APA Elections
2025 APA Consolidated Leadership Elections
The 2025 election cycle is underway! There are several open seats on the APA Board of Directors, the AICP Commission, and multiple leadership positions at the chapter, division, and student levels.
Below you can find the current slate of candidates for the APA Board and AICP Commission. These candidates were vetted carefully by the APA and AICP Nominating Committees.
Ballots for the 2025 election will be sent to your email on August 6. APA has partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to administer the 2025 APA Consolidated Election. To ensure your election-specific broadcast email arrives safely in your inbox on August 6, 2025, please add the following email address as an approved sender: noreply@directvote.net. If you do not receive your election email by August 7, 2025, please contact support@directvote.net. Ballots close September 5 at midnight Pacific Time.
If you have questions about the election process or balloting, contact us at elections@planning.org.
APA Board and AICP Commission Elections
APA Board of Directors and AICP Commission candidates were vetted using updated desired competencies, skills, and experience, taking into account the composition of the current Board and Commission and the gaps that will be left after several Board and Commission members' terms come to an end in December 2025. To learn more about candidate eligibility and vetting criteria, please visit the APA Board of Directors Candidate Guide and AICP Commission Candidate Guide.
APA Board of Directors Nominated Candidates
The APA Board of Directors is responsible for setting the organization's direction, ensuring resources, and providing oversight. APA seeks a diverse group of leaders who can focus on the future, identify external shifts that will impact the organization, promote and advocate for APA, and identify emerging leaders. Board members are expected to lead by example and strive to model a shared set of values that will help APA achieve its vision for the future.
For APA President-Elect
For Director At Large (2 SEATS Available)
For Director Region 1
David W. Woods, PhD, FAICP, PP
For Director Region 5
For Director Region 6
AICP Commission Nominated Candidates
The AICP Commission determines all matters of qualification, experience, and certification for professional planners and for membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners, including professional practice standards, expectations around professional ethics, and educational requirements for certification. A key attribute of Commissioners is to have an understanding of the value of the AICP credential and the work of the Institute.
For AICP President-Elect
Silvia E. Vargas, FAICP, LEED AP
For Commissioner Region 1
For Commissioner Region 5
Maureen Paz de Araujo, FAICP, CTP, CEP
For Commissioner Region 6
Election Resources
Election Policies and Procedures
Chapter, Division, and Student Elections
Election Policies and Procedures Complaint Form
Important Dates
| March 20 | Chapters/Divisions notice of participation and submit the checklist form to staff. |
| April 11 | Begin the Call for Nominations. |
| May 9 | Firm deadline for submission of names of potential nominated candidates to APA election portal. |
| June 6 | Final slates due to APA from Components (Chapters, Divisions, Students, and Councils). |
| June 9–13 | Interviews for Board and Commission candidates. |
| June 25 | Nominated Board and Commission candidates' names and bios posted. |
| July 25 | Firm deadline for receiving petition candidates. |
| August 6 | Ballots are available online. |
| September 5 | Firm deadline for receipt of ballots from membership. |
| Mid-September | Election results are certified. |
| January 1 | Newly elected leaders take office. |
Chapter, Division, and Student Elections
Every year, APA members run for elected Leadership positions within three component groups: Chapters, Divisions, and the Student Representatives Council. Information about participating groups for the 2025 election cycle appears below.
Participating components
Participating chapters include: Chapter Presidents Council Executive Committee, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawai'i, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northern New England, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Participating divisions include: Divisions Council Executive Committee, County Planning, Federal Planning, Food Systems, Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Recovery Relief, Housing and Community Development, Latinos and Planning, LGBTQ+ Planning, Private Practice Division, Sustainable Communities, Transportation Planning, and Tribal and Indigenous.
Student Representatives Council Executive Committee positions include: Student Representatives Council Chair, Student Representatives Council Region 2 Representative, Student Representatives Council Region 3 Representative, Student Representatives Council Region 4 Representative and Student Representatives Council Region 6 Representative.