Avis C. Vidal has joined Wayne State University's College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs (CULMA) as chair of the department of Geography and Urban Planning (GUP). She also serves as director of the Urban Planning Program.

The Department of Geography and Urban Planning provides graduate and undergraduate education in geography and graduate education leading to a professional master of urban planning degree.

Prof. Vidal brings to Wayne State extensive experience in policy development and evaluation, particularly in the field of community development. Her recent work included an evaluation of the federal Empowerment Zone initiative and the Community Outreach Partnership Center program.

Vidal joined the university following service as Principal Research Associate at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. She has held academic positions at the New School for Social Research, in New York City; in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; and in Harvard's Graduate School of Design.

She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and a MCP and Ph.D. (in planning) from Harvard.

During a recent reception introducing Vidal to the university and metropolitan Detroit communities, she outlined her goals and strategies for the department. "Starting this year and beyond, we will make curriculum changes designed to more effectively capitalize on our strength and prepare students for contemporary planning practice. This will go hand-in-hand with strategically chosen new faculty hires. We also plan to strengthen and integrate our links with various community partners."

Bill Warters, director of the Conflict Management in Higher Education Resource Center (CULMA), commented on Vidal's presentation. "Hearing Avis articulate the unique collaborative opportunities to be found both within our college and in our community was inspiring. It made me really want to 'get busy' on urban community projects in partnership with my colleagues...She will add tremendously to the spirit and direction of the college."

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 14 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.