Russell J. Fricano, Ph.D., AICP

Biography

Dr. Russell Fricano is a practicing urban planner with 18 years of professional experience. He has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners for 16 years and has successfully prepared AICP candidates for the exam since 2001. Dr. Fricano currently serves as a Section Head of the Community Studies Section of Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. His experience includes community planning, zoning administration, comprehensive planning and environmental review. Dr. Fricano has also served as a lecturer for the AICP Exam preparatory class for Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. In addition, he has held commercial exam preparation seminars in Northern and Southern California, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. He recently gave a seminar for the San Diego Chapter of the American Planning Association. His online program has prepared students in over 30 U.S. states and in foreign countries