Urban Planning Graduate Student Places First at 2026 Future of Florida Summit

Congratulations to Nick Meyl, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) student in the Schmidt College of Science, who captured first place at the 2026 Future of Florida (FOF) Summit. Hosted by the University of Florida in Gainesville from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, FOF invited 70 students from universities and colleges across the state to work in teams to develop a policy solution that addressed growth and development in the Sunshine State.

“It was truly an honor to win first place at the Future of Florida Summit,” expressed Meyl. “I was grateful to present alongside thoughtful and talented students. Winning first place was quite rewarding after using the topic that I researched and generated!”

Meyl and his teammate, Anna Fortenberry, a UF student, won first place for their project, “Safe Housing Incentives & Expedited Land Development Act (SHIELD).” This year’s FOF Summit, themed “Designing Tomorrow: Florida’s Growth and Development,” asked students to examine pressing current issues, such as infrastructure, environmental sustainability and cultural preservation.

“As an urban planning student focused on Geographic Information Systems [GIS], sustainability and public health, the summit provided a platform to connect research with real policy conversations,” noted Meyl. “Florida is growing rapidly, and decisions we make today about land use and infrastructure will shape long-term health outcomes.”

As a MURP student, Meyl has served as a Graduate Research Assistant, and has been actively involved in applied GIS research focused on housing markets, urban growth and environmental risk.

“I chose to attend Florida Atlantic because of its strong emphasis on sustainability and its location in one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the country,” stated Meyl. “Studying planning in South Florida allows me to work directly on the types of environmental and urban challenges that first inspired me to pursue this field. I am also from South Florida, so it is nice to be back!”

Following his anticipated graduation in 2027, Meyl plans to work in the private sector, focusing on GIS-driven urban planning.

“I am particularly interested in using spatial analysis to inform land use decisions, site selections and development strategies that balance economic growth with environmental responsibility,” shared Meyl. “My goal is to apply data-driven planning tools to help shape resilient and sustainable communities across Florida and other rapids growing regions.”