R. Michael Chandler Professor Emeritus Land Use and Community Planning D.P.A., 1980, University of Georgia E-mail: rmchan@vt.edu

Michael Chandler joined the faculty in 1996. He is responsible for the design, delivery and evaluation of off-campus extension programs which focus on land use, community planning and public management issues. Structured learning programs developed by Professor Chandler include the state and national award winning Virginia Certified Planning Commissioners' Program, the Virginia Certified Boards' of Zoning Appeals Program, the Virginia Institute for Planning Commissioners, the Virginia Mayors' Institute and the Virginia County Board Chairmen's Institute. Since 1985, nearly 4,600 local officials and citizens have participated in these programs.

In addition to conducting the referenced certification programs and institutes, Professor Chandler also presents, in response to request, a variety of local workshops across the Commonwealth. Subject matter covered includes: land use, zoning, growth management, farmland preservation, community sustainability, economic development, community goal setting and visioning, governmental management and generalized leadership development.

Prior to joining the faculty in 1996, Professor Chandler served 16 years as an Extension Specialist in Cooperative Extension and five years as a community development Extension Agent. He also worked as a Community Planner and is a former High School Government Teacher.

Dr. Chandler is active in various state and national associations. He is a Past President of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association, The Virginia Citizen's Planning Association, the Southwest Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration and the Virginia Community Development Society. In May 2000, he was elected to a four-year term on the American Planning Association National Board of Directors representing Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and the District of Columbia. He has been a member of the Blacksburg Town Council since 1984.

Selected Publications:

"Plan Implementation: A Twenty-First Century Challenge." 2000 American Planning Association National Conference Proceedings. Chicago.

"Developing the Comprehensive Plan: A Ten-Step Model." Planning Commissioners Journal. (Summer, 2000). Burlington, VT.

"If Maryland Has Smart Growth, What Does Virginia Have?" Virginia Planning Magazine. 1998. Richmond