Gabriela is a Transportation Planner I at CDM Smith. Her work focuses on creating healthier, well-connected communities through data, design, and outreach. She is a co-founder of Mappy Hour Orlando and serves as Community Relations Coordinator for the Florida Chapter of GPN. Her experience spans the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, with work in planning, GIS analysis, pedestrian safety, written and visual communication, and community outreach.

While at the University of Central Florida, Gabriela studied Public Administration and Computational Sciences with a focus on Urban Planning and GIS. She was a Ginsburg Fellow, served as Vice President of UCF Women in Transportation, and was Director of Communications for the Urban Knights Planning Association, where she led communications and outreach that increased engagement by 800% and helped develop programming around urban planning and mobility. She won the WTS Frankee Hellinger Undergraduate Leadership Award, received the 2025 Build4Good New America “Changemaker in Tech” Award, and was a final-round finalist for the Catchlight Crossings Public Art Project.

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    • Support toll and revenue studies through data analysis, GIS mapping, research, and preparation of technical deliverables.

    • Contribute to bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and multimodal planning projects, including existing-conditions and accessibility assessments.

    • Develop public health and safety communications for water infrastructure programs, including homeowner outreach, educational materials, and issue documentation.

    • Create maps, graphics, presentations, and data visualizations that communicate technical information clearly.

    • Prepare technical memos, reports, spreadsheets, and public-facing materials for transportation and infrastructure projects.

    Skills and Interests: Toll and Revenue • GIS • Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning • Transit • Multimodal Transportation • Public Health and Safety Communications • Environmental Planning • Graphic Design • Data Visualization

    • Assist in checking travel demand model output and conduct validation analysis utilizing traffic counts.

    • Develop and input data into models while supporting traffic data collection efforts.

    • Contribute to the reporting on modeling outputs and perform research to enhance data accuracy.

    • Utilize GIS systems for thorough analysis and visualization, while assisting with various related tasks.

    • Audit ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise Portal systems for internal & public use

    • Assist in developing public-facing GIS applications, amend addressing errors

    • Support GIS data analysis and county GIS operations

    • Created Dashboards and used Experience Builder to create interactive web experiences that are user friendly and convey necessary information.

      Example of work here.

  • Bike/Walk Central Florida - Part Time

    • Present to community groups and respond to citizen inquiries while educating drivers on Florida’s yield law.

    • Organize events such as health fairs and farmers’ markets, and distribute materials to local agencies and organizations.

    • Collect surveys from pedestrians and cyclists for research and document outreach activities.

    • Prepare reports and schedules, along with performing other supporting duties as assigned.

  • Orlando Museum of Art

    • Assisted with exhibitions, educational programs, and daily operations, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to the museum's mission.

      • Skills: Technical Writing · Art Exhibitions · Museum Education · Cataloging · Company Presentations · Art Education · Database Administration · Project Documentation · Presentations · Teamwork · Nonprofit Organizations

  • The Ginsburg Phoenix Fellowship is a youth leadership initiative empowering college students to drive meaningful change through civic engagement, community organizing, and inclusive activism. We collaborate on events that promote dialogue, equity, and systemic transformation. Rooted in the values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the fellowship equips emerging leaders with mentorship, training, and hands-on opportunities to lead campus and community initiatives.

  • Participating in a selective project-based fellowship focused on Public Interest Technology (PIT), developing an independent tech-for-good initiative with mentorship and career workshops.

  • Spring 2024 - Current

    As Vice President of WTS UCF Knights, I help organize events, connect members with industry professionals, and support career development in transportation through meetings, networking, and learning opportunities.

  • Fall 2024 - December 2025

    Click here to see Social Media Design

    • Manages public outreach, community engagement initiatives, designs graphics and creates marketing materials, and oversees social media platforms.

    • Ensures a clear and consistent message to engage the student community and promote events.

    Since joining this leadership role:

    + 400% increase in student attendance

    + 600% increase in social media engagement.

  • Geographic Information Systems Volunteer and Economic Vitality Commitee

    December 2024 - Current

  • Bachelor of Science: Interdisciplinary Studies, December 2025

    Area of Study: Public Administration, Computational Sciences

    Minors: Urban Planning, Environmental Science

    Certificates: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Community Planning

    Maintained President Honor Roll and Dean's List status.

    Scholarships:

    • WTS Central Florida Undergraduate Leadership Scholarship (2025) – Awarded for leadership and commitment to advancing transportation.

    • High Impact Practice Scholar – Competitive two-semester program (2025).

    • Knights Take Charge Scholar – Academic achievement scholarship (2025).

    • Black & Gold Scholar – Academic achievement scholarship (2024, 2025).

    • APA Florida Student Representative – Selected and sponsored to represent UCF at APA FL (2024–25).

  • The Ginsburg Phoenix Fellowship is a youth leadership initiative empowering college students to drive meaningful change through civic engagement, community organizing, and inclusive activism. We collaborate on events that promote dialogue, equity, and systemic transformation. Rooted in the values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the fellowship equips emerging leaders with mentorship, training, and hands-on opportunities to lead campus and community initiatives.

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