Division Leadership

Brian is a lifelong houser with a wealth of professional experience in housing and community development that includes over 15 years in the public sector, 10 years in academia, and a recent shift into private practice as the Director of Planning and Urban Design for Magnusson Architecture and Planning, one of the leading designers and planners of housing based in New York City. Although trained as an architect, most of his career has been focused on the planning of equitable neighborhoods comprised of healthy and sustainable housing that is affordable for, and supportive to, our most vulnerable populations. With a newly assembled and wildly talented executive team, Brian is looking forward to promoting the need for smart planning, meaningful public engagement, and responsible community development over the next two years as our Division Chair and will dedicate all of our resources toward supporting our members in their efforts to create great communities for all. 

Angela Self, AICP, is Planning Administrator for the City of Garland, Texas.  She has over 20 years of progressive experience in leading complex revitalization and redevelopment initiatives in challenging urban and suburban environments. 

A member of APA since 1994, Angela earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Jackson State University, and a Master of Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Iowa.  Angela has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 2001.   

Gincy Thoppil is the Planning & Development Services Director for the City of Arlington, Texas. Her all-round experience in Urban Design, Comprehensive Planning, as well as Development Planning for the past 20 years makes her polished in developing practical regulations that is easy to understand, build, and administer. She has been instrumental in raising the quality of public and private projects in Arlington and has embraced innovative initiatives and cutting-edge technology in order to provide exceptional customer experience. She holds a master’s degree in Community Planning with Urban Design specialization from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Mumbai, India. She continues to serve as an APA Texas Chapter Delegate for the Policy Guides starting in 2019 and participated in the 2019 Delegate Assembly in the National Planning Conference in San Francisco. 

Patricia Sinel got her start in planning working for a residential developer in Denver before she knew planning was a real thing.  After deciding to put her GI Bill to use, Patricia received her Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of New Orleans, with a focus in land use and environmental planning.

Patricia enjoys the more technical side of planning, including development studies, demographic analyses, and geographic information systems, all geared towards the goal of developing great neighborhoods.

Patricia is in charge of Special Projects in Planning and Development Services with the City of Arlington, Texas.  Before joining Arlington, Patricia spent 20 years with a planning firm based out of New Orleans, crafting master plans, project analyses, and zoning ordinances. Patricia also serves on the GIS Advisory Committee for Tarrant County Community College.

Angela Brooks is the Director of the Illinois office of the Corporation for Supportive Housing. Brooks is a native of Seattle and a graduate of Jackson State University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies, and the University of New Orleans, where she received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning. An active member of APA since graduate school, Brooks has held numerous leadership positions including past chair of the Housing and Community Development Division, vice president of programs for the Planning and the Black Community Division, chair of the Diversity Task Force, Newsletter Editor for the Washington Chapter, and co-chair of the Housing Policy Guide. She has also served on the City of Seattle Planning Commission and Martin Luther King County Boundary Review Board.

Lauren Russell is a community planner at the Union County Office of Planning and Economic Development in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.  Her work covers various topics within planning, including transportation, land use, housing, and long-range planning.  Lauren is concurrently earning a Master of Science in Planning and Development from East Carolina University.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Community, Environment, and Development with a Community and Economic Development specialization from Pennsylvania State University.