As a child, Lakisha Hull felt drawn to art courses and often kept a sketchbook at hand. Her passion for architecture and creating sustainable communities was sparked after her hometown of Miami was forever changed by Hurricane Andrew. She was fascinated by how neighborhoods were reimagined as Miami experienced a renaissance.

Lakisha attended the University of Michigan and received her Bachelors of Architecture in 2000. One of her architecture studio professors introduced her to planning as a career. She earned her Dual Masters in Architecture and City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania in 2003, launching a rich career that would include transportation planning, civil engineering, policy and land use planning, and community advocacy.

In recent years, Lakisha has served in prominent planning positions across the nation, including Planning Deputy for the City of Los Angeles, CA (2012-2018), Division Chief of the Department of Transportation for the City of Charlotte, NC (2018-2022). In 2022, she returned home to become Planning Director for the City of Miami, FL, a job she held until 2023. She is particularly proud of her contributions to the Crenshaw Blvd Streetscape Plan, Ballantyne Reimagined, and the Envision Miami Comprehensive Plan update. Since 2024, Lakisha has served as the Planning Director for Prince George's County, MD.

Lakisha is particularly passionate about community redevelopment. Updating policies and land use regulations to address nuisance uses while incentivizing neighborhood-serving uses. Neighborhood-serving uses can dramatically change communities for the better. She is proud of her ability to contribute to creating livable, sustainable, diverse communities.  

Lakisha reflects: “I have learned that giving yourself and others grace, learning from your mistakes, and mastering the art of pivoting are paramount to staying the course.” Her advice to up-and-coming planners? Establish a dependable and trustworthy support system to encourage long-term growth. Have fun in your career and embrace the failures on your road to success.

Education: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Dual Masters in Architecture and City Planning; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Bachelor of Architecture

APA Divisions: City Planning and Management Division, County Planning Division, Federal Planning Division, Food Systems Division, Housing and Community Development Division, New Urbanism Division, Regional and Intergovernmental Planning Division, Small Town and Rural Planning Division, Transportation Planning Division, Urban Design and Preservation Division, Women and Planning Division, Planning and the Black Community Division

States Worked: Maryland, California, North Carolina, Florida.

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