The evolution of American planning over four decades: professional change, institutional adaptation, and future directions

Over more than four decades, American planning has evolved from a largely technocratic and regulatory practice into a more collaborative, interdisciplinary, and community-oriented profession. This featured interview traces Sue Schwartz’s reflections on her extensive experience in regional and local planning, including her service as Planning Director of Greensboro, North Carolina, and her leadership roles within the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). This interview-based perspective reflects on the major periods and turning points that have shaped the profession. It considers the development-led expansion of the 1980s, the influence of New Urbanism and Smart Growth, the transformation of public engagement, the lessons of the Great Recession, and the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence and data tools. It also explores how professional certification, continuing education, ethical standards, and professional associations help sustain planning as an increasingly interdisciplinary field. Despite economic uncertainty, political change, and technological disruption, the interview highlights curiosity, public service, professional judgment, and optimism about the future as enduring foundations of the planning profession.