Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, Assistant Professor of Regional and City Planning, has been selected to serve as Co-Chair of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Planners of Color Interest Group (POCIG) for the 2025–2027 term.
POCIG’s mission centers on fostering visibility, support, and opportunities for scholars and communities whose experiences have historically been overlooked within planning academia and the profession. In her new leadership role, Dr. Mozaffarian will help guide national conversations that broaden participation, elevate diverse perspectives, and strengthen pathways for students and faculty across the country.
This appointment highlights Dr. Mozaffarian’s long-standing commitment to ensuring that planning research and education reflect the full range of voices shaping our communities. It also positions the University of Oklahoma as an active contributor to shaping the direction and values of the planning field at the national level.
Logo for the Planners of Color Interest Group (POCIG).
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.