Provost Diversity Fellow: Deqah Hussein-Wetzel

Deqah Hussein-Wetzel, PhD candidate

Department and School
Historic Preservation, School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation

Bio
Deqah Hussein-Wetzel's research interests center around the use of digital media and its role in the preservation of cultural memory in urban environments. As a first-generation American from Somali-Kenyan her work further interrogates the socio-political role of urbanism and development on East African v. African American cultural landscapes, focusing on topics that explore the meaning and symbolism of place-associated storytelling within the African Diaspora. Deqah received a Bachelor of Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning and a Master of Historic Preservation with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Oregon. She is also the founder of Urbanist Media, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating and preserving underrepresented voices and places, and the co-host/producer of its flagship podcast, Urban Roots, which aims to preserve these places (the tangible) through story (the intangible).

Advisor
Jorje Otero-Pailos, Professor, Planning and Preservation, Director-MS, Director-PhD

Favorite hangout on or off campus
Anywhere she can play with glass....aka a glassblowing studio

Favorite self-care ritual
Physical activity -- tennis, rock climbing, biking, etc.

Recommended book/ Podcast
Her podcast, Urban Roots, is extremely valuable as a preservation and public history tool. Another excellent pod is The Stoop!

Favorite study spot
Beneath any shade tree

To learn more about Deqah Hussein-Wetzel, please follow her on X,
connect via LinkedIn  or email her directly.