2026 National Planning Awards

Samantha is a Certified Planner and a LEED Accredited Professional for Neighborhood Design and has a Masters of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Senior Associate and leads the Lexington, Kentucky office of the planning, architecture, and landscape architecture firm Tunnell, Spangler, Walsh & Associates. Her comprehensive background includes large-scale master planning and transportation planning in both the public and private sectors, as well as experience in all phases of urban design, city planning, landscape architecture, and public engagement.
Samantha has served as Adjunct Professor for the Community Design and Engagement Studio in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Landscape Architecture and guest lecturer in the College of Design since 2018.
Samantha currently serves as the Chair of the American Planning Association (APA) Kentucky Chapter’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, the 2026 Chair of the APA National Awards Jury, and sits on the National APA Change Ambassador Group.

P.J. Ginty, AICP, serves as the planning manager for Deerfield Township, Ohio. P.J. is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati School of Planning and obtained his MPA from Northern Kentucky University. P.J. serves as an instructor for the Center for Local Government Leadership Academy Land Use Planning Class, teaching southwest Ohio public sector employees about Planning and Zoning at the local government level. In addition, he participates in the Adopt-A-Class program in partnership with the Cincinnati Section of the APA Ohio Chapter to teach 7th-grade students about the planning profession.

Dr. Mehri M. Mohebbi is an urban strategist, executive educator, and program founder at the intersection of transportation, health, and AI. She leads initiatives building inclusive, technology-enabled urban systems, emphasizing mobility innovation, workforce development, and the 24-hour economy while bridging research, policy, and practice. With expertise in urban planning, architectural engineering, and executive business education, she has designed large-scale U.S. equity and health programs, advised agencies like DOE and National Academies on energy transition, tech governance, and inclusive policymaking, secured multimillion-dollar funding, and collaborated globally with partners like the World Economic Forum to ensure cities prioritize access to movement, time, safety, and participation not a privilege but a baseline condition.

Moumita Kundu, AICP is Senior Planner with City of Wichita, KS supporting comprehensive and long-range planning efforts guiding the city’s growth and development. Her work focuses on land use planning, policy development, community engagement, and data-informed analysis to shape sustainable and resilient communities. She is committed to advancing equitable development through inclusive planning processes and meaningful diversity outreach. Previously, an Associate Planner for Springdale, UT, she brings local government experience across Kansas and Utah. Moumita holds a Master of City and Metropolitan Planning from the University of Utah and an M.S. in Geography from the University of Calcutta, India.

Mary Cierebiej, AICP, is strategic and mission-oriented with extensive experience in building strategic coalitions and relationships with the purpose of creating and expanding new economic and business opportunities for communities. With over 25+ years of planning and economic development experience in both the private and non-profit sectors, she is recognized as an influencer and convenor through public service and leadership on local, regional, and national committees. Mary showcases a deep dedication to realizing proactive, sustainable, and healthy communities that offer a solid foundation in which residents and businesses can succeed.

Andrea Ouse, FAICP, is Director of Community Development for the City of West Sacramento, overseeing Planning, Building, Development Engineering, Transportation & Mobility, Sustainability, and Code Enforcement. Her significant planning experience—primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area— has allowed her to serve in leadership roles across multiple cities. Andrea is the APA Region VI Representative on the National Board, past President of APA California, and a California Planning Roundtable member. She holds a B.S. in City and Regional Planning from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and an MPA from California State University, East Bay.

Yasmin Turk, PhD, serves as a director at an Austin-based HBCU, where she leads initiatives focused on continuing education, campus expansion and adult learning programs. She holds a doctorate in Geography and brings a background in public policy to her work, with a particular passion for understanding how place shapes opportunity and quality of life. She serves on the board of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) and is the co-founder of a giving circle supporting local nonprofits. She is also a writer currently working on a book that chronicles her journey from GED to PhD, using her story as a motivating roadmap to help readers get unstuck, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.

Yogesh Saoji, FAICP, AIA, is a Global Planning Leader at DLR Group, an integrated design firm, with more than 30 years of experience in planning and urban design. His work integrates housing, transit, open space, and culture within place-based, consensus-driven frameworks to transform campuses, districts, and neighborhoods into vibrant, connected, and resilient places. Yogesh partners closely with communities to co-create solutions that are socially equitable, culturally respectful, and economically viable — addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, economic disparity, and community resilience. His work has earned recognition from APA, AIA, and allied organizations, and he actively serves the profession through jury, committee, and leadership roles, guided by an enduring commitment to equity and sustainability.

Julia Raab is an environmental planner at AKRF in New York City, where she works on environmental review of public and private development projects and areawide rezonings. She holds a Master of Urban Planning from NYU Wagner and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin. Before transitioning to urban planning, she spent five years in public sector consulting, where her work on organizational and digital transformation for government clients included optimizing municipal land use review processes. Julia is passionate about building equitable, climate-resilient cities with access to vibrant open spaces and affordable housing.

David E. White, FAICP is the founder of Sterling Mountain Community Planning & Design, LLC - a consulting practice he created in 2022 after more than 30 years as a public-sector planner. Previously, David worked for the City of Burlington, VT - serving as the Director of Planning from 2007 to 2021, and the City’s Comprehensive Planner from 1995 to 2007. David was admitted to the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) in 1997, and is a past-president of the Northern New England Chapter of the APA. In 2018 he was inducted into the AICP College of Fellows.

Charles G. Warnken, PhD, AICP, is an Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design (PLAD) Division at the University of Oklahoma. He has served as Professional Development Officer (PDO) of the APA-OK Chapter since 2017. His work has helped to shape the next generation of planners through innovative teaching practices and has created pathways for underrepresented students to progress in the profession. Combining a sustained record of community-based scholarship and leadership activities across academic and professional planning organizations, Charles demonstrates a deep and continued commitment to enhancing planning education and promoting excellence in professional practice.