Arabian Peninsula. Much of his work has been applied in nature and seeks to address real-world policy dilemmas and issues, specifically focusing on transnational conduits of migrant workers in that region. Many of the courses he teaches help students understand how to design and conduct ethnographic research projects that have both academic and applied goals that seek social justice.

Professor Gardner looks forward to working with the Northwest Urbanism LLC.

MEET THE RA: Marisa Wiese (she/her)

Marisa Wiese will be the Resident Assistant for the Northwest Urbanism Living Learning Community. Marisa is a sophomore at Puget Sound. She is majoring in Sociology and Anthropology, and minoring in Biology, Spanish, and Global Development Studies. Marisa was born and raised in Tacoma, and she has a true love of the Pacific Northwest. Outside of class, she volunteers at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and with the Food Salvage program here on campus, she also works at the library, is a member of Sin Fronteras (Latinx identity club), and the Phi Eta Sigma honor society. What makes her particularly excited to be part of the Northwest Urbanism Living Learning Community is here love and knowledge of the area, as well as her interest in Sociology and Anthropology and the ways in which those fields seek to understand places and people. She is very much looking forward to meeting incoming students and embarking on a new school year together!