Alissa Hummer: The Persuasive Planner

Alissa Hummer’s office was located behind a parking lot on the north end of campus. After finally finding the long flight of stairs that took me down to her office, I ended up in the trenches of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) planning department. Here is where Alissa, the director of campus planning and design, is responsible for physical planning, environmental assessment, regulatory approvals, community planning, and long-range development planning. My two years at UCSB never took me to this part of campus before, and the offices were hidden from plain sight. They were almost dug into the ground, behind a parking lot, which is normally used for athletic events at the university’s soccer stadium. Her office was in a mobile trailer and it was surrounded by construction bins and equipment. Despite the dreary setting, Alissa sustained a cheerful spirit, and was delighted to meet me when she welcomed me into her office. It was a cold and rainy day the Tuesday we met, so the first thing Alissa did was fetch a space heater to help dry my wet clothes. She was eager to begin the interview and help answer any questions I had about her work. I recognized immediately her transparent character that allowed our conversation to flow. She spoke of her trials and tribulations growing up, and how they led her to her current position. Her work effects not only mine or the 23,000 students at UCSB, but the city of Goleta, the county of Santa Barbara, and the existing environment throughout. With this huge responsibility, Alissa steps up to the plate daily to make decisions that have lasting effects on so many lives.

The Birth of an Activist

Alissa was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She was able to watch the city grow and expand, as well as take note of the blossoming university that played a huge role on the entire county of Santa Barbara. From as early as age 12, she started work in her community and took on a supporting role in local political campaigns. Tasks like these aligned with her values because she felt that her work had the potential to make a positive difference in the community. Whenever a need arose for political aid she ceased the opportunity to assist. It was during these early teenage years that she was introduced to the “behind the scenes” work of politicians. It was an eye-opening experience to see how bureaucratic politics can be, and how imperative a bipartisan approach was necessary to attain the needs of the community. Although she had progressive visions for the future, they were rarely implemented directly through her influence because of her lack of expertise. Nevertheless, Alissa surfaced as a young political leader in her community.

Her next step in life was to educate herself to gain the sense of authority that she did not have in her early years. She chose not to stay local and instead went to Northern California at the University of California, Berkley where she received her bachelor’s in English. She then moved to the University of Minnesota, where she got her master’s in public and social affairs. She credits this degree in particular to helping her “understand the structure of a community”. Additionally, it reinforced her expertise on the community activism she worked on growing up. When she finished up her studies, she moved back to Santa Barbara and looked to settle down and land a career consistent with her degree in societal affairs.

Life in the Trenches

The initial post grad life struck Alissa relatively hard. She did not know how exactly she could apply her studies and values into one career. However, a position in the county planning department opened up and she applied. Although she felt underqualified and was extremely nervous for the interview, she was hired. The position was land use planning, something she had not originally envisioned herself doing, but after accepting it she realized her work had “a tremendous impact on all sorts of ways that the community functioned”. Her master’s degree ended up being a useful tool in her work as a planner because she knew how the layout of a community can impact the progress of a society. She then moved on to becoming chief of staff of the county supervisors where she remained for 10 years. She eventually moved on, and in 2007 a position opened up at UCSB’s planning department that she accepted, becoming head director of planning for the thriving campus.

Upon arriving at UCSB for the first time as part of the faculty, Alissa was shocked to find out that the university was “more political then running for political office”. As director of planning, she is challenged by pro-growth advocates and slow-growth skeptics. These opposing forces require strategic negotiations from Alissa’s part in order to not only please both sides, but efficiently better the UCSB campus and the surrounding community. These opposing forces slow any progression because of the politics of the system. As she moved into her office in the trenches of UCSB’s planning office, she felt a type of inferiority complex, based solely on geographical location. She therefore routinely refers to her directors such as Henry Yang and Marc Fisher, the Chancellor and Associate Vice Chancellor, as “the grownups upstairs”. These pro-growth “grownups” are constantly pressuring Alissa to expand and build new lecture halls or student houses. A current project that has been in place since 2000 titled the Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) has been created to grow the student population from 20,000 to 25,000 by the year 2025. This means providing enough land and buildings for labs and classrooms, as well as housing the additional 5,000 students. Often what may happen is a private or department donor will come in with money and request the location, size and name of a building. Unfortunately, Alissa often is susceptible to the power of large donor’s authority but she works to persuade their interests.

