Member Advocates

Member Advocates

A bylaw amendment, for three Member Advocate positions, considered by the membership, was overwhelmingly approved in July of 2023. These advocates will serve as a resource to APA Virginia Chapter members who may be experiencing a difficulty with the APA Virginia Chapter or at a Chapter sponsored event. To reach an advocate, please email: advocates@apavirginia.com

Member Advocates:

Jeryl Rose Phillips, AICP (Member identifying as a woman - term expiration: 12/31/2026)

Jillian Papa Moore (Member identifying as a woman - term expiration: 12/31/2025)

Sherri Dawson, AICP (Member identifying as a minority woman, term expiration 12/31/25)

Biographies:

Jeryl Rose Phillips, AICP (she/her)

Jeryl has been an APA member since 1990, first serving as the Student Representative from UVA on the Chapter Board in 1990-91, and an AICP Member since 2003.  She is humbled to serve as an inaugural Member Advocate.  Her intent in this position is to help the Chapter Board create an always-welcoming, nurturing, and inclusive environment of trust, learning, and fun among our Chapter members, that enables active engagement by all members and guests at Chapter activities and events.  Her goals during this term are:  

1) be available to listen and provide guidance, as needed, in strict confidence, when a member has a concern because they were made to feel uncomfortable when participating in a Chapter-sponsored event; 

2) learning from AICP and APA leaders the various ways other Chapters and APA National are being successful with similar programs and to lead and share with other, when there isn't clear guidance available; 

3) meeting the AICP Ethics Officer to become familiar with the Code of Ethics suspected violation reporting process and to ensure that our Chapter AICP Professional Development Officer is, likewise, aware of that existing process; and, 

4) developing and presenting with fellow Member Advocates, Chapter leaders, and the Inclusion Committee various learning opportunities, offered in a Chapter-provided, safe space that can foster dialogue and greater understanding to equip our members, regardless of where they are on their professional journey, with the vocabulary and tools necessary to lead dialogues about creating safe work or school environments, that can enable them to thrive as emerging, new, and seasoned Planning professionals, educators, students, and Planning Commissioners.  

Professionally, Jeryl has enjoyed a 30+ year career in regional planning and local government, exclusively in the Hampton Roads, VA region, since 1991, with additional practice in private sector consulting for historic preservation planning (2018-2022) and as owner/Principal of Luna Planning Services, LLC since 2022.  Currently, she is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) at William & Mary (W&M), where she advises the Commonwealth (state environmental agencies and the General Assembly) on coastal resources management policy and regulation, does public outreach and training for local governments, Planning District Commissions, property owners, and the general public, and works in partnership with federal, state, and local government agencies and non-profit organizations across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to implement the multi-state Chesapeake Bay Agreement, serving on such committees as the Habitat Goal Implementation Team, the Wetlands Workgroup, and the Virginia Coastal Policy Team. Her areas of interest and expertise include:  Land Use and Environmental Planning & Policy, enabling authority for Planning & Zoning in Virginia, Comprehensive Planning, Strategic Planning, Affordable Housing, and Historic Preservation Planning.  Jeryl was recognized for her work in Affordable Housing with the 2007 Houser Award by the Suffolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority; by the Virginia Municipal League (VML) as a team recipient of the 2014 President's Award for "Moving Plans into Action," preparing and administering implementation of the City of Virginia Beach Strategic Growth Area (SGA) Plans; and, as with the 2024 Award for Innovative Solutions from the Chesapeake Bay Program's Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) for her publication, Vegetative Practices Guide for Nonpoint Source Pollution Management in Hampton Roads, Virginia while working as a regional Physical & Environmental Planner at HRPDC. Jeryl holds a B.A. Government from the College of William & Mary, a Masters in Urban + Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, and is currently a student in the Online Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) program at William & Mary Law School (anticipated graduation Dec 2025).

