This past weekend the American Institute of Certified Planners, or AICP, welcomed Robert Olshansky, Ph.D., into the ranks of their distinguished College of Fellows.

University of Illinois Professor and Acting Department Head Robert Olshansky has conducted extensive studies on recovery from earthquakes, as well as co-authored the flagship study of post-Katrina recovery planning efforts in New Orleans. His work has contributed to the advance of post-disaster recovery worldwide, and improved earthquake resilience throughout the U.S.

Olshansky has also been an active educator at the University of Illinois and University of California, Berkeley. Olshansky earned both his doctorate and master’s degrees from the University of California, Berkeley.

The AICP College of Fellows, begun in 1999, is primarily concerned with developing the future of the study of urban planning. “The AICP College of Fellows recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the planning profession and their own communities,” said AICP President Anna Breinich.

Once every two years a new class of AICP Fellows is selected on the basis of outstanding achievements. Categories for recognition include professional practice, research, teaching and mentoring or community service and leadership.

Currently the number of practicing urban and rural planners in North America and elsewhere with AICP certification is close to 15,000. However, only about 450 of these planners belong to the AICP College of Fellows.

The full list of this years Fellows can be found on the “website”:http://www.planning.org/faicp/ of the American Planning Association.

The 2012 National Planning Conference, which occurs April 14 through April 17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, is the largest annual conference for professional planners in the world. The country’s first national planning conference took place in Washington, D.C., in May 1909.