October 4, 2024

“I am deeply grateful to receive the John David Zegeer Memorial Fellowship. I am excited to continue working toward my goal of becoming a transportation planner dedicated to advancing climate justice and social equity in transportation planning, and this fellowship brings me one step closer to making meaningful change.”

We’re excited to announce that we have selected Nawshin Tabassum as the 2024 John Zegeer Memorial Fellowship recipient! Nawshin, a 2024 summer intern in our Washington D.C. office, was one of three semifinalists chosen by Kittelson’s intern program team and ultimately selected by John’s family. They shared, “we were most impressed by Nawshin’s research work and publications. John would have been impressed by this candidate’s achievements thus far.”

Kittelson established the John Zegeer Memorial in 2020 to support the growth, development, and continuing education of those entering the transportation profession. The fellowship honors John Zegeer, who joined Kittelson in 1996 as a Senior Principal Engineer and established the Fort Lauderdale office. His leadership played an instrumental role in growing Kittelson from a small West Coast firm to a nationally recognized company. John’s dedication to mentorship, teaching, and giving back to the profession serves as the foundation for this fellowship. The fellowship provides $2,000 toward the recipient’s academic institution to support their educational journey, helping them develop into future leaders in transportation, just as John aspired to do.

"Nawshin left her mark on the DC office and the firm as a whole. She had an extensive understanding of projects, including the "big picture" principles behind the work and our clients. She was a pleasure to work with and had an infectious enthusiasm and curiosity to learn new things!"

- John Hicks

Nawshin’s dedication to transportation research and her remarkable work ethic align perfectly with the fellowship’s values: an outward focus, a passion for making a difference, and leadership. As a Ph.D. student in City and Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah, Nawshin’s research includes topics such as active transportation, transit-oriented development, and social equity in transportation. She is driven by a desire to create a more inclusive and sustainable future.

In her own words, Nawshin shared her future vision: “I want to work on projects to provide safe, efficient, comfortable, affordable, climate-resilient transportation facilities for all, considering the needs of underrepresented communities such as low-income groups, residents in climate-vulnerable zones, and people with disabilities.”​

We look forward to seeing Nawshin continue to make a lasting impact in transportation and honor John Zegeer’s legacy through her leadership and dedication.

"Nawshin was by far the most well organized and thoughtful intern I have ever mentored. She was very proactive and always understood how her task fit within the larger project planning process. I really enjoyed working with her."

- Aditya Inamdar

Nawshin and fellow 2024 intern classmates at the Kittelson Scout Summit in July.

Do you have what it takes to be the next John Zegeer Memorial Fellowship recipient and make an impact on the profession? Learn more about Kittelson internships and apply today!