Sydney’s passions lie at the intersection of placemaking and transportation – what makes a space a great place and how people move around, activate, and experience those places. Her interest in urban planning began during her undergraduate studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, where she earned her BA in Urban Studies. She comes to TEI from the Memphis nonprofit sector, where she specialized in pedestrian safety, placemaking, community engagement, and tactical quick-build streetscape projects.
Sydney earned her MS in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin, where her love of active transportation grew. A Texas native, she is from San Antonio and is enjoying exploring Houston’s arts, culture, and food scene, while biking the plethora of trails throughout the city. Her Instagram platform, @girlswhobicycle, encourages women around the world to come as they are to the world of bike riding, passing on spandex and fancy bike equipment in favor of casual, accessible, and active-friendly clothing. In addition to biking and walking, Sydney enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her husband and three cats.