By Kellie Britch, College of Arts and Sciences
William Vermillion, a recent graduate from the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program in the School of Public Affairs, has a passion for community that has driven his success as the senior planner for Pasco County.
Now that he has his master鈥檚 degree and professional accreditation as a city planner, Vermillion鈥檚 next goal is to become a planning director or city manager. (Photo courtesy of William Vermillion)
鈥淲hen I studied policy in undergrad, I knew I wanted to bridge the connection between
the built environment and the policy that surrounds how the built environment is created
and affects everyone鈥檚 daily life,鈥� said Vermillion.
As the senior planner, Vermillion supervises all of the master planned unit developments,
as well as developments with regional impact and the special districts. Each project
is unique, varying widely in size and scope.
鈥淭he master planned unit developments are negotiated zoning districts or developments,鈥�
explained Vermillion. 鈥淚 negotiate with the applicant鈥檚 engineer and land use attorney
regarding the building design, the proposed use and the overall layout of that community.
The projects can range from 10 to 1200 acres and be residential or commercial developments.
鈥淓ach one is completely different.鈥�
According to Vermillion, a passion for improving the built environment and serving
the community is what makes his role so rewarding. This drive to serve has been at
the forefront of most of his career choices.
鈥淎fter earning my undergraduate degree, I had this need to do something for the greater
good, but I didn鈥檛 really know what it was,鈥� said Vermillion. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I joined
the United States Marine Corps, where I served for six years before being honorably
discharged in 2022.鈥�
It was shortly after his time in the Marines that Vermillion was accepted to the MURP program in USF鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences 鈥� an experience that has helped shape his career.
"All of the professors inspired me, but Dr. Van Linkous, Dr. Elizabeth Strom and Amber Dickerson helped me understand and fine tune what exactly it was that I was passionate about within urban planning,鈥� said Vermillion. 鈥淭he professors truly want to help, and that has continued past graduation."
Now that he has his master鈥檚 degree and professional accreditation as a city planner, Vermillion鈥檚 next goal is to become a planning director or city manager.
"During his time in the MURP degree program, William rose from planner II to senior planner for Pasco County, where he now leads critical master planning processes,鈥� said Van Linkous, MURP program director and associate professor for the School of Public Affairs.
鈥淲illiam is one of the best public speakers to graduate from our program 鈥� able to communicate complex planning issues in ways that different stakeholders 鈥� such as homeowners, elected officials and developers 鈥� can resonate with, and I鈥檓 confident he鈥檒l find great success in his career,鈥� Linkous added.
Learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences鈥� MURP program.