At a recent American Planning Association (APA) and Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) data session during the 2025 ACSP Administrator’s Conference, Oklahoma was recognized as a national leader in planning education and professional engagement.
As the APA representative presented slides showing trends in planning education and professional engagement, one point stood out. “We need to know what Oklahoma is doing,” they said. The data showed that Oklahoma has seen rapid growth in both APA and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) membership—both per capita and per existing APA member—over the past few years.
This kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. A major driver behind this trend is the work being done at the University of Oklahoma. Much of this success is due to the efforts of Dr. Charlie Warnken, who has been instrumental in mentoring and preparing students for professional certification and involvement. From guiding them through the AICP process to actively collaborating with the Oklahoma APA chapter, Dr. Warnken has created a culture of engagement and excellence.
One standout feature of OU’s program is its comprehensive exam process, designed to closely mirror the AICP exam. This innovative approach has not only helped students feel more prepared, but it’s also caught the attention of peer institutions. After the session, several department chairs from across the country approached OU to learn more about how our model could be adapted to their programs.
This national recognition is more than a proud moment—it’s a reminder of the leadership and innovation happening here at OU that trains excellent professionals and is impacting our state in important ways!
Featured image: Regional and City Planning students and faculty.
Associate Professors Lee Fithian, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Pober have published a chapter in the recently released New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality, published by Elsevier. Their contribution, titled “Chapter 16 – Architecture and the Challenges of Indoor Air Quality,” examines the relationship between architecture and indoor air quality.
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.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Tahsin Tabassum, a recent graduate of the college’s Master of Regional and City Planning program and current doctoral student at the University of California, Irvine, for receiving the prestigious 2024–2025 American Planning Association (APA) Outstanding Student Award.
