Equity and Inclusion
Inclusion Committee
APA Virginia is searching for members for the Inclusion Committee. This committee is focused on increasing diversity within the planning profession and our chapter, creating an inclusive environment for planners of all backgrounds, and promoting equity in planning. If you are interested in joining or learning more, please email our VP of Inclusion at
Meet Our Current Inclusion Committee Members:
APA Virginia VP of Inclusion:
Kyle A. Gilmer, AICP - APA Virginia VP of Inclusion
Senior Transportation Planner with Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO)
Bryce Johnson, AICP
Senior Planner, Land Use Review, Loudoun County
Rana Abu Ghazaleh
Principal Planner with Arlington County
Karen Camplin
Principal Planner with ktcPLAN
Sherri L. Dawson, AICP
Director of Transit Development with Hampton Roads Transit
Terri Francis
Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator with the City of Newport News
Jeryl Phillips, AICP
Principal Planner with the City of Williamsburg
Susanna Smith
Construction Coordinator with the City of Lynchburg
Stories in Equity
What is your team doing to promote equity and inclusion in planning in Virginia? APA Virginia wants to hear your stories related to integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in planning. Your story can be as simple as revising your new planning documents to include alternate text for images to promote accessible documents, as complex as tackling housing affordability, or conducting outreach to promote the planning field to diverse audiences. If you want to share the DEIA efforts of your workplace, please email VP of Inclusion at
Member Spotlight
APA VA wants to hear from you! As in every community we plan, there are stories to its citizens. As a community of planners, we would like to highlight some of our amazing planners across the Commonwealth. What attracted you to the field of planning? What work do you do in the planning field? What is your favorite experience as a planner? What advice would you give a new or aspiring planner? If you or someone you know has a great planning story to tell, please reach out to VP of Inclusion, Bryce Johnson, at
2025 Next Generation Scholarship
DEADLINE IS APRIL 30, 2025
The Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) is committed to fostering a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable planning profession. The Chapter established the Next Generation Scholarship to support students in Virginia who are pursuing urban planning or related fields and who come from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the profession. By expanding access to financial assistance, this scholarship helps remove barriers and create opportunities for students whose voices, perspectives, and lived experiences are essential to shaping the future of planning.
Two scholarships of $1,000 each are awarded annually:
- $1,000 for an undergraduate student entering their junior or senior year
- $1,000 for a graduate student