07/01/24

AMES, Iowa — Susan Bradbury, Iowa State University professor of community and regional planning, has been appointed interim chair of the Department of Community and Regional Planning, beginning July 1.

Professor Francis Owusu, who completed his second successful term as chair of the community and regional planning department at the end of June, had earlier announced his decision to return to teaching full time. He will rejoin the faculty in fall 2025 following a faculty professional development leave.

Bradbury will serve in her interim role during the search for the next department chair, which will be led by Erin Olson-Douglas, associate dean for extension and outreach in the College of Design and director of the ISU Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development program.

Bradbury came to Iowa State in 2001 after holding positions at Missouri State University, Eastern Washington University and Florida Atlantic University. Her research and teaching focus on community economic development, small-town planning and Canada-U.S. trade and border security issues.

She has held several significant leadership positions, including service on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Rural Steering Committee and Federal Reserve Board’s Community Advisory Council, president of the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association, and secretary/treasurer of the Association and Collegiate Schools of Planning. She has been an active member of the Planning Accreditation Board’s site visitor pool.

Bradbury is also active with the Downtown Ames Economic Vitality Committee and was a member of the City of Ames Zoning Board of Adjustment for several years. She has served with distinction on many ISU College of Design councils and committees, including the Liaison Council, Faculty Development Council and Academic Affairs Council.

Her contributions to the field were recognized in 2020 with the Planning Accreditation Board’s Outstanding Site Visitor Award and in 2017 with Iowa State’s Regents Award for Faculty Excellence.

Bradbury holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from McMaster University, a master’s in regional planning and resource development from the University of Waterloo and a PhD in geography from the University of Florida.

Contacts

Luis Rico-Gutierrez, Dean, College of Design, 515-294-7427, lrico@iastate.edu
Heather Sauer, Director of Strategic Communications, College of Design, 515-294-9289, hsauer@iastate.edu

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