Lynn Hansen, M.A. ’87

---

 

While maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average in her studies in urban planning, Lynn Hansen has continued her deep personal commitment to the well-being of others. Having earlier begun a promising career in engineering, she decided to change to a profession in which she could help people in need more directly and enrolled in the urban planning program. While excelling academically, she has worked as a regular volunteer by cooking and serving meals for the homeless in downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row and has aided the Los Angeles Community Action Network. She took the initiative to organize a special reception to welcome incoming students. She also assisted in planning a minority recruitment day and preparations for the recent dedication of Perloff Hall. Hansen helped to support herself with work-study and off-campus jobs, including a stint as an intern with the City of Santa Monica and working as a reader-tutor in a tough first-year urban planning course. She became known as an immense source of support and inspiration for fellow students. Among her honors, she received a nonresident tuition fellowship and an Outstanding Student Award from the American Institute of Certified Planners.