Paul Shema is a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Urban Design and Planning program at the University of Washington. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, and has three years of professional experience as an architectural designer. His research focuses on urban design, disaster risk reduction, and community engagement. He is especially interested in how the built environment shapes people’s everyday experiences and how design can contribute to more resilient, inclusive, and meaningful places.