Nelson De Jesús Ubri

“The Parsons Scholars Program introduced me to a whole new world of industries and tools that I now use to advocate for more sustainable and equitable approaches to design,” says De Jesús Ubri. 

The experience led De Jesús Ubri to enroll in Parsons’ BFA Architectural Design program and then, after graduating 

“The Parsons Scholars program gave me a platform to make a difference in my field and in the lives of others.” 

—Nelson De Jesus Ubri

De Jesús Ubri went on to pursue a Master of Architecture degree at Columbia University. There he conceived a speculative housing redevelopment project in the Bronx involving apartments retrofitted with mass timber, a highly sustainable material he was introduced to at Parsons. Another project earned De Jesus Ubri a Buell Paris Prize, given to students whose work aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Both projects bring together his interests in sustainable design and social justice, hallmarks of his learning as a Parsons Scholar and an undergraduate. 

Today, De Jesús Ubri teaches at Carnegie Mellon University and works in architectural development as an associate at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. As a volunteer Youth Advocate in the Parsons Scholars Program, he works with newer generations of scholars, guiding them through the college application and financial aid process and toward their higher education aspirations. “The Parsons Scholars program gave me a platform to make a difference in my field and in the lives of others,” he says.