Dr. June Thomas

Biography

June Manning Thomas is a Mary Frances Berry Distinguished University Professor Emerita of Urban Planning at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. She has made significant contributions to the field of urban planning, focusing on diversification, social equity, and the history of planning practices. Thomas served as the president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning from 2013 to 2015, and she was the immediate past president from 2015 to 2016. Her recent research has explored the connection between social equity and the civil rights movement, particularly in relation to land use and community organizations in Detroit. She has co-edited several influential books, including 'Urban Planning and the African American Community: Shadows' and 'Mapping Detroit: Evolving Land Use Patterns and Connections.' Her latest book, 'Struggling to Learn: An Intimate History of School Desegregation in South Carolina,' was published in 2022. Thomas holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan and has previously been a professor at Michigan State University, where she developed initiatives aimed at linking urban planning services to community development needs across Michigan. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to educating new generations of planners and has taught various courses in urban planning.

Research Interests