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50 years strong: Master of Urban and Regional planning program builds to the future
50 Years of MURP
In the fall of 1973, the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program was born at VCU. A year later, the Urban and Regional Planning Department was founded. Located within an urban campus in Virginia’s capitol, its faculty recognized and seized the opportunity to develop a graduate program. MURP prepares students through research and instruction, service, and professional development for career success to transform our world.
View the MURP 50th Celebration photo album on the Wilder School Flick page
On the evening of May 3, coming off a high from the afternoon’s Plan-Off student competition, MURP faculty, students and alumni gathered to honor the program’s legacy and took a collective look forward to the next 50 years. MURP faculty stake the driving attributes of the programs’s continuing success on academic excellence, innovation and real-world experiences.
Niraj Verma, Ph.D., professor of urban and regional planning and former Wilder School dean gave opening remarks, followed by an impassioned introduction from program chair Xueming Chen, Ph.D. for Wilder School Dean Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D.
“As we envision the next half-century, our ambition is to continue to set the standard for urban planners in fostering sustainable and equitable urban development."
– Susan T. Gooden, Dean of the Wilder School
Timothy Beatley, Ph.D., Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities, School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, delivered a keynote address to the MURP audience. Much of Beatley’s work focuses on the subject of sustainable communities, and creative strategies by which cities and towns can fundamentally reduce their ecological footprints, while at the same time becoming more livable and equitable places. Beatley firmly believes that sustainable and resilient cities represent our best hope for addressing today’s environmental challenges.
As we envision the next 50 years of the MURP program, we’ll continue to innovate and seek new opportunities to extend our excellence and distinction.
In the words of the late Professor Emeritus John Moeser, a founding member of MURP, “This department has done exactly ... what the goal of any university that defines professional service as a central mission — which is ‘to bring knowledge into intimate relationships with the small, daily problems of real people and real neighborhoods.’”
Master of Urban and Regional Planning student finalists Callie Houghland, Mac Hyde, Addie Alexander, and Daniel Rafferty pose with Susan. T. Gooden, Dean of the Wilder School. (left to right)
Plan-Off! 2024 Student Competition
Congratulations to each of our amazing Plan-Off! student presenters from the master of urban and regional planning program. Each year, MURP students compete for a prize by pitching their solution to a real-world planning, public policy or management problem before a panel of expert judges. Students each receive five minutes to present their plans, which advance through a series of rounds until a champion is named.
View the Plan-Off photo album on the Wilder School Flick page
This year's grand prize champion is Daniel Rafferty for his presentation, “Richmond Watts for Families (WFF),” which evaluated the feasibility and development benefits of distributed solar in low-income single and multi-home residential areas in Richmond.
Best Overall Plan went to Callie Houghland for “Best Practices for Community Outreach for the Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot.” Hougland worked closely with the VCU Wilder School RVA Eviction Lab and other community partners to plan effective responses to eviction crises across the Commonwealth.
First round finalists included Addie Alexander “Social Invention for the Common Good: A Community Land Trust-Based Model for Affordable Accessory Dwelling Units” and Mac Hyde “Plenty of Room at the Inn: Strategies for Gentle Densification of Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, Van Ness, and Forest Hills, DC.”
Thank you to our guest judges
Anne Darby, Summit Design and Engineering
Jeff Eastman, Facilities Management, VCU
Taylor Jenkins, Michael Baker International
Janit Llewellyn, Park Planning & Sustainability, LLC
Pravin Mathur, Geospatial Technology and Program Management Professional
Avrum J. (“AJ”) Shriar, VCU Wilder School Associate Professor Emeritus
We are extremely grateful to our guest judges, faculty, alumni, friends of the Wilder School and event sponsor Virginia Housing. Special thanks are also extended to associate professor Jim Smither, a talented artist who lent his artwork for printed program designs.
All student presentations
Addie Alexander “Social Invention for the Common Good: A Community Land Trust-Based Model for Affordable Accessory Dwelling Units” - Finalist
Michael Boeh “Route 228 Corridor Plan: A Safe and Connective Approach”
Derek Cathcart “The Green Infrastructure Network: Mapping Hopewell’s Social & Natural Assets”\
Colleen Campbell “Tension between Construction and Conservation: Dutch Gap Park Access Design”
Kevin Costanzo “Expanding Equitable Housing Through Rezoning: Strategies for Land Use and Future Development within Richmond”
Cigdem Hancer “Flood Resiliency and Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan for Town of Farmville
Callie Houghland “Best Practices for Community Outreach for the Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot” - Best Overall Plan
Mac Hyde “Plenty of Room at the Inn: Strategies for Gentle Densification of Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, Van Ness, and Forest Hills, DC” - Finalist
Haley Keene “Riverview Community Park Commoning Plan”
Tucker Keener “Growth in Appalachia: Downtown Revitalization in Covington, Virginia”
Eric King “Anticipating the Fall Line: Equitable Trail-Oriented Development on Commerce Road”
Bannon Luckert “Revitalize Wakefield: Charting a Course for Growth”
Elaine Negasi “Assessing the Impact of Permanent Supportive Housing on Property Values in Richmond, Virginia”
Daniel Rafferty “Richmond Watts for Families (WFF)” - Grand Prize Champion
William Teeples “Preserving Historic African American Cemeteries: Strategies for Richmond, Virginia”
Shaianna Trump “Implementing Growth Management: The Rapid Urbanization of Loudoun County, Virginia”
Suzie Yeats “Health-Based Urban Design and Planning Interventions: Maximizing Harmony, Vitality, and Wellness in Hopewell, Virginia”