Raegan Harris thought she knew Alabama. Then she spent a summer exploring communities across the state and realized there was far more to discover.

The recent University of Alabama graduate credits two statewide leadership programs with changing her perspective on her home state. Along the way, she met community leaders, listened to students and discovered opportunities that ultimately shaped where she hopes to build her career.

“Being in these programs… reignited my passion for planning in the Southeast, and I saw that maybe this is where my efforts can be best spent,” Harris said.

Harris recently graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in urban planning and community development. During her sophomore year, she realized she wanted a better understanding of the places and people she hoped to one day serve as an urban planner. That realization led her to FuelAL, a summer program facilitated by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and supported by Innovate Alabama.

While interning with the Walker Area Community Foundation in Jasper, Harris traveled to communities across Alabama, met young professionals, volunteered on community projects and attended a Gulf Coast summit—experiences she says broadened her understanding of Alabama’s communities, people and career opportunities.

In the video shared by Innovate Alabama, Harris said the program gave her a new perspective on the opportunities available across Alabama.

“Fuel Alabama is a program focused on exposing students to all the different assets throughout Alabama to encourage them just to consider it as a place to make their home,” Harris said.

“So I really just got to explore more about the state of Alabama and kind of envision what my future could look like here.”

Her interest in Alabama’s communities didn’t end when the summer program concluded. Harris later joined the 2024-2025 Student Retention Council after being appointed by former University of Alabama President Dr. Stuart R. Bell. The program gives college students an opportunity to share what would encourage more graduates to build their careers in Alabama. Harris’ cohort engaged with more than 1,000 students across 15 communities statewide.

Those conversations offered Harris a firsthand look at both the strengths and challenges facing communities across the state.

“It taught me a lot about assessing community assets and needs. Because as I traveled to all of these different communities, I was able to have conversations with people who might be making the decisions, and people who were affected by the decisions,” she said.

“It was really special, too, because it felt like every community was giving us the keys to the city for a couple of days.”

No matter where the council traveled, Harris said similar themes emerged. Students wanted a clearer picture of career opportunities, more knowledge-based jobs and communities that invest in quality-of-life amenities such as parks, outdoor recreation and public spaces. Harris later presented those findings to state leaders in Montgomery, including Alabama Finance Director Bill Poole and then-Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, who now serves as secretary of the Alabama Department of Workforce.

Soon after the presentations, Poole wrote a letter of recommendation supporting Harris’ graduate school application.

“Programs such as FuelAL and the Student Retention Council are critical to Alabama’s continued growth and long-term success. These initiatives expose and connect talented college students with employers, communities, and career opportunities across Alabama while strengthening their professional development and leadership experiences,” Poole said.

“In doing so, they showcase Alabama’s exceptional quality of life and the many career opportunities available here at home – encouraging students to build their futures, careers and families right here in Alabama.”

“Raegan Harris is a shining example of the impact these programs can have, and the opportunities Alabama offers to the next generation of talent.”

Harris has since been accepted into the University of Texas at Austin’s Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning program, where she will begin classes this fall. While she’s excited to gain experience in a larger city, she says her long-term goal is to bring what she learns back to Alabama.

“I’m studying urban planning and community development and I think there are a lot of career opportunities for me in this state and I really want to be a part of helping it continue to grow and flourish,” Harris said.

Harris’ story is one example of a broader push to help more young Alabamians see a future here. From introducing students to career opportunities through FuelAL and the Student Retention Council to launching the new Alabama Pathways initiative, state leaders are working to connect education, workforce training and employers before students decide to leave the state.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].