Hi, I’m Derek.
I am an Urban Planner with a Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning from the VCU
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs.
Before pursuing my passion for planning, I spent several years in recruitment, helping NYC creative agencies find top talent in marketing, research, and creative design. Working in recruitment honed my ability to understand what people need and how to connect ideas in meaningful ways, and those lessons carry into my planning work every day.
I’m now looking to bring my background in research, analysis, and design thinking to a planning role where I can help communities move forward with purpose.
Experience
RVA757 Connects, Richmond, VA — Research Intern
April 2025 – Present
SIR, Richmond, VA — Recruitment Advisor
March 2023 - July 2023
Digitalent, New York, NY — Talent Partner
June 2019 - March 2023
Education
VCU Douglas L. Wilder School of
Government & Public Affairs,
Richmond, VA
Master of Urban & Regional Planning
August 2023 - May 2025
University of Richmond,
Richmond, VA
Bachelor of Liberal Arts
August 2015 - May 2019
Summa Cum Laude
Credentials
Post-Graduate Certification in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)