The University of Memphis Department of City and Regional Planning is celebrating a milestone — 50 years at the University of Memphis.
Approved in 1973 by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as the Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree, with its official launch in 1974 of the first cohort, the little program has grown to have a significant impact in the City of Memphis and throughout the Mid-South.
This is in part through intentional community partnerships — a hallmark pillar of the program’s mission and values established by Gene Pearson who led the graduate program as director for 25 years.
In addition to serving as the program’s director, Pearson played a pivotal role in the creation and structure of Shelby Farms Park in which he served as chairman of the advisory committee. He also conducted numerous studies that contributed to the restoration of the trolley system in downtown Memphis in the early 90s.
“When you consider the work of faculty, classes and alumni of the program, the impact of the program can literally be seen all over the city and region,” said Charlie Santo, chair and associate professor of the Department of City and Regional Planning and associate director of the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy. “From Shelby Farms Park to the downtown historic trolley system, from the Memphis Slim House in Soulsville to the transformation of the Medical District. If you’ve used a bike lane in Memphis or ridden on the Hampline, you’ve benefitted from the work of our graduates.”
Among the programs in which the department was involved was Memphis 3.0, approved in 2019, it was the first comprehensive plan for the City of Memphis since 1983.
It outlined a plan to improve parks, housing, roads, transportation, public services and more to create an inclusive roadmap for city growth and development.
The program was led by alumni John Zeanah (’05), director of Planning and Development for Memphis and Shelby County and Ashley Cash (’11), who served as administrator of the City’s Office of Comprehensive Planning at the time, and now serves as director of Housing and Community Development, in collaboration with city partners and UofM faculty, students and staff of the department.
City of Memphis Mayor Paul Young (’05, MBA ’11), an alumnus of the program said, “Done right, planning is progress.
“I am grateful to the University for providing me with the education and inspiration to work harder for my city.”
– Memphis Mayor Paul Young
Our current Memphis 3.0 plan marks a catalyzing moment for the city, signaling a shift in our urban planning priorities. Unlike the comprehensive strategic plan of the early 80s, which focused on geographic expansion, Memphis 3.0 emphasizes sustainable growth and increased population density.” He highlighted the importance of building the city together in a recent blog post.
Revitalization of Neighborhoods
Through partnerships with the community and courses taught within the program, UofM faculty, students and staff have been instrumental in the development of many programs throughout the city.
Generations today are benefiting from them, including the revitalization of neighborhoods such as the Broad Avenue Arts District and the Memphis Medical District.
This includes two courses taught in 2008 and 2009. The courses included a partnered with a South Memphis neighborhood and the Soulsville community to develop the Memphis Slim Collaboratory through a grant from ArtPlace and the Kresge Foundation.
The plan envisioned the restoration of the home of Blues legend Memphis Slim, located in the historic Soulsville neighborhood, into a functional space for the community to gather, tell their stories and write and perform music.
The Slim Collaboratory opened in 2014 at the Stax to the Max Festival and continues to thrive thanks to a membership-based model and recording studio.
If you’ve enjoyed fresh produce and local fare from the South Memphis Farmers Market, you’ve experienced first-hand another venture that was led by UofM faculty within the Department of City and Regional Planning.
An alumnus of the program is also credited with revitalizing the Memphis Medical District. The late Tommy Pacello (JD ’05), who was a respected leader in the community in urban planning, served as the past president of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. Under Pacello’s leadership, the collaborative was able to transform the Medical District into a walkable neighborhood with thriving businesses; through its efforts the project has also impacted the surrounding neighborhood, the Edge District.
The results are recognized today as one of the most successful projects in the City of Memphis that has produced lasting change in such a short period of time.
“As an international student from Bangladesh, pursuing higher studies in city planning at a U.S. university has always been my dream. While researching programs, I found that the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of Memphis stood out as one of the few APA-accredited institutions,” Joyanta Basak, graduate assistant and community development fellow at Clean Memphis said.
“I was particularly drawn to the renowned expertise of the faculty and their dedication to sustainable and resilient city planning, a field I am deeply passionate about. This focus resonated with my aspirations to contribute meaningfully to future urban development, and it solidified my decision to join the program.”
Like Family
“We structure our classes and research to support long-term community engagement projects,” Santo said. “This means that our students work with community members to address real challenges. We offer planning studio courses each year in which faculty and students work in partnership with a community client.”
Recently, the long-term community engagement project model has benefited students enrolled in the Comprehensive Planning Studio course in gaining hands-on working experience near the new Ford BlueOval City where they were able to partner with elected officials and the towns of Stanton and Mason, Tenn.
“The program has been a trailblazer in the integration of real-world experiential learning opportunities into the curriculum, with impacts such as the community-student collaborative planning of the Green Machine Mobile Food Market and the Slim Collaboratory,” Abby Parrill, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences said.
“Expect more impacts as the Department of City and Regional Planning guides rural communities to vision how they will maintain their small-town character while reaping benefits of from their proximity to the new Ford BlueOval plant.”
Santo, who moved to Memphis from Portland, Oregon in 2005, said he was drawn to the department’s close-knit feel and its connection to the community.
He would later lead the program in 2012.
“Memphis felt like a place with authenticity, and a place where I could make an impact,” Santo said. “We’re like a family. We are and have always been a small program.”
The master’s program cohorts traditionally consist of just 12 to 15 students and is overseen by only five faculty members.
“Students in the program become very close, and tend to stay close after graduation, which helps create a strong network of planning professionals who work together for change,” he said.
A total of 95% of graduates find jobs in city planning withing six months of graduation.
“I adore the program, especially the sense of community,” Truus Apoanaba Abuosi, second year master’s student said.
“It feels like family here. The professors are incredibly supportive; you can just pop into their offices to chat about class or get advice. One of my favorite aspects is how practical the program is. I’ve worked on projects that truly impact the Memphis community, and we’ve had so many fun hangouts exploring the city — after all, as planners, we know all the coolest spots.”
The program is celebrating the 50th anniversary milestone throughout the year, with a series of events leading up to the big alumni weekend in the spring. Visit memphis.edu/planning/50years.php to get involved.
