Student and Emerging Planners

What is the Student and Emerging Planners (SEP) Committee?

The SYEP Committee of the APA LGBTQ and Planning Division is led by Students and Emerging Planners (SEP) committed to uplifting queer and trans planning students and early-career professionals. We exist to foster connection, visibility, and leadership opportunities for LGBTQIA+ individuals navigating the field of planning.

Our mission is to build an inclusive, peer-driven space where emerging voices can be heard, supported, and celebrated. This will be done through collaborative programming, storytelling, advocacy, and resource-sharing rooted in lived experience, not gatekeeping.

Meet the SEP Committee

SEP Chair

Stefanie Esteban (She/They/Elle)

Stefanie is a Regional Planner at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), where they support major transportation, community development, and regional resilience initiatives across Southern California. With a background spanning public engagement, cultural documentation, and equity‑driven planning, Stefanie focuses on improving accessibility, strengthening public space, and uplifting historically marginalized communities.

SEP Co-Chair

Sarah Schrauth (She/Her/Hers)

Sarah is an Associate Planner with Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) in Wisconsin, where she supports resilient community growth across rural Midwestern towns through housing studies, economic development, and people‑centered planning. With a background in public health and economics, she brings a data‑driven, equity‑focused lens to every project and is committed to elevating the voices of communities often overlooked in planning conversations.

Secretary

Allison Bunce (She/Her/They)

Allison is a Transportation Planner at Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), where she supports regional mobility, safety, and multimodal planning across Northeast Ohio. With experience in transportation, land use, and GIS from roles at MORPC and the City of Dublin, she brings a strong technical and community‑focused perspective to her work with emerging planners.

Events and Programming Lead

Camila Lam (She/Her/Hers)

Camila is an MSP candidate at Florida State University whose work blends GIS, sustainability, and design‑driven communication to make complex environmental and planning data accessible. With experience in stormwater engagement, environmental justice research, and sustainable materials analysis, she brings a systems‑thinking approach to planning and visual storytelling.

Student Outreach and Communications Lead

Lucca Prado (He/Him/His)

Lucca is a City and Regional Planning student at Florida Atlantic University and serves as the Student Outreach Lead for the APA LGBTQ+ & Planning Division. With experience in architectural engineering, construction project management, and student engagement, he is committed to supporting student planners and strengthening connections across planning programs nationwide.

Emerging Planner Outreach and Communications Lead

Avery Geist (She/Her/Hers)

Avery is an Associate Planner for the City of Edmond with a background in public health and community development. She brings experience in CDBG programming, active transportation, and health equity, and is passionate about creating communities where all residents can thrive through equitable access to resources and the built environment.

Student Representatives

Coming Soon!

SEP Achievements

February 2026

  • Committee Formation & Governance: Launched the first-ever Student & Young Emerging Planners Committee within the APA LGBTQ and Planning Division.

April 2026

  • Awarded the Student Diversity Scholarship to send Izzy Marshall to attend NPC26 with full support — including travel, registration, and participation in Detroit programming.

June 2026

  • Secured FY26-27 budget funding for Outreach swag (stickers, buttons, postcards, tabling materials) and NPC27 scholarships
  • Launched SYEP Office Hours, a recurring, informal space for students and emerging planners to connect with committee leadership.

Get Involved

SEP Office Hours

SEP is excited to launch recurring office hours, a space to connect, ask questions, share ideas, and build community with fellow emerging planners.

📅 Join us every 4th Thursday of the month
🕔 5:00 PM EST

Whether you’re looking for advice, want to get involved, or just want to meet other planners, we’d love to see you there! Stay connected with SEP and join the conversation.

Register here for SEP's Office Hours

Join the SEP Committee Board

If you are interested in participating in the SYEP Committee, applications are open for official Committee seats for 2026. Applications are open until Friday, January 2, 2026.

Members elected for these roles will help guide programming, outreach, and leadership opportunities for students and emerging planners across the country.

Click Here to Apply to the 2026 SYEP Committee!

If you have any questions or want to learn more, please reach out to lgtqplanning+syep@gmail.com.