Sue Schwartz, FAICP, Begins Tenure as President of APA

CHICAGO (January 22, 2025) – Sue Schwartz, FAICP, the Greensboro, North Carolina, planning director, began her term as president of the American Planning Association (APA), a nearly 40,000–member organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities. Her term began January 1.

Schwartz will serve a two-year term as president, leading the 16-member APA Board of Directors in governing the association, setting strategic goals, and elevating the importance of planning across the U.S. This is a volunteer position.

Sue Schwartz, FAICP

Schwartz has dedicated her career to working with planners and using data for informed decision-making for communities. She has spoken at national and chapter conferences, bringing national attention to the work being done in Greensboro and showcasing the city's planning department and its innovative approach.

As an active leader and former president of APA's professional institute – the AICP Commission (2005-2007) – she is one of only six people who have held both offices in the organization's history. Schwartz holds a bachelor's degree in geography and urban studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree in geography from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She was inducted into the AICP College of Fellows in 2003, the profession's highest honor bestowed upon a planner.

With over 40 years in the planning profession, Schwartz has witnessed significant shifts in community engagement and collaboration in today's planning processes. In her new role as APA president, Schwartz aims to continue her focus on individual and professional resiliency, a theme that has been central to her career, and to further advance the organization's role in advocating for zoning reform.

When not working on planning initiatives, Schwartz enjoys her passion for baseball, particularly rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies, and serves on her local youth baseball league board of directors.

The American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides vital leadership in creating great communities for all. APA and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are dedicated to advancing the profession of planning, offering better choices for where and how people work and live. The nearly 40,000 APA members work in concert with community residents, civic leaders and business interests to create communities that enrich people's lives. Through its philanthropic work, APA's Foundation helps to reduce economic and social barriers to good planning. APA is based in Chicago. Learn more at www.planning.org.

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Contact: Roberta Rewers, APA, 312.786.6395; rrewers@planning.org