Alumni spotlight: Shayn Stephens
Discover how Shayn Stephens transitioned from international development to a dream role in urban health and sustainable transport after completing the Health in Urban Development MSc at UCL.
Shayn's journey into urban health and sustainable transport
When Shayn Stephens began exploring postgraduate options, the goal was clear: find a course that examined the built environment’s impact on public health. After encountering numerous courses focused solely on one or the other, Shayn stumbled upon the Health in Urban Development MSc at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
When I was searching for a master’s course, I knew I wanted to study the built environment’s influence on public health. I found plenty of courses that seemed great, but only studied one or the other, not both... I took one look at the course material and knew that I had found the right course for me.
From international development to urban health
Shayn's academic foundation was established with a BA in Mandarin Chinese and a minor in International Development from Brigham Young University in 2014. Post-graduation, she moved to Washington, DC to work at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. This evolved into several years of valuable experience, including a role at an executive branch office focused on international trade. Despite a successful career in government, something was missing:
I knew for many years that something was missing, and decided it was finally time to pursue a new career that aligned with my passion for public health.
This pivot led to UCL and a deeper dive into urban health issues, the social determinants of health, and the impact of urbanisation on health.
Discovering a new career path
While enrolled in the Health in Urban Development MSc, Shayn explored a wide range of urban health problems and social inequalities in healthcare. A pivotal moment came through a module titled 'Health Management: Planning and Programme Design', where Shayn designed a health intervention programme in a resource-poor context:
The project was time-sensitive and demanding, and required a lot of communication and teamwork, which I felt were very practical and transferable skills.
During the course, Shayn also joined the UCL-Osaka University Walking Cities Lab, researching the effect of walkability on urban health in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This project highlighted the health inequalities that emerge from poorly designed transport systems and gave Shayn first-hand experience working on inequities in health in a global context.
The Lab provided excellent data from on-the-ground research. I am very grateful for the insights this provided my final project.
From graduate to active travel transport planner
Today, Shayn is an Active Travel Transport Planner at Oxfordshire County Council, a role that merges interests in public health, sustainability, and urban planning. Shayn works on improving infrastructure to promote walking, wheeling, and cycling—crucial to tackling healthcare inequalities and reducing urban health disparities.
This is my dream role, and is, in a way, a perfect culmination of everything I learned on the Health in Urban Development MSc.
The degree helped me realise my passion for transport, and that there were exciting opportunities in the field that I could work toward.
The reality of career transition
The transition wasn’t without challenges. After job searching for nine months, Shayn visited UCL's career services to align her CV with her new professional goals:
UCL Careers helped me adjust my CV. The advice proved very helpful, and I secured a few interviews shortly after making the changes.
Shayn's persistence paid off. Today, she has a career that integrates urbanisation and health, and aligns with her values.
For the first time I feel that I have a career that I can see myself doing for the rest of my life.
Lessons from the Health in Urban Development MSc
Shayn's story highlights key takeaways about tackling social inequalities in health:
- Development must be locally driven.
- Urban health disparities often arise from replicating Global North models in Global South contexts.
- Sustainable, health-centred transport systems can dramatically reduce urban health problems.
Development is a local issue, and needs to originate in local needs. Historically, a lot of development in the Global South has been copied and pasted from norms from the Global North.
Shayn also emphasised the importance of a structured routine to manage the demanding workload and maintain mental well-being.
It was essential to come up with a routine that worked for me while also looking after my personal wellbeing.
Advice for future students
"Take advantage of all the events that UCL has to offer. I would also recommend having some idea of what you want to get out of the program before you start.
Whether you're passionate about health inequalities jobs, the effect of urbanisation on health, or want to address inequity versus inequality in urban policy, Shayn’s journey shows how the Health in Urban Development MSc can guide you to a fulfilling and impactful career.
Careers from The Bartlett Development Planning Unit
The Bartlett Development Planning Unit has a proven track record of successful graduate outcomes:
- 93.4% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduation.
- Graduates work in over 57 countries worldwide.
- Top sectors include policy and government (15%), construction and built environment (14%), and NGOs/international development (11%).
Shayn’s path underscores the interconnection between the built environment and healthcare in urban areas. By focusing on urban health, recognising types of health inequalities, and tackling urban health issues at the systemic level, professionals like Shayn are making a tangible impact.
The Health in Urban Development MSc doesn’t just teach theory. It enables career shifts, empowers change-makers, and fosters professionals committed to equitable, sustainable, and health-focused urban futures.
For those wondering "what is urban health?", Shayn's story is a living answer—it's where passion meets planning, and where research meets real-world impact.
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