Hello Collin,

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute within the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs congratulates Dr. Mike Chandler on his retirement after 40 years of educating 15,000 Virginians in land use. Dr. Chandler created the Land Use Education Program (LUEP) in 1984 while serving as a faculty member at Virginia Tech and for nearly forty years, land use education in Virginia has been synonymous with Dr. Mike Chandler.

Over his 43-year career, Dr. Chandler has trained and educated more than 15,000 Virginians in matters involving land use planning and zoning practices. The Wilder School is grateful for all he has done for Virginians, LUEP, and VCU.

Participants from his many classes and workshops note that Dr. Chandler is “an icon in Virginia Planning” who “left a lasting impression on the Commonwealth.” His work “will aid proper planning and growth for decades to come.” A past participant and someone who has worked alongside Mike in her service as a county administrator, city manager, and board of supervisors member, Claire Collins notes, “The imprint and legacy that Mike has left and encouraged throughout the Commonwealth in all its regions is noticeable and has made Virginia a much better place to live, work, and play. Failing to plan is planning to fail!”

To read the full article, please click this link.

Open Applications:

Certified Planning Commissioners Program



Virtual:

March 21 & March 22 - May 16 & May 17

$650

In-Person:

July 29th & July 30th - September 30th &

October 1st

Richmond, VA

$650

Board of Zoning Appeals Program

In-Person:

June 20 & June 21 - August 30

Richmond, VA

$600

Virtual:

October 17 & October 18 - December 13

$600

Please welcome the new Land Use Education Director, Will Cockrell!

Will Cockrell, AICP spent most of his career in the public sector, working in local government and regional planning. For ten years, Will worked with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), serving many roles, including Director of Planning and MPO Coordinator. He managed the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (CA-MPO), TJPDC Rural Transportation Program, the Planning Program, and Environmental Planning Programming. Before joining the Planning District, Will worked as the senior planner for Louisa County. During that time, he also took on the role of Acting-Director of Community Development. In 2019, Will transitioned to consulting work with EPR, P.C., headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia. In this current role, he assists localities with identifying and achieving their goals. With national experience, Will brings this practitioner and practical experience into the classroom to help students better understand the planning field and the realities of local governance. 

VCU Wilder School

cura.vcu.edu/land-use-education/ | (804) 827-1169 | pmg@vcu.edu

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