College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs
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Arlington, TX 76019-0108
MCRP Advisory Council
Meet the advisory council of the Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) Program
Lawrence Agu, AICP, Assoc. AIA
Lawrence Agu, III, AICP, Assoc. AIA, is a Studio Practice Leader for Cities & Communities at HKS, where he delivers equitable, data-driven urban solutions. Growing up between Dallas and Nigeria, Lawrence witnessed firsthand the disparities in urban development, sparking a lifelong commitment to improving the built environment. With experience in both the public and private sectors and expertise in urban planning and design, he brings strategic insight to shaping resilient, community-centered urban environments.
Lawrence holds a Master of City and Regional Planning and a Master of Architecture from The University of Texas at Arlington, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Baylor University. He is an active member of the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and he currently serves as Board President of the CityLab HS Foundation.
Michele Berry, AICP
Michele Berry, AICP, is a Senior Planner (part-time) for the City of Lewisville, where she focuses on long-range planning, special projects, and plan implementation. In her role, she helps guide the city’s growth and development through strategic, community-informed planning efforts. Michele is currently contributing to the Lewisville 2035 Vision Plan, a comprehensive roadmap that shapes the city’s long-term goals and priorities.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Geography from Clark University and a Master's Degree in City and Regional Planning from The University of Texas at Arlington and is a member of the American Planning Association.
Michael Brennan, AICP
Michael Brennan, AICP, serves as President of Near Southside, Inc. (NSI), the nonprofit, member-supported economic and community development organization spearheading the revitalization of Fort Worth's Near Southside district.
Mike has initiated and implemented dozens of transformational placemaking projects, many of which have been funded through the Near Southside's Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), for which Mike serves as TIRZ Administrator. Those public investments are a catalyst for new construction projects of all types, each shaped by an award-winning form-based development code authored by Mike upon joining NSI in 2006, after six years with the City of Fort Worth's Planning Department.
Mike holds a Master's in Urban Planning from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University.
Clayton Comstock, AICP, CNU-A
Clayton Comstock, AICP, CNU-A serves as the Executive Director of Planning & Development for the City of Mansfield, Texas. Clayton also serves as Immediate Past Director of the American Planning Association Texas Chapter’s Midwest Section.
Clayton holds bachelor's degrees in Political Science and History from Christopher Newport University, a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas, and a graduate certificate in development review from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
Fernando Costa, FAICP
Fernando Costa, FAICP, is Principal of Costa Consulting, where he advises clients on economic and community development projects. Fernando holds degrees in civil engineering—BCE and MSCE—and a Master of City Planning (MCP), all from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
He is deeply engaged in community leadership and has served on numerous governing boards, including Texas Wesleyan University, ACH Child and Family Services, Fort Worth Sister Cities International, Multicultural Alliance, the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Community Land Trust, and Community Design Fort Worth. His advisory board service includes roles with the Historic Northside District, Poly Main Street, Heritage Park, Gateway Park, and Vision North Texas.
Vivian Fung, AICP
Vivian Fung, AICP, is a Senior Planner and Local Area Leader with Olsson, where she has the privilege of partnering with communities across Texas and the nation to conduct comprehensive plans, downtown plans, transportation plans, and other long-range planning efforts that shape the future of communities. She previously spent time in the public sector at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, where she served as a transportation planner.
She holds a master's degree in City and Regional Planning and a GIS Certificate from the University of Texas at Arlington, as well as a bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. Vivian is an AICP-certified planner and a past Board Member for the North-Central Texas Section of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association.
Emily Liu, FAICP
Emily Liu, FAICP, serves as the Director of the City of Dallas' Planning and Development Department. Before this role, Ms. Liu spent over a decade as the Planning Director for Louisville Metro Government in Kentucky. Ms. Liu has extensive expertise in urban planning and development, encompassing long-range planning, zoning, development review, transportation, housing, urban design, and historic preservation. Notably, she played a key role in leading Louisville's acclaimed zoning reform initiative, which has been recognized as a model for other cities.
In 2022, she received the planning field's highest honor, becoming the first woman in Kentucky to be inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Most recently, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Planning Association.
Ms. Liu holds a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the George Washington University, as well as both a master's and a bachelor's degree from Peking University.
Evelyn Mayo, AICP
Evelyn Mayo, AICP, is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Initiative for Energy Justice, where she conducts research and develops policy solutions focused on community benefits and governance in clean energy development. This includes working with community-based organizations, coalitions, and policymakers to establish best practices for facilitating an equitable transition to a clean energy economy that centers on community and worker well-being.
Evelyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from The University of Texas at Arlington.
She serves on the board of Downwinders at Risk and is an External Advisory Board member for the Texas A&M University Center for Environmental Health.
