Shining a spotlight on our USF Fellows Jocelyn Daniels & Erica Larson; Graduation and Great Work Ahead! 

This spring, we are excited to celebrate two amazing team members, Jocelyn Daniels and Erica Larson, as they wrap up their time as graduate students and continue making an impact through their work in planning. 

Jocelyn Daniels 

Jocelyn joined the TPO as a Fellow in 2023 and quickly jumped into a variety of important community-focused projects. Originally from Maryland, she’s been enjoying Florida life (and we can’t blame her!).

While with the TPO, Jocelyn has spent most of her time focused on community engagement. She was deeply involved in the public outreach for the Access 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan, helping to make sure that community voices were part of shaping the future of transportation in the region.

She also worked closely with the Community Air Monitoring Network; she has been involved in everything from participating in the Great American Teach-In at local schools to scouting out possible locations for grant-funded air monitors. On top of that, she helped summarize public comments from social media for the TPO Board meetings and supported the Citizens Advisory Committee. 

In May, Jocelyn will graduate from the University of South Florida with a Master’s Degree in Urban & Regional Planning, along with a Graduate Certificate in Community Development. We’re so proud of her work and can’t wait to see where her passion for planning and community takes her next. 

A couple of fun facts about Jocelyn: She loves cooking. While in college, she entered a cook-off and won. Jocelyn went horseback riding in Monteverde’s Cloud Forest once. When she got to a high enough point, she ziplined back down over the clouds. 

Erica Larson 

Erica began her Fellowship with Plan Hillsborough in January 2023 and officially joined the team as a full-time Planner I in October that same year. She’s originally from Missouri and has quickly become a fan of Tampa Bay’s beaches, nature, food, and the warm weather (another win for Florida!). 

During her time with the Planning Commission, Erica has been focused on Comprehensive Plan updates. She co-led the work to update both the Housing and Capital Improvements sections of the Tampa Comprehensive Plan, focusing on making the policy language more straightforward and easier to navigate. She also helped incorporate important new topics like resilience in housing and capital projects to ensure the plans are ready for the future. 

Erica will also graduate from USF this May, earning her Master’s Degree in Urban & Regional Planning, along with Graduate Certificates in Community Development and Leadership for Coastal Resiliency Planning. 

And a few fun facts about Erica: she’s a big reader, averaging around 100 books a year for the past three years. She doesn’t drink coffee (yes, really!), and her go-to comfort food is chocolate. 

We’re lucky to have had both Jocelyn and Erica on our team. Their hard work, energy, and fresh perspectives have made a big difference, and we’re excited to see what’s next for them as they take this next step in their careers.