MCP graduate Caroline Deck receives Alabama APA Distinguished Leadership Award
Caroline Deck, a May 2026 graduate of Auburn University’s Master of Community Planning (MCP) program, has received the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Distinguished Leadership Award for a Planning Student. The award recognizes Deck’s academic achievements, leadership and ability to transform complex information into professional planning projects.
“We are extremely proud of Caroline," said Sweta Byahut, associate professor of community planning. "Throughout her time in the MCP program, she emerged as a dependable and highly capable project leader who frequently assumed responsibility for the most technically demanding, visually complex and integrative portions of team assignments. She is most deserving of this award."
During her graduate studies, Deck contributed to community-based planning projects in Atmore, Montgomery, Dothan and other Alabama communities. Two capstone projects highlighted Deck’s planning expertise and leadership: The Future of Main Street in Atmore and the Honeysuckle Road Development Plan in Dothan. For the Atmore project, Deck created a detailed downtown land-use map, completed four precedent case studies and developed a mock-up of downtown design guidelines. Her work helped the team evaluate existing conditions and identify opportunities for downtown revitalization. In Dothan, Deck led the geographic information systems team and helped create a consistent framework for the studio’s maps and analysis. She also led urban design and pedestrian connectivity work, developed housing and urban design standards, and took primary responsibility for final documents and presentations.
Following graduation, Deck joined the Lee-Russell Council of Governments and the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Planning Organization as a regional planner, applying her skills in transportation planning, GIS, policy research and community planning.
The Alabama APA Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes the accomplishments of a promising planning student and highlights Deck’s contributions to Auburn’s Master of Community Planning program and to community planning efforts across Alabama.
Learn more about the Master of Community Planning program.
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