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.
The University of Oklahoma College of Architecture is proud to announce that Model Schools in the Model City, authored by Director of the Institute for Quality Communities, Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., has been named one of ten finalists for the 2026 ASALH Book Prize for Best New Book in African American History and Culture.
This semester, students in the LA 5535 Studio: Ecological Planning and Design, led by Prof. Afsana Sharmin, took on an ambitious hypothetical project to redesign key parts of the OU campus. Their mission: to tackle the critical real-world challenge of stormwater management through innovative green design.
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
