Each year, SCUP's Pacific Regional Conference offers workshops, tours, and sessions to give SCUP members opportunities to learn, share knowledge and experiences, and connect with colleagues all over the region. Planning for the annual conferences starts months, even years in advance and is only made possible each year by a dedicated group of volunteers that make up the local host and conference planning committee. Our recent March 2012 Pacific 360 newsletter acknowledges the contribution of some these individuals. Your membership dues underwrites the expenses of this volunteer work. If you're not a member, please join and contribute!

One such SCUPer is Emily Marthinsen, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Physical and Environmental Planning, University of California, Berkeley. Pacific 360's editor, Cheryl Lentini, of HMC Architects, interviewed Marthinsen: 

Cheryl Lentini | Tell us what first interested you in SCUP and why you became actively involved in the organization's leadership and program development?

Emily Marthinsen | Campus planning combines multiple disciplines—design, physical planning, program planning and more. SCUP emphasizes—was founded to support—that integration which is what drew me to the organization. I became more actively involved through presenting at conferences and at the suggestion of colleagues. Participation in SCUP became an important component of my own professional development.

Cheryl Lentini | What are some of the highlights of the Stanford conference that you are most excited about bringing to the attendees?

Emily Marthinsen | 1) The connection with Hong Kong will provide the opportunity to engage with colleagues and counterparts in Asia; 2) All three plenaries will provide opportunities to look broadly—in diverse settings—at campus planning, higher education and leadership.

Cheryl Lentini | What is the education mission of UC Berkeley and what is your role in the organization?

Emily Marthinsen | “The University’s fundamental missions are teaching, research and public service.” I am Assistant Vice Chancellor for Physical & Environmental Planning. In that role I am responsible for early project development including program and project definition, options analysis and alignment with overall campus plans and planning policy. I am responsible for the campus design review process, coordination with our host cities related to planning issues and the implementation of the 2020 Long Range Development Plan.

Cheryl Lentini | What are some of the major initiatives underway at UC Berkeley you are involved in that might be of interest to our members?

Emily Marthinsen | Our student community center will be transformative—both for the physical campus and for student life. In the next month or so, we expect that Berkeley’s City Council will approve the Downtown Area Plan (DAP), an effort the City undertook in partnership with us. We are excited about potential physical improvements and economic development in Berkeley’s downtown as a result of programs and initiatives related to the DAP.

Cheryl Lentini | Thank you for your contributions to what is officially SCUP's largest-ever regional conference!