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.
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to announce the promotion of Ph.D. student Rafael Hernandez to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Gibbs College of Architecture Assistant Professor Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, has co-authored a new book chapter with Josh Newton and Andrew Born, published in De Gruyter Handbook of the Geographies of Race.
Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design (PLAD) alumni Trey Ingram, AICP recently spoke with current PLAD student and graduate media assistant Molly Strobel to share his experiences with the Regional and City Planning program and current work with the Toyota Mobility Foundation.
