Dear Planning Colleagues,

I am happy to serve as the faculty representative to the CO APA Board, to support the connection between the educational and professional planning communities in Colorado and the Mountain West region. I am a faculty member in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Colorado Denver, home of the Master in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP). Please visit our community web page to learn more about our department and college at http://murp.cudenvercap.org/.

With input from the planning community in Colorado, we are currently updating our department’s strategic plan, devising new planning courses and studios, and expanding our engagements with local and regional partners. We routinely offer opportunities for professional planners to continue their education through lectures and short courses, on topics ranging from urban sustainability to transportation.

In 2014 the department worked with alumni to formalize a MURP Alumni Association with several committees to support professional development, student opportunities, a scholarship fund, and community engagement. Visit the MURPAA web page to become involved, and to connect to the group via LinkedIn, Facebook, or e-mail: http://murp.cudenvercap.org/category/murpaa-menu/.

Please feel free to contact me about the MURP program; partnering with the department or individual faculty on courses, projects, or research; or general questions about the planning profession.

Manish Shirgaokar, Ph.D, AICP
Assistant professor, Department of Planning and Design
College of Architecture & Planning
University of Colorado Denver