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UF Conference Advances Planning Across Research, Practice, and Education GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP) marked a major milestone with a successful two-day UF Planning Research & Practice Conference celebrating 50 years of excellence in planning research, practice, education, and community impact. Held March 27-28, 2026, the conference brought together […]

Meet Lauryn Ballard, Recipient of APA Florida’s 2026 Andre Anderson Minority Scholarship Lauryn Ballard, a second-year MURP student, was recently named as the recipient of the 2026 Andre Anderson Minority Scholarship from the American Planning Association Florida Chapter. This highly selective scholarship is awarded each year to a graduate-level planning student from a minority group

Planning by Example: A Conversation With Our Planner in Residence Elizabeth Abernethy Elizabeth “Liz” Abernethy first came to the University of Florida’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning back in 1990. Back then, things looked a little different. Earl Starnes, the department’s first director, had just stepped down one year earlier, and the program was

For Nigeria native Oluwasegun James, life is busy. The University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning student is pursuing dual master’s degrees in urban and regional planning and integrated sustainable development, putting him on the path to improving affordable housing in Florida. Read the full article from UF News.

Celebrating 50 Years of Florida Planning: Annual Bartley Lecture Reflects on the Past and Looks Ahead to the Future View the lecture recording. The University of Florida’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning recently hosted the 2025 Bartley Lecture, “Looking Back, Looking Forward: 50 Years of Florida Planning” at the Cade Museum in Gainesville. The

UF Urban and Regional Planning Attends 2025 Florida APA Conference In September, faculty and students from the University of Florida’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning traveled to Daytona Beach to attend the 2025 Florida APA Conference. This annual conference brings together planners from across the state to share research and innovations in the planning

MURP Students Victoria Fountain and Edgar Medero Receive 2025 American Planning Association (APA) Foundation Diversity Scholarship Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning students Victoria Fountain and Edgar Medero are the latest recipients of the $5,000 APA Foundation Diversity Scholarship.  This scholarship is awarded to students who are dedicated to promoting the advancement of social equity

Meet Our 2025-2026 MURP Mentors Our 2025-2026 MURP Mentorship Program is in full swing! We’ve paired accomplished planning professionals with students in the final year of their MURP program as they prepare to graduate and begin their careers. These mentors serve to guide students in this final stage of their education, providing them with tools