The Karen B. Smith Symposium for Environmental Issues in Rural & Small Town Planning

The Karen B. Smith Symposium for Environmental Issues in Rural & Small Town Planning is an annual session held at the Western Planner Conference. Named after Karen B. Smith, a respected contributor and friend to the Western Planner, the symposium focuses on addressing environmental challenges in rural and small-town planning.

Karen B. Smith, originally from Newton, Massachusetts, earned her Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a Master’s degree in City Planning from the University of Rhode Island. Throughout her career, she held various positions in both public and private planning sectors in Colorado. Notably, she served as President of Planning Management Services in Aspen, CO, and held senior roles at Brisco, Maphis, Murry and Lamont in Boulder, as well as in the Aspen-Pitken County Planning Office and the City of Denver Planning Department.

Her dedication to planning extended beyond her professional roles. Karen was deeply involved in Colorado’s APA Chapter, serving as its President from 1979 to 1981 and later chairing the APA’s Chapter President’s Council. In 1983, she was elected to the National APA Board of Directors and also served as Treasurer of the AICP Commission. Her influence was recognized with the establishment of the APA’s Annual Best Chapter Award named in her honor.

Karen’s contributions were pivotal to the Western Planner, where she served on the Editorial Board for four years and played a key role in integrating Colorado’s APA Chapter with the Western Planner. Her efforts were instrumental in expanding the organization’s reach and resources, drawing national attention to its initiatives.

Tragically, Karen passed away in a highway accident in Colorado on July 24, 1984, at the age of 36. Her legacy lives on through the Karen B. Smith Symposium, which commemorates her profound impact on rural and small-town planning, a field she cherished deeply throughout her career.