Kelly Porter, AICP
Kelly Porter, AICP, is an Assistant Director for the City of Fort Worth Transportation and Public Works Department, overseeing the Regional Transportation and Innovation Division. His group is responsible for inter-agency coordination, transportation capital project development, and network technology innovation. Before returning home to Fort Worth, Kelly worked for the previous ten years at the Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Houston and Austin.
He is a Certified Planner with over 17 years of experience with a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a “plangineer” with a strong, successful track record in transportation capital project development across all modes, and experience working with external partners and the private sector to develop effective mobility solutions.
Paris Rutherford
Paris Rutherford is a Principal at Catalyst Urban Development, a Dallas-based, multi-disciplinary real estate practice specializing in planning, finance, development, and asset management for mixed-use and urban infill projects. He also leads The Catalyst Group, the firm’s planning and economic development consultancy. In his role, Paris is responsible for shaping Catalyst’s long-term strategic direction, managing its development operations, and guiding its advisory practice, with a focus on creating vibrant, economically competitive, and community-centered urban environments.
Paris earned his Bachelor of Architecture with Distinction from the University of Southern California School of Architecture and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design with a concentration in Real Estate Development from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
He is deeply engaged in professional and academic leadership, currently serving as Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Mixed-Use Product Council, Director of the Harvard Club of Dallas, and an Emeritus Member and former Co-Chair of the Harvard GSD Alumni Council’s Student/Alumni Exchange.
Vince Tam, AIA, AICP
Vince Tam, AIA, AICP, is the Section Manager of the HNTB Urban Design and Planning Studio based in Dallas, Texas. As a licensed architect and certified planner, her experience centers on the urban design aspects of complex mixed-use development and transportation projects. Her current role as the Customer Experience lead for the $3 billion DART Transform system modernization program shapes how riders' journeys today will impact capital improvements tomorrow. She is also serving as Deputy Project Manager for the first-of-its-kind Texas Triangle Multimodal Strategy Study with TxDOT, leveraging mobility to support Texas' economic growth.
Vince taught a graduate urban planning core class from 2012 to 2021. She received her undergraduate degree in Architecture and dual master's in Architecture and City and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Gincy Thoppil, AICP, CPM
Gincy Thoppil, AICP, CPM, is the Director for the Planning and Development Services Department for the City of Arlington, and has been with the city for more than 20 years. She has all-around experience in comprehensive planning, land development, and building permitting and inspections. She has successfully led public engagement efforts on community-wide planning issues, adoption of urban design codes, and development-focused process improvements.
Ms Thoppil is a Certified Public Manager and has been recognized by professional organizations such as the American Planning Association for her work. She currently serves as the Vice Chair for the American Planning Association's Housing and Community Development division. She holds a master's degree in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Mumbai, India.
Karen S. Walz, FAICP
Karen S. Walz, FAICP, is Principal of Strategic Community Solutions, LLC, where she specializes in strategic planning, public engagement, facilitation, comprehensive planning, and plan implementation. Projects include work with City Councils and nonprofit boards, long-range community planning and visioning initiatives, and sustainability and implementation projects.
Karen earned her Bachelor of Science with distinction in Environmental Earth Sciences from Stanford University and a Master of City and Regional Planning from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Savannah Ware, AICP
Savannah Ware, AICP, is the Assistant Director of the Planning and Development Department for the City of Grand Prairie, Texas, where she leads a planning team focused on strategic planning initiatives, efficient development review, and ensuring responsible, high-quality growth.
Savannah holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning and a Master’s in Public Administration from UTA.
Karla Windsor, AICP
Karla Windsor, AICP, is a Senior Program Manager in the Transportation Department at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), where she oversees the agency’s Land Use and Mobility Options Program.
Karla’s program areas include active transportation planning, transit-oriented development and mixed-use development strategies, planning studies, context-sensitive roadway design, parking policy, community schools and transportation coordination, economic development, mobility management, and transit operations planning.
She holds dual master’s degrees from Florida State University—a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) and a Master of Public Administration (MPA).
Karla has also contributed to the profession through multiple leadership roles, including serving as a former Director of the Midwest Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA), a former board member of the Greater Dallas–Fort Worth WTS Chapter, and former Chair of the TxDOT State Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).
Ann Zadeh, AICP
Ann Zadeh, AICP, is the Executive Director of Community Design Fort Worth. She is a certified planning professional and has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving her community. Professionally, this has taken the form of serving as a Planning Consultant, six years on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission, and subsequently serving on the Fort Worth City Council representing District 9 for seven years.
She acquired a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Still, she completed her Master's in City and Regional Planning at the University of Texas at Arlington, and has been a committed and passionate advocate for the city and its people ever since.