She has served in several leadership positions with APA Virginia and APA National.  Chapter leadership includes:  Member Advocate (2024-2026); Chapter President (2008-2012), VP Legislation & Policy (2006-2008); Legislative & Policy Director (2004-2006); Public Relations Director and Awards Committee Co-Chair (1999-2004); Newsletter Editor (1999-2002); Tidewater Section Director (1996-1998); and, Student Representative from UVA (1990-1991).  As Chapter President and Immediate Past President, she served as the FAICP Nominating Committee Co-Chair (2010-2014) and on the Bylaws Committee (2014-2016) to amend the Chapter Bylaws to sync with the APA National Elections process for Chapter Elections and positions. For National APA, she represented the Virginia Chapter on the Chapter Presidents Council (CPC) from 2008-2012 and served on the CPC's Leadership Development Committee, including leadership positions as Vice-Chair and Chair (2010-2012), and she was appointed by the APA Board to serve on the AICP Nominating Committees for APA and AICP Elections.  For fun and some pro bono experience, she was the 2017 Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) Team Lead for the 2017 Chapter Conference (Roanoke). Current Chapter Committee involvement:  Legislative, Inclusion, and Awards.  Jeryl's work with the APA Virginia Chapter was recognized by her CPC peers, who awarded her with the 2012 Karen B. Smith Chapter President's Council Award for Outstanding Chapter President at the 2012 National APA Conference in Los Angeles; she was subsequently recognized for this honor with a House Resolution from the Virginia General Assembly during the 2013 Session.  Jeryl was humbled to receive the 2014 APA Virginia Outstanding Chapter Contribution Award given by the Chapter President during the 2014 Chapter Conference.  

Sherri Dawson, AICP (she/her)

Sherri's interest in serving as a Member Advocate is summarized in her eagerness to be a trusted resource for APA Virginia Chapter members, offering guidance and support whenever challenges arise within the chapter. Drawing from her own experiences, she understands how vital it is to have someone to rely on during difficult moments.  She is dedicated to being that person for others. Her focus will be on fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment where members feel at ease bringing forward their concerns, and confident that they will be met with fairness and understanding. As a Member Advocate, Sherri's goal is to create a chapter where everyone feels empowered, respected, and able to participate fully in both our chapter community and the broader planning profession. 

Professionally, Sherri Dawson is the Director of Transit Development at Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), where she leads innovative transit projects across the Hampton Roads region. Since joining HRT in November 2022, she has leveraged nearly 15 years of expertise in transit and transportation planning, spearheading high-capacity transit studies and community engagement and education programs that go beyond checking a box. With a rich background in the private sector, Sherri has worked for world-class design and engineering firms across the United States, bringing a wealth of knowledge and creativity to her current role at HRT. Despite her career journey, she remains deeply committed to her community, dedicating her time to mentor and inspire the next generation of leaders. Sherri’s passion for transit and community connection makes her a true trailblazer in the field.

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Economics from Towson University.

Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Current Committees:  Inclusion Committee (2023 - present), Awards Committee (2024), Conference Planning Committee (2025)

Requirements, Term Information, and Responsibilities:

General Requirements 

• Members of the American Planning Association in good standing
• Three individuals will be serve at a time
• One must identify as a woman
• One must identify as a person of color
• Should have at least five years of professional experience
• AICP members preferred

Term Information 

• The top three candidates will be elected to serve terms of 1-3 years, provided the necessary qualifications are met.
• Terms are to be staggered to ensure consistency year over year 
• Initial elections shall be for terms of three, two and one year with the candidate receiving the most votes earning the longest term, the second most votes the two-year term and the third most votes the one year term, provided that the eligibility requirements of one candidate identifying as a woman and one as a person of color are met 

Key Roles & Responsibilities 

• Advocates serve as a resource to APA Virginia Chapter members who may be experiencing a difficulty with the APA Virginia Chapter or at a Chapter sponsored event
• Advocates do not adjudicate events
• Protect anonymity of member
• May request to present to President, Executive Committee or Chapter Board
• Maintains independence from Chapter Board
• Retains records of interactions with members for future Advocates

Learn more about these positions from the presentation slides presented prior to the vote at the Annual Conference in Roanoke. If you have any further questions regarding the positions or the application process, please contact the Member Advocates or Chapter President, Andrew Hopewell.