Ehler Htoo Bridges Architecture and Planning for a Full-Circle UB Experience

In the midst of the civil war in Myanmar, Htoo’s family had fled to Thailand, where she was born inside a refugee camp. When she was five, they immigrated to the U.S., resettling in Buffalo. She still remembers the drive from the airport to their first home, the wonder she felt when she saw streetlights for the first time. She still calls Buffalo her “comfort place.”

In high school, she was accepted into the prestigious Hutchinson Central Technical High School (Hutch Tech), where each student chooses a specialized technical program—like bio-chemical engineering, computer technology, or electrical engineering—to complement their academic requirements. Htoo selected architectural engineering, and after shadowing a former Hutch Tech student who was studying at UB’s School of Architecture and Planning, Htoo knew that was the path she wanted to follow.

For Htoo, staying close to home wasn’t just a preference, it was a responsibility she carried with care. As is common for children in refugee families, she had spent years supporting her loved ones as a translator and guide, helping them navigate everything from doctor’s appointments to school meetings. “I wanted to maintain that proximity so I could still support them,” she said.

She began her undergraduate studies in architecture, but when her mother fell ill, she recognized that the demanding studio schedule would be difficult to balance with family responsibilities. In that moment, she thought about an introductory Environmental Design (END) course that she had taken, which had sparked an interest in how cities are planned and how they impact the lives of residents. She was confident that, even though the requirements of that program would be less time consuming, it would still be intellectually fulfilling. Recognizing both her passion and practical needs, she transitioned into the END program.

After earning her undergraduate degree, Htoo knew she wanted to continue her education but wasn’t sure how best to combine her interests. While she had embraced and enjoyed the study of environmental design and urban planning, her interest in architecture had never gone away. A conversation with Korydon Smith, professor and then chair of the Department of Architecture, guided her to the answer: a dual-degree track that would allow her to pursue both a Master of Urban Planning (MUP) and a Master of Architecture (MArch) simultaneously. It was the perfect fit.

“If I had to sum up my experience it one word, it would be ‘multidisciplinary,’” Htoo reflected. “Urban planning and architecture classes both taught different content, but I was able to view the overlapping issues that came up in a more multidisciplinary lens.” Both disciplines together provided her with a deeper understanding of those shared challenges.

That broader perspective helped shape her master’s thesis. Through her involvement with Buffalo’s K’nyaw Youth Organization—which brings together youth in the Karen community through cultural events, traditions, and engagement—Htoo saw firsthand the significant need for a dedicated community space. In response, her thesis explored how to envision a youth space with Karen refugees in Buffalo.

Drawing on her expertise in both planning and design approaches, Htoo’s resulting work reflected the wholistic lens that she developed through that integrated education. “I truly believe this was possible because of my education here in both planning and architecture,” she shared. This process helped her realize that there’s an advantage to living in what she calls “the blurry middle” between these two disciplines. “I like to think of myself not as either/or but as both and more.”

Htoo had excelled during her time as a student, even serving as a teaching assistant for several courses, including ARC 211: Diversity in Design, taught by Beth Tauke, associate professor emeritus in the Department of Architecture. During Htoo’s last semester of graduate school, Tauke announced her upcoming retirement and invited Htoo to take her place as the course instructor for the Spring 2026 semester. Htoo decided she was up for the challenge.

Diversity in Design examines the history and diversity of cultural experiences within the U.S. and their attendant design issues, concentrating on the ways in which our physical and media environments affect various populations—and, in turn, the ways these populations have affected our designed environments. Required for architecture students but open to all majors, it regularly draws more than 400 students from a wide variety of fields, from engineering and pharmaceutical sciences to nursing and music. Teaching such a large class online presented challenges, but Htoo embraced them—leading office hours, managing course logistics, and overseeing a team of 10 teaching assistants—and grew more confident from them.

After graduation, Htoo also briefly worked at an architecture firm, eager to explore professional practice for the first time. But she quickly realized that, while she enjoyed it, she missed doing work that connected her with her community. “I want to go out and connect with people as part of my work,” she discovered. “I want to feel that direct impact. For me, that’s more fulfilling.”

She’s currently in a role fulfills that need beautifully—a full-time position with the UB Regional Institute, working as an associate planner where she’s focused on the Buffalo Street Trees project. Funded by a grant administered by the U.S. Forest Services to the City of Buffalo, that initiative seeks to inform and engage residents of the opportunities and benefits of bringing trees to their neighborhoods, particularly in priority areas across the East Side, Riverside, and West Side. UBRI has been tasked with conducting education and outreach services to help ensure the program’s success, and Htoo’s work is hands-on and varied: organizing events, creating education materials, engaging directly with residents, and collaborating with a network of 12 community ambassadors who help spread awareness among Buffalo residents.

“I love what I’m doing right now,” she shared with a smile. “I get to go out to events, talk to people, and contribute to a great cause—bringing trees to our neighborhoods. It’s a great initiative to be a part of.”

Looking ahead, Htoo remains open to where her path may lead. But one thing is certain: she plans to stay in Buffalo and continue doing work that utilizes her multidisciplinary background in both architecture and planning in service to her community.

“The most important thing to me is doing work that impacts people’s lives. I hope to bridge both fields in a meaningful way to address challenges within our community and contribute to solutions that will help people.”