Aisling O’Reilly, a PhD student in Urban Planning and Development at the University of Southern California, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship, receiving the maximum award of $35,500. This fellowship is awarded annually to about 150 students across the nation pursuing degrees in transportation-related disciplines, recognizing their potential to contribute to the future of transportation.
“The Eisenhower Fellowships are among the highest honors that a graduate student can achieve. Aisling’s research will move forward our understanding of transportation accessibility among persons with differing abilities, addressing an important gap in practice and research. We couldn’t be more proud of her,” said Marlon Boarnet, Director of the METRANS Transportation Cosortium and the Pacific Southwest Region 9 UTC.
Learn more about Aisling’s work and what inspires her in the Q&A section below.
A: Transportation is a universal experience - everyone needs to get around in some way. In many cases, our systems are not designed for it to be a universal experience. Having a sibling with a disability really made this clear to me, especially when we both got older and I have had options that she hasn’t. It’s an in-the-face realization that, for millions of people, getting in your car and driving somewhere can’t be an option. My personal experiences led me to the field of transportation equity and justice which seeks to address systemic inequities within transportation, and begin to raise awareness and dismantle barriers through policy change.
My goal with my work is to make sure that every person has access to all necessary goods and services to lead a meaningful and successful life. My dissertation specifically focuses on adults with disabilities in California and their lived experiences with getting around day-to-day. I am also conducting an accessibility analysis of urban and rural California, modeling differences in travel time across transportation modes to uncover disparities in access.
A: The Eisenhower Fellowship is an incredible program. It’s a fantastic opportunity to attend the TRB Annual Meeting, connect with other fellows, and share our work. This award is directly funding the remainder of my dissertation, for which I am incredibly grateful. In the long term, I hope to contribute to similar scholarships and fellowships to support graduate students in transportation. I’m grateful to be able to do the work I’m passionate about and to have the financial backing that makes it possible.