Jordyn Czyzewski

What is your major? Landscape and urban studies, people-environment geography, and environmental studies with certificates in global health and integrative design of built and natural environments

Expected graduation: May 2026

What inspired your interest in the environment and/or community? Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, or “the Domes,” was where I first found wonder in exploring the natural world through learning about the complexities of ecosystems. Field trips to the Urban Ecology Center and other spaces deepened my understanding of the importance of these places providing education and leisure opportunities.

I developed an appreciation for the vital role of green spaces for recreation and education in urban environments. In high school, I took an Environmental Systems and Societies class that opened my eyes to the intertwined relationship between people and the environment, especially how environmental injustices shape people’s quality of life.

In my freshman year at UW-Madison, I participated in a community-based learning course in partnership with Mendota Community School, focusing on restorative environments. This co-design project furthered my understanding of the importance of engaging communities in designing their own spaces, ensuring they reflect the needs and identities of the people who use them.

This passion for advocating for equitable, place-based solutions that provide access to safe, sustainable spaces for all drives my commitment to enhancing human and environmental well-being through design, advocacy, and community engagement.

What would you say to other students who ask about CESP or the Nelson Institute? CESP is an incredible community that makes our large university feel smaller and more connected. Since joining, I’ve noticed CESP-ers everywhere on campus, which strengthens those connections and reinforces the program’s supportive, team-oriented environment.

The Nelson Institute truly emphasizes hands-on engagement with communities while encouraging meaningful work in your own life. Through my experience, I’ve developed essential skills in communication, relationship-building, and teamwork — all of which are invaluable as I pursue a career focused on ensuring decisions reflect community voices and long-term sustainability goals.

Something few people know about you: I’ve had a design challenge project exhibited in the Nobel Prize Museum (alongside the work of Nobel Laureates) in Stockholm, Sweden!

Anything else? This semester, I am working on a GIS mapping project for the Town of Irving through the UniverCity Alliance Program! My experiences in CESP have been invaluable in shaping how I approach engagement with local governments and think beyond the campus community.