Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, assistant professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, recently participated in the esteemed International Conference on Urban Affairs. This annual event brings together urban-focused researchers, planners and policy advocates to examine strategies to make cities more equitable and resilient. This year’s conference was held April 24-27 in New York City.
During the conference, Mozaffarian presented her research concerning the importance of community engagement in urban economic development practices. Her study sheds light on the consequences of limited community involvement and civic inclusion during the establishment and execution of innovation districts.
Innovation districts are distinct geographic areas designed around anchor institutions like universities, hospitals and local government entities. According to Mozaffarian, these designated zones represent contemporary economic development models. Her research underscores the critical role of community participation in shaping and enhancing the outcomes of urban development initiatives.
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.
