Lecture Series

Julia Ryan Lecture.mov

Julia Ryan, AICP

Julia Ryan is an urban and transportation planner with 19 years of experience across the public and private sectors. She spent more than 16 years in local government, including leadership roles as Director of Planning and Urban Design for the City of Dallas, and as Complete Streets Program Manager for the City of Fort Worth, a role created for the work she led. Her career has focused on implementing land use and transportation projects, navigating complex political environments, and rebuilding public trust in planning. Julia now works in the private sector, bringing a strong respect for public agencies, a bias toward implementation, and a commitment to safety, equity, and process. She is President of the Arkansas Planning Association and is grateful to be living, working, and finding balance in Northwest Arkansas.

Sean O'Neill Lecture.mov

Sean O'Neill, AICP

Sean is a Project Manager & Senior Planner at Lennar and is located in their Wilmington, DE office. Sean has over 20 years of professional experience specializing in land use planning, housing, transportation planning, community development, real estate development, real estate market research, and sustainable communities. He brings a unique perspective to his projects due in part to having worked in the public sector at the state, county and municipal levels as well as experience in private sector real estate. Sean’s expertise also includes public engagement, economic development, the NEPA process, aging in communities, grant writing, and program management.

Before joining Mead & Hunt in 2025, Sean spent the previous 7 years of his career working at the University of Delaware Institute for Public Administration where he was responsible for managing a wide variety of planning projects for local governments and state agencies as well as local communities and nonprofits. He also recently served as Chapter President of the American Planning Association Delaware Chapter from 2022-2024, was the Urban Land Institute Delaware Council co-chair from 2019-2021, serves as a member of the Resilient and Sustainable Communities League (RASCL) Planning Advisory Committee, and served on the Executive Committee for Sussex Housing Group. Sean has a Bachelor degree and a Master of Community Planning degree from the University of Maryland and has been an AICP planner for 15 years.

Jennifer Pruitt-Pitts Lecture.mov

Jennifer L. Pruitt-Pitts, AICP, LEED AP, CNU-A

Jennifer is an experienced urban planner with a strong background in city planning, development services, and project management. She recently served as Senior Director of Planning for the City of Waxahachie, Texas (2021–2025), where she led sustainable planning initiatives and advised the City Council. Prior roles include Acting Development Services Director and Assistant Director in Burleson, Texas, and key planning positions in Arlington, where she managed major projects like the Viridian community and Loews Luxury Hotel.

Her career began in Carson City, Nevada, where she advanced from Planning Technician to Principal Planner II. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Architecture from the New School of Architecture in San Diego and is certified as an AICP, LEED AP, and CNU-A. A U.S. Naval Reserves veteran, she served as a Hospital Corpsman during Operation Desert Storm.

Sue Schwartz, FAICP

Sue Schwartz, FAICP is APA President. Her 40+ years in the planning profession includes a focus on neighborhood revitalization, greenway advocacy and a tenacious commitment to the planning profession and her fellow planners. She has been recognized at the state and national levels for both her creative projects and her leadership in the profession. These include APA National Awards in 1999 for Distinguished Contribution for the Community Planning Team Program, 2005 for Plan Implementation for the Southside Redevelopment Plan and 2022 Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan for GSO 2040 Comprehensive Plan. AICP Also recognized Schwartz in 1999 with the President’s Award for AICP College of Fellows and 2016 for establishing the Certification Maintenance program.

Active throughout her career in APA serving as a chapter president, an AICP Commissioner, AICP President Since 2006, Sue has taught for NeighborWorks America and is also an Adjunct Professor for the Public Administration Program at UNC-Greensboro. She has given talks throughout her career and a sought after keynote speaker including In November 2022 a talk for TEDx Greensboro.

APA City Mentorship Career Lecture Series_ Sue Schwartz, FAICP-20250430_190800-Meeting Recording - Trim.mp4

Patrice Ruffin Dowdell, Esq., AICP

Patrice Ruffin Dowdell, Esq., AICP, currently serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Brookhaven, GA. With over 20 years of experience in urban planning and local government, she leads strategic initiatives in sustainability, community engagement, and municipal operations. Recognized as a 2024 WLI ChangeMaker by ULI Atlanta for elevating her community through notable placemaking, creative policies, and selfless service, Ms. Ruffin Dowdell holds a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning from Alabama A&M University.

APA City Mentorship Career Lecture Series-20250326_190628-Meeting Recording.mp4

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