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 is the Comprehensive Planning Administrator for Garland, Texas.  With over 20 years of experience, she has centered her work in shaping the future of redevelopment and revitalization efforts in aging communities in North Texas.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Jackson State University, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Iowa.  A member of APA since 1994, she currently serves on the Fort Worth, Texas, Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Commission. 

Matt is Vice-Chair of the Planning Community of Practice at MSA Professional Services, working with communities across the Upper Midwest to assess need and plan implementation steps that increase housing access. He attended the Urban Studies program at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and the Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. 

His prior work has included teaching undergraduate coursework on the advent of urban planning through frameworks of racial capital, serving as the in-house planner for the City of Madison, WI’s Community Development Division, Housing Choice Voucher program creation with the Met Council of the Twin Cities, and housing policy engagement with the MN-05 congressional district office. 

Angela Brooks is a real estate developer for the Chicago Housing Authority. 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, 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.

Juan Antonio Sorto, MPA, is a doctoral student at Texas Southern University pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy.  A published author, he is currently providing support for the Division's communication and social media outlets.