The UDP Professionals Council
The UDP Professionals Council (PC) is a volunteer group of planners in the greater Seattle region who mentor students, primarily in the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program. Each first-year MUP student is paired with a PC member based on shared interests. Mentors help students network, identify internships, provide career advice, and more.
In addition to one-on-one mentoring, the PC organizes events throughout the year, including studio tours, speaking panels featuring prominent planners, social events, and a thesis celebration at the end of the academic year. The PC plays a key role in helping students transition from classroom to career.
The results speak for themselves: in a recent survey, nearly 90% of 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 national model.
UDP Professionals Council Funds
The Professionals Council has established two funds to support MUP students and their professional growth:
This fellowship supports the recruitment and success of MUP students from diverse backgrounds, with preference given to those who are first-generation college students, have experience overcoming adversity, or demonstrate a commitment to DEI. Learn more about the equity fellowship.
Donate to the equity fellowship
UDP Professionals Council Endowment
This fund provides ongoing support for UDP students and their professional development. Example expenditures include mentorship activities, travel, networking, and educational events for students, professionals, and alumni.
Professionals Council Events
The Professionals Council hosts a variety of events each year, offering students opportunities to connect with their mentors and build professional networks. Events range from neighborhood tours and office visits to resume clinics and networking sessions.
While many events are designed specifically for MUP students, the Council also organizes a quarterly lecture series that is open to the broader community.
Meet Your UDP Professionals Council
Emma Argiroff, PMP
Environmental Planner
Environmental and transportation planning, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and state environmental review, hazard mitigation
Ben Bakkenta, AICP
Director of Regional Planning
Regional long-range growth and transportation planning, transit-oriented development, equitable development.
David Blum, AICP
President, Montgomery Gulf Corp
Affordable housing development, economic development.
Dave Boyd
Groundswell NW Board member, Friends of Street Ends leadership group
Urban design, downtown plans, community planning, parks and open space planning, shoreline planning, housing, interdisciplinary planning
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
Wayne E. Carlson, FAICP
Principal Project Manager AHBL, Inc.
Policy, law, green infrastructure, and environmental planning.
Michael Chen
Associate Principal | Land Use Planning, Mackenzie
Current Planning, Development and Entitlement
Eric Clute
Associate Planner at the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)
Housing policy and data, demographic analyses, communicating complex ideas to non-technical audiences
Lela Cooper
Planner – Alta Planning + Design
Active Transportation, Multimodal Transportation, Trails and Recreation, Urban Design
Marty Curry, AICP
UW, Urban Design & Planning Affiliate Faculty; Advisor for MIPM Program
Community planning, civic engagement, infrastructure planning, sustainability
Teun Deuling, AICP
City of Bellevue, Senior Planner
Neighborhood Planning, Transit-oriented Development, Urban Redevelopment, Comprehensive Planning
Nancy Eklund
City of Tukwila, Community Development Department
Comprehensive and current planning, health and the built environment
Anne Fritzel
Washington State Department of Commerce, Growth Management Services
Housing planning, education, Short Course on Local Planning, Smart Growth
Seth Geiser
Downtown Seattle Association + Metropolitan Improvement District
Urban design, public space management, public art installation
Lisa Grueter, AICP
Principal, BERK Consulting, Inc.
Comprehensive Planning, Environmental Planning, Capital & System Planning
Owen Harrang
Director of the Public Realm, Downtown Seattle Association
Parks & Public Space Operations, Private Public Partnerships, Urban Design, Business Improvement Districts
Erika Harris
Senior Planner, PSRC
Environmental planning, regional planning
Jess Harris
City of Seattle, Dept. of Construction and Inspections
Green building, sustainability, permitting and entitlements
Paul Inghram, FAICP
Puget Sound Regional Council, Director of Growth Management
Regional planning, growth management, housing, transit-oriented development, open space conservation
Kate Kaehny
City of Issaquah, Principal Planner
Long range, comprehensive and public realm planning, community and TOD/station area planning and equitable public participation and community engagement.
Rick Krochalis
Former Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration Region 10 Office, Seattle
Large Scale Capital Project Planning; & Development; Land Use Regulatory Reform; Transportation & Environmental Planning
Doug Larson
Heartland, LLC
Land use policy and economics, real estate.
Denise Lathrop
Community Development Director, City of Des Moines
Community, Transportation and Environmental Planning, and Food Policy
Janet Lee, AICP
Urban Vitality Manager – U District Partnership
Urban Design & Public Realm, Arts & Culture, Climate & Equity, Comprehensive Planning, Community & Strategic Initiatives
Rebeccah Maskin
King County
Regional planning, Long-range planning, data analysis and GIS
Melanie Mayock
Youth Mobility Program Manager – King County Metro
Community outreach, public transit
Rachel Miller
Principal, MAKERS Architecture and Urban Design
Urban design
Alex Morganroth, AICP
Principal Planner – City of Renton
Project management, permitting and entitlements, environmental planning
Christopher Ndifon, PhD
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection
Land Use Planning
Ike Nwankwo
WA State Department of Commerce (Retired Deputy Managing Director)
Growth Management Planning
Justin Panganiban, AICP
City of Bellevue, Senior Transportation Planner
Transit corridor and station area planning, multimodal infrastructure and facilities design, TOD planning and implementation, neighborhood area planning
Andrea Petzel, AICP, MPP, MPH
Principal + Founder, Broadview Planning
Public Health/Health Equity, Community Engagement, Strategic Planning + Visioning
Amber Piona, AICP
Principal Long Range Planner, Snohomish County
Long range planning and housing
Dorsol Plants
South King Housing & Homelessness Partners (SKHHP)
Affordable Housing
Miranda Redinger
Sound Transit
Light Rail High Capacity Transit and Station Area Planning
Samara Ressler
Seattle Housing Authority, Housing Finance Administrator
Affordable Housing, Housing Finance
Jesse Reynolds, AICP
King County Council
Land Use Policy and Code, Comprehensive Planning, Economic Development, Spatial Planning
Mandi Roberts, AICP, PLA
Senior Vice President and Principal with Otak, Inc.; Adjunct Faculty University of Idaho
Urban planning and design – including smart growth solutions, station area and subarea plans, corridor and streetscape planning, design guidelines and standards, and public space planning/urban design; public lands and natural resource area planning/visitor use management
Aleksandr Romanenko
SBN Planning – Partner/Owner
Land Use, Comprehensive Planning, Policy Analysis, Development Regulations, Hazard Mitigation
Nick Schmeck
Planner – City of Bothell
Land-Use Planning, Permitting, Environmental Review, and Regulatory Compliance
Katie Sheehy
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
Community Development, Race and Social Justice
Janet Shull, FAICP CUD
(former) Strategic Planning Manager – City of Bellevue; President – Congress for the New Urbanism Cascadia Chapter.
Urban design, community planning, sustainability, economic development and master planning
Ranu Singh
Architectural/Urban Designer and Planner at NBBJ; Public Policy Board Member and Urban Design Forum Co-Chair at AIA Seattle.
Urban Design, Sustainability, Geospatial Technologies, Higher Education and Healthcare Campus Planning.
Anna Trevino
Senior Transportation Planner, Seattle Department of Transportation
Transportation planning, placemaking and community
Noah Tunick
Community Transit, Director of Planning & Integration
Transportation Planning
Karen Wolf, FAICP
Affiliate Instructor, UW UDP & CEE; President, American Institute of Certified Planners; King County regional planning (ret.)
Regional and long-range planning; annexations
Updated: July 2026