The UDP Professionals Council (PC) is a volunteer group of planners in the greater Seattle region who mentor UDP students, primarily in the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program. Each first-year MUP student is paired with a PC member, based on common interests. The PC mentor can help students network, identify an internship, provide career advice, and much more. In addition to individual mentoring, the PC holds events for students throughout the school year, including studio tours, speaking panels featuring prominent planners, social events, and a thesis celebration at the end of the academic year. The PC helps with the transition from student to practitioner. The proof of their effectiveness is in the results: in a recent survey, ~90% of our alumni respondents reported securing a planning-related job within one year of graduation. The Professionals Council is a unique resource among planning programs, and is recognized by the Planning Accreditation Board as a model for the nation. Please read below to learn more about our Professionals Council members.
The Professionals Council has created a fund to recruit MUP students with diverse backgrounds called the Urban Design and Planning Endowed Equity Fund.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EQUITY FUND
Professionals Council Events
The Department of Urban Design and Planning Professional Council (PC) hosts a number of events each year. This is an opportunity for students to connect with thier PC Mentors and events can range from neighborhood tours to resume clinics to office tours.
These events are often limited to MUP students but the Professional Council also host a quarterly lecture series which are available to the larger community.
Meet Your UDP Professionals Council
Ben Bakkenta
Director of Regional Planning
Long range, regional growth and transportation planning, TOD, equitable development.
David Blum, AICP
President, Montgomery Gulf Corp
Affordable housing development, economic development.
Steve Butler, FAICP
Planning & Policy Manager, MRSC (Municipal Research & Services Center)
Land use planning, comprehensive planning, innovative development regulations, affordable housing techniques, urban design, engaging youth in the planning process, development review
Michael Chen
Associate Principal | Land Use Planning, Mackenzie
Land use planning.
Sara Cubillos
Marty Curry, AICP
UW Affiliate Faculty, and Curry Consulting
Infrastructure planning; community engagement; collaborative planning; systems approach.
Nancy Eklund
Long Range Planning Manager, City of Tukwila
Comprehensive planning, long range, policy.
Anne Fritzel
Housing Programs Manager, WA State Dept. of Commerce
GMA, short course, housing.
Ted Gage
Principal Planner, Eldred & Associates
Tribal planning, growth management, community participation/public involvement.
Lisa Grueter, AICP
Principal, BERK Consulting, Inc.
Land use and environmental planning.
Katy Haima
Erika Harris
Senior Planner, PSRC
Environmental planning, regional planning, SEPA
Jess Harris
Green Building Program Manager, City of Seattle
Green building, sustainability, permitting and entitlements
Paul Inghram, FAICP
Growth Management Program Director, Puget Sound Regional Council
Regional planning, comprehensive planning, housing, environment, development, economics.
Arun Jain
Urban Designer, Fulbright Specialist
Multi-disciplinary Urband Design and Strategy.
Mike Katterman
Community Development Director, City of Bellevue
Comprehensive planning, affordable housing, economic development, transportation.
Jenn Kester
Planning Manager
Rick Krochalis, AICP
Former Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration (retired)
Transit oriented development, transportation planning, land use regulations, governance.
Doug Larson
Land use policy and economics, real estate.
Denise Lathrop
Community Development Director, City of Des Moines
Public policy focused around land use, transportation, food systems and environmental issues; urban design; city planning and community engagement.
Al Levine
Retired, formerly Deputy Executive Director, Seattle Housing Authority (1998-2013) and Affiliate Faculty
Affordable housing, mixed income communities, Transit Oriented Development
Rebeccah Maskin
King County Demographer
Long-range planning, regional planning, county planning, GMA, data analysis, GIS.
Andy Micklow
King County Council
Regional Planning, Policy Analysis, Gender
Rachel Miller
Senior Associate – Planner/Urban Designer, Makers LLC
Urban Design
Ellen Miller-Wolfe
Economic development, historic preservation, and public art.
Christopher Ndifon
Land Use Planner, City of Seattle
Land Use
Ike Nwankwo
Formerly with Department of Commerce (retired)
Growth Management, housing.
Elise Rasmussen
Climate and Environmental Justice Associate
Miranda Redinger
Jesse Reynolds, AICP CFM
Principal Subarea Planner
Subarea and Comprehensive Planning, Spatial Planning, Hazard Mitigation, Community Engagement
Mandi Roberts, AICP. RLA
Katie Sheehy
Strategic Advisor, Seattle Office of Planning & Community Development
Community planning in Seattle’s neighborhoods, racial equity in urban planning and local government; neighborhood walking tours; building connections with planners in other parts of the country.
Janet Shull
Strategic Planning Manager, City of Bellevue
Urban design, sustainability, neighborhood/subarea planning, TOD.
Rob Strauder
Jamie Stroble
Liz Underwood-Bultmann, AICP
Puget Sound Regional Council
Regional Planning, growth management, land use.
Karen Wolf, FAICP
Former Senior Policy Analyst, UW (retired)
Comprehensive planning; regional planning; American Planning Association.
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Updated: October 2024