Meeting the New MADE IT Board of 2026: Bringing Together the Next Generation of Urban Problem Solvers

Representing the MSc MADE program, the board is focusing on fostering a supportive, engaged, and connected student community through new initiatives and events.

"We want to build a strong and resilient student community and connect MADE students with companies, research groups, and educational institutions. Events like Career Market Day and other community-focused initiatives help us move toward this goal."

Also, the board envisions an important role for them in connecting the MSc MADE program and AMS Institute. “We are messengers and facilitators, boosting collaboration initiatives that involve MSc MADE and AMS Institute, spreading the ideas, and making sure each party is heard and able to contribute to our goals. As MADE IT, we not only want to strengthen the MADE program but also want to contribute to AMS Institute and its impact on cities.

MADE IT is the study association representing students of AMS Institute’s Metropolitan Analysis, Design, and Engineering (MADE) master’s program. The MADE IT board promotes student interests and is dedicated to enhancing the MSc MADE student experience.

Now, who are the new MADE IT board members?

Sonya Faber - Chair

I studied Biology at McGill University and completed a Master’s in Urban Management and Development at Erasmus University Rotterdam. As an MSc MADE student, I continue to deepen my interdisciplinary expertise in urban systems. I value collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and learning new skills. I am committed to supporting classmates and taking actions that benefit the MADE program and student community. In my role, I focus on empowering the board to achieve our strategic goals while fostering a supportive environment.

Corey Whitlock - External Relations

I am from Atlanta, Georgia, with a background in civil engineering. Before starting my master’s in the Netherlands, I worked for four years as a transportation planning consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina and Oakland, California. When I’m not thinking about the future of sustainable transportation, I enjoy long bike rides, basketball with a group of friends, or a few rounds of Super Smash Brothers.

Saba Khan - Internal Relations

I joined the MADE program to build a career in sustainable urban innovation and connect with like-minded trailblazers. AMS Institute creates the perfect environment to change the world, and to do that, we need a safe, inclusive space for students to be their authentic selves. I am passionate about helping my peers make the most of this unique education to transform societies and have fun while doing it. As Internal Relations board member, I support mental health, foster connections within AMS, and advance professional development with lasting impact.

José Aguirre - Treasurer

As a geographer from Chile, I’m grateful to be part of the AMS and MADE community. I’m committed to clarity and strategic resource management because I see them as the bedrock for any organization to thrive. As Treasurer of MADE IT, my goal is to make sure our finances are organized and accessible, providing the stability our team needs to represent MADE sustainably and with confidence.

Abraham Villanueva - Secretary

My education in architecture made me value structure, planning, and sustainability, which then led me to city planning. I see our society going through transformations that can improve our future, and that process needs people thinking about how to achieve it, which the MADE program encourages us to develop. The MADE IT association gives me space to work in a collaborative environment, and I am excited to help build a smarter and more sustainable future.

Sascha Engelvaart - Communications and Marketing Officer

My background in industrial design engineering developed my problem-solving skills, especially towards sustainability. In this master’s, I want to use these skills to work on contemporary cities’ challenges. As a communication and marketing officer, I want to increase our program’s visibility outside the university by sharing students’ stories and showing the work we do. I also want to help create a clear and consistent visual identity, so the program becomes easier to recognize.

Gahyun Kim - Committee and Project Coordinator

I am an architecture graduate and project management professional with over four years of experience in government-initiated international development projects in developing countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia. My focus is on sustainable urban development in multidisciplinary contexts, with a strong interest in regenerative city transformation, particularly in the Global South. As a board project coordinator, I aspire to bridge stakeholders and resources in support of effective program development.

By fostering collaboration between students and the institute's vast network of partners, they are ensuring that the fresh perspectives of today's students lead to the impactful urban solutions of tomorrow.