The jungle gym mindset and the power the discipline of planning holds—Shawntera Hardy (MUP ’04)

When asked to reflect on her time at The University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning, Shawntera Hardy (MUP ’04) says she went into the Master of Urban Planning program with an “almost” open mind. Little did she know that mindset would propel her to be the winner of UB’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. An annual tradition, this award program is proudly presented by the UB Alumni Association to recognize outstanding alumni who demonstrate success in their careers, support the university, and give back to their communities—Shawntera embodies all of these prerequisites and more. 

Receiving this award is a personal and professional honor for Shawntera. “To have your peers celebrate you while you’re still striving is tremendous; I appreciate the opportunity to reflect on the journey to today and how UB was a catalyst for my work in urban planning and beyond.”  Using a playground as an analogy for her career path, Shawntera says “In the playground of our professional lives, many choose to get on the ladder, but I ran right to the jungle gym. My background makes some folks scratch their head, but there’s a north star to all the things I’ve gotten to do, and the power of the discipline of planning is foundational.”

Going back into the “time machine” to thread it all together, Shawntera explains her career path after graduating from UB. “I was blessed that after graduation I got a job in my field, as a city planner with the City of Saint Paul.” Utilizing the tools she learned at UB—economic and community development, land use, and zoning—Shawntera developed an appreciation not only for the built environment, but also the people side of urban planning. “I began questioning, as a designer of place, if I was hindering or helping the health of people. With no immediate answer, I became interested in the intersections of planning and healthcare. I made a complete career shift and entered the healthcare arena as a healthcare lobbyist. On paper the two aren’t related, but in my mind, I knew the essence of city building was to unite the physical form and people form. The building block of what drives prosperity is health. Your health is truly your wealth.”

Working in healthcare with a policy lens was pivotal for Shawntera, leading to a call from the office of Governor Mark Dayton in the State of Minnesota to join his leadership team as the deputy chief of staff. After leading statewide crisis and emergency management, she was then asked to be the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Responsible for almost 1,600 public servants, almost a billion-dollar budget, and nine trade offices around the world—Shawntera set out to build a better Minnesota. As the first person of color to lead the state agency in the history of Minnesota, Shawntera was instrumental in developing and implementing groundbreaking legislation to increase workforce opportunity and business growth throughout the state. 

Early in her career journey, Shawntera was “secretly bitten by the entrepreneurial bug.” Still climbing that jungle gym, she founded four companies (Amethyst Advisory Group, Plural, Fearless Commerce, and Certified Access). Delivering services from crises readiness and response, economic development, operational efficiency, legislative intelligence, amplifying black women-owned businesses, to supplier development — Shawntera has always focused on providing access and opportunities to various communities. “I was fortunate to learn early on that we as humans have the opportunity to develop a truly remarkable sense of insight. My professors at UB had intentionality around mastering their craft—Samina Raja, Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., Richard Milgrom, and Ernest Sternberg just to name a few. They had this insatiable curiosity when they taught, and you saw that, which for me sparked this next level of not only wanting to learn and know more, but to go out and put my own flavor on it. That was just tremendous to me; I’m sure not everyone can look back and name multiple professors that sprinkled a little bit of their pixie dust on you.” To continue to challenge herself professionally, even after reaching such high levels of achievement, Shawntera focuses on her curious spirit. “I have an essence of curiosity. What can I do next? What can I do better? That accountability, responsibility, and opportunity are built into my DNA. It’s a joy that I have this spark to keep learning, to keep being in the game.”

The field of planning has the unique ability to shape the future by listening to the needs of communities and creating spaces that serve them. By infusing technology, planners can envision bold possibilities, but must also maintain a sense of responsibility—having foresight, oversight, and insight into the evolving needs of communities. “I’ve been fortunate to meld politics with planning and theory, working alongside colleagues in architecture to understand the beauty of design within a place. Not many planners do that, but I have a strong belief that a well-rounded planner has not only theory, policy, and land-use in their toolbox but also architecture and design. After all, the fabric and identity of a place matters.”

Well on her way to leaving a lasting legacy, Shawntera emphasized the importance of committing to philanthropy for the profession—not just as a practitioner but as a human being who has a connection to, and a responsibility for, the human condition. “Become an expert in your craft, know your work, and along that journey hopefully learn, as I did, to serve your community. To be honored with this award as a change maker, I hope that lesson shines through.”

Shawntera brings more than 20 years of experience to her work at the intersection of inclusive economies, technology, and public policy. During her pivoting career, she has built four companies, led high-profile organizations in both the public and private sectors, and managed many complex projects. Shawntera received her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and her master of urban planning degree from UB. Join us in congratulating her as this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient!