Joel is a current senior in his last semester at California State University, Fresno pursuing a bachelor’s in City and Regional Planning and a minor in Geography. After completing his degree, Joel hopes to stay here in the Central Valley and make an impact on his hometown of Fresno. He is currently working as an intern at the Fresno Local Agency Formation Commission. His future career goals are to one day work as either a transportation planner or environmental planner and eventually pursuing a Master’s degree to further his education. 

Joel took interest in joining the APA board after being awarded the California Planning Foundation 2023-2024 Scholarship-Central Section. This award made him realize the need to promote the growing world of planning to other students.  He decided to take on this position to help other students wishing to pursue a career in city and regional planning.