Jessica Rodriguez

Jessica is a second-year Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) student at UCLA, concentrating in Housing and Community Development. She also holds a B.A. in Public Affairs from UCLA. Her commitment to housing justice is rooted in lived experience, growing up in a multigenerational household, where she witnessed firsthand how housing instability shapes opportunities across generations.

That experience inspired her passion for advancing sustainable and accessible communities through resident-centered planning and community development. Jessica is particularly interested in the policy and financing strategies that make affordable housing possible at scale, with a focus on translating strong policy into meaningful community impact.

As a Merritt Scholar, Jessica hopes to strengthen her technical expertise in housing policy while building a professional network of peers committed to the same mission of carrying these tools forward to build lasting housing solutions for vulnerable communities.