However, UCSB’s unique location entirely on the coastal zone, makes development even trickier, having to deal with slow-growth skeptics. Every proposition for expansion or often even deconstruction, must be approved by the coastal commission by filling NOIDs (Notice of Impending Development). Alissa fully supports the coastal commission who is responsible for preserving ESHA (Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas), but they do provide additional hurtles to development that many other campuses do not have to consider. Even something as small as the removal or planting of trees must be approved and regulated, as it can affect the species of the local bird populations. Also outside interests groups that value community, environment, or social issues, can pressure the coastal commission who then pressures her department. It is therefore, as she calls it, an “interesting pull of power” that influences what is actually accomplished.

Finding the Right Balance

The compromises Alissa makes as UCSB’s planner provides a safe and environmentally friendly community, impartial to one-sided lobbyists. Being actively engaged in finding the balance between fast and slow growth interests is how Alissa contributes to the successful growth of the university. Although UCSB is a state agency, sovereign from the city and county’s control, she works persistently to maintain a healthy relationship between the campus and the surrounding community. Her background in community/county work instilled the awareness an institution like UCSB can have on society as a whole. Therefore when asked to expand student population from LRDP’s demands, she has concentrated her efforts on keeping the environmental impact low, minimizing their imprint on surrounding populations. This was accomplished by ensuring that new homes are built with duel plumed systems; using reclaimed water in toilets and landscaping but not for showers and sinks. Now, as the body count increases over the years, the use of potable water will remain relatively stable. UCSB proudly stands as the largest user of reclaimed water in the South Coast as a result. The grownups have asked Alissa to find areas for housing out towards the west side of campus, but that whole area is sectioned off as ESHA. She therefore has requested taller height limits from the coastal commission for buildings around the main part of campus, so there will be no need to expand west. Currently, only Stroke tower and Davidson library have the most stories but instead of expanding along the peripherals of campus, taller height limits can resolve growth necessities. She fortunately was able to approve this proposal, and can begin development with height limits of 85 feet which can be around eight stories.

In the constant pin-pong to finding a balance, Alissa acknowledges her successes as finding the best appropriate trade-offs. As a result, one look around her office and you can see the many awards gifted to UCSB for their efforts to save energy, and reduce climate change from organizations like: National Wildlife Federation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Flex Your Power. Although she sometimes is subjected to the will of the grownups or restricted by the coastal commission, she still feels her input has had a positive influence on how UCSB approaches planning. Her visions are realistically attainable with her applicable methods to planning. One project she was currently working on is to open up corridors in the campus to see the incredible views that surround the location. She plans to make a grid like structure so it is easier for students and visitors to find their way around. Her efforts are therefore, not strictly environmental, she has other projects that will provide an aesthetic appeal to the campus. These physical features bring the desire to attend UCSB even higher, improving its standard as a top university. Not only is it an award winning environmental model, but also a beautiful campus throughout.

An Inspiration for the Future

When it was time for me to transfer to a university I started looking at the local campuses in Northern California but struggled to make my decision on where I wanted to go. However, the first campus I looked at in Southern California was UCSB, and I made my decision that day to attend the university. I instantly fell in love with the college atmosphere of UCSB and neighboring Isla Vista, and not to mention having the beach in the background. The beauty of the campus made my decision to attend UCSB very easy, and I felt I would be comfortable calling this place a home. Upon further research, I found out about the extra steps UCSB takes to maintain the culture of suitability that lowers their environmental impact, and I was even more impressed. After attending the university I was finally able to meet the brains that contribute to UCSB’s charm; Alissa Hummer. Her courageous efforts to battle her directors is why Alissa has become a model activist in ensuring honorable progress of the community. Her caring nature is evident in her persona, as an eager supporter of progress and aid. As we concluded our interview I confessed my interest in one day picking up where she left off and pursuing a career in planning. She then gave me advice for how to get into the industry, followed by offering me an internship opportunity to work with her and her department. Her helpful nature is contagious for those involved in community matters, and as I accepted the offer to work with her I planned to model my behavior after hers. The progress Alissa has made has had a lasting impact on so many lives, and her dedication to fight for the highest standard makes her a valuable leader in the community.