Organizational Info and Leadership [https://www.nacdep.net/organizational-info-and-leadership] 

The Land Use Planning Community of Practice (CoP) Board of Directors meets monthly, virtually, to provide leadership for the national organization. The board is structured as follows:

• One board member from each Cooperative Extension Rural Development Region (four)
• Five at large board members
• An Executive Committee comprised of the board: Chair, Past Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer

View our current Bylaws

Land Use Planning CoP Board – As of June 2026 Annual Meeting

Chair - Brad Neumann, Michigan State University Extension, [email protected]
Brad is a Senior Extension Educator with Michigan State University and focuses on planning and zoning, community development, and good governance programming. He helps manage the Michigan Citizen Planner Program and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Explore Brad's work.

Vice Chair - Daniel Walker, Purdue University Extension, [email protected] 
Daniel Walker is a community development specialist located in the Purdue Extension Community Development Program and the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University, as well as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Daniel collaborates with Purdue Extension staff, community leaders, stakeholders, and interest groups in the Great Lakes region through programs that combine research-based tools with community planning processes to help community leaders engage with stakeholders on complex issues. Daniel is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and brings regional, county, and municipal planning and economic development experience to the program. He holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Ball State University.

Immediate Past Chair - Michael Dougherty, West Virginia University, [email protected]  
Michael is a Professor and Extension Specialist at West Virginia University. His teaching and outreach work focus on planning and community development activities.  In almost three decades, he has worked in 48 of the 55 counties in the Mountain State.Explore Michael’s work.

Treasurer - Harmony Gmazel, Michigan State University, [email protected]
Harmony is an Outreach Specialist at Michigan State University. Her teaching focuses on planning law and ethics, and she administers MSU’s  Sustainable Built Environment Initiative, a student-led collaborative design process. As a longtime member of the MSUE Land Use team, Harmony teaches and creates curriculum for Michigan Citizen Planner, the MSUE Zoning Administrator Certificate Program and much more. She moderates the MI Tribal Planners Network each month and is a member of the MSUE Building Strong Sovereign Nations team. She has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 2005. 

Kara Salazar, Purdue University Extension, [email protected]
Dr. Kara Salazar, AICP, is Assistant Program Leader for Community Development with Purdue Extension and Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist, affiliated with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. Working with multidisciplinary teams, Dr. Salazar oversees program development, delivery, and evaluation to support environmental planning, community development, and sustainable development strategies in communities across Indiana and Great Lakes states. Program efforts emphasize collaborative planning and facilitated inclusive community forums using data and visualization tools to explore policy and management interventions that address complex natural resource management and land use issues. Areas of focus include community resilience, green infrastructure, hazard mitigation, parks and public spaces, renewable energy, and environmental and social justice issues.

Alec Dompka, University of California, Rural Community & Economic Development Advisor, [email protected] 
Alec focuses on supporting community economic development that emphasizes local leadership and inclusivity. Applying technical knowledge, he aims to create accurate economic evaluation methods, addressing environmental and cultural factors in underserved communities. Researching the legacy of extractive industries, Alec supports community resilience. Living in a rural region, he offers an on-the-ground perspective, quickly responding to community needs. Covering topics from energy to tourism, Alec makes economic education accessible. Explore Alec’s work.

John Turack, Penn State Extension, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD), [email protected]
In collaboration with Penn State Extension, John works with NERCRD leadership to design multi-state regional initiatives aligned with NERCRD strategic priorities and to translate center research for Extension practitioners and broad public audiences. John has served Penn State Extension for nearly two decades. He has led several award-winning Extension initiatives.  Since 2025, he has managed the Land Use Webinar Series, delivering professional development to local planners, municipal officials, and land use professionals. John continues to direct this educational programming while examining opportunities to expand its regional and national reach.

Walter Battle, University of Tennessee Extension, [email protected] 
Walter is an Area Specialist with the University of Tennessee Extension responsible for Community and Economic Development programming. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tennessee-Martin’s Ripley Center where he teaches undergraduate agriculture economics, agricultural policy, and rural economic development classes. Battle presently serves on the following boards and commissions: USDA Land Between the Lakes Advisory Board; Haywood County Planning Commission; Hatchie River Conservancy Board; West Tennessee Delta Heritage Board; and Protect Our Aquifer Board. Walter enjoys cooking, evaluating leadership and organization concepts, participating in conservation activities, and gardening.

American Citizen Planner contact - Kara Salazar, Purdue University Extension, [email protected]

Regional Representatives (three year terms)

East - Michael Dougherty, West Virginia University Extension (through 2027)

West - Alec Dompka, University of California (through 2029)

South - Walter Battle, University of Tennessee Extension (through 2027)

North Central - Kara Salazar, Purdue University Extension (through 2028)

At Large Representatives (three year terms)

Daniel Walker, Purdue University Extension (through 2027)

Harmony Gmazel, Michigan State University (through 2029)

John Turack, Penn State (through 2027)

Brad Neumann, Michigan State University Extension (through 2028)

Vacant (through 2028)