Corrin Wendell, FAICP

For more than two decades, Corrin Wendel has worked to shape communities through planning, but her most lasting impact may be the people she has inspired to become planners themselves.

Like many in the profession, Wendel didn't set out to become a planner. She entered college interested in architecture before discovering that planning offered the opportunity to shape entire communities rather than individual buildings. The profession combined her interests in design, public service, problem-solving, and community engagement, and she quickly found her calling.

Throughout her career, Wendel has become a nationally recognized advocate for youth engagement in planning. After noticing that young people were rarely invited into conversations about the future of their communities, she founded YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning), a nonprofit dedicated to helping youth become active participants in community planning and civic leadership.

Through YEP!, she has developed curriculum, workshops, children's books, classroom activities, professional training, and the Girl Scouts City Planning Patch Program, engaging more than 10,000 young people across the United States. Her work has helped planners, educators, and local governments recognize that meaningful youth engagement leads to stronger plans, stronger communities, and future generations of civic leaders.

Leadership has not always come without challenges. Early in her career, Wendel often found herself among the youngest professionals—and sometimes one of the few women—in technical planning discussions. Those experiences reinforced the value of preparation, collaboration, and building trust over simply having the loudest voice. Introducing youth engagement as a core planning practice also required persistence, as many initially viewed it as optional rather than essential.

Committed to helping others succeed, Wendel has made mentorship a central part of her career. Through the APA Women & Planning Division, she helped expand leadership development, networking, and mentorship opportunities while contributing to significant membership growth. She also established the Wendell Impact Scholarship to recognize women planners advancing equity and making meaningful contributions to their communities. Beyond APA, she continues to mentor students, interns, and early-career professionals through universities, speaking engagements, and YEP! programming.

Looking back, Wendel has seen planning evolve into a more collaborative, equitable, and community-centered profession. She is especially encouraged by the growing recognition that voices historically left out of planning—including youth—belong at the table.

Her hope for the future is simple: that more young people see themselves as future planners and community leaders. Whether through a classroom activity, a workshop, or one of her children's books, Wendel believes every young person deserves the opportunity to discover that they, too, can help shape the places they call home.

Corrin's training and education includes:

• The Ohio State University – Columbus, Ohio, Bachelor of Science in Architecture (2004)

  • Studied architectural design, urban design, and the built environment. Captain, OSU Women's Waterpolo Team. Study Abroad, Italy.

• The Ohio State University – Columbus, Ohio, Master of City and Regional Planning (2007)

  • Study Abroad, Germany

Check out Corrin's work at:

•  http://youthengagementplanning.org