by Xiangming Chen
Director, the Urban Studies Program
As we are going through the inaugural self-study and external review of Urban Studies this spring to mark its first decade of development since 2013, we feature two earlier graduates who reflect on their self-designed Urban & Global Studies major in 2011 and its curricular connections to their post-graduation careers. Their experience with that major had helped launch the current Urban Studies Major into existence a decade ago.
Michael Magdelinskas ‘11
Michael is a dynamic and disruptive policy expert with nearly a decade of experience advising companies on international, federal, state, and local policy matters. He is currently the Head of Legislative and Regulatory Policy for Transit Bikes & Scooters at Lyft, where he drives policy development, engages with government officials, and serves as an essential advisor on an ever-expanding array of policy matters. Additionally, Michael sits on the advisory board of a number of innovative startups where he advises founders on navigating political and regulatory challenges. Prior to this, Michael held roles at Altice USA, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Altria and was a Fellow at the US Department of State.
At Trinity, Michael self-designed a major in Urban & Global Studies and studied abroad in Paris and in China through the CUGS Urban China Summer Program. These global perspectives have been integral to Michael’s success leading policy campaigns across the globe, leveraging cultural sensitivities with geopolitical insight. Michael’s current role, advocating for the largest bikeshare systems in the world – such as NYC’s Citibike and Chicago’s Divvy -has him tackling some of the most important urban transportation and environmental issues facing cities.
Tomás de’Medici ‘11
Tomás de’Medici is the founder of TdM Emerald Corp, and a Community Solar Product Manager II at Reactivate, a mission driven solar developer. He has used his self-designed Urban and Global Studies major from Trinity College to center his work within the realms of climate and environmental justice impacts. His time at Trinity, including exposure to environmental challenges through participation in both the CUGS Urban China Summer Program and a study-away program at Fudan University, helped provide the framework to connect clean energy development to municipal plans, going beyond solar farms to integrated resources for cities and community actors.
While at Trajectory Energy Partners, he played a lead role in securing the first Low-Income Community Solar REC awarded in ComEd territory as part of the Illinois Solar for All Program for Rockford Solar. He led an environmental justice community self-designation process for Rockford Solar, applying lessons from his time at Trinity. He was a member of the Obama 2012 campaign in Florida; founded The Chicago Sustainability Series, and serves on the board of Star Farm Chicago, an urban agriculture non-profit. He served as The Chicago Community Trust’s Young Leaders Fund (YLF) Co-Chair from 2018-2020, and during that time YLF deployed $128,205 to 31 Chicago non-profits. He was a member of the City of Chicago’s We Will Chicago Environment, Climate & Energy Pillar, and an Advisory Member of the Turnstone Development C40 Reinventing Cities Competition Chicago Task Force.
