Megan E. Heim LaFrombois

Megan E. Heim LaFrombois, PhD, AICP, is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science’s Master of Community Planning program and is a faculty affiliate of the Women’s and Gender Studies program and the Sustainability Studies Minor program at Auburn University. She is currently serving as the director of the Master of Community Planning Program.

Dr. Heim LaFrombois’ research within the planning discipline broadly focuses on community development, participatory forms of city and neighborhood planning, public policy, plan evaluation, urban inequalities, and feminist and qualitative approaches to urban studies and research. With over eight years of experience working in the community development, public policy, and planning arenas - focusing on issues related to ending homelessness in Chicago - an important aspect of her work, both as a practitioner and an academic, is community engagement in addressing inequalities. Her research strives to inform planning practice and policy, and to improve cities and communities.

Dr. Heim LaFrombois is the recipient of the 2020 Community and Civic Engagement Teaching Award from Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts and the 2016 Alma H. Young Emerging Scholar Award from the Urban Affairs Association. She served as the secretary/treasurer of the Faculty Women’s Interest Group (FWIG) of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) from 2021-2023. She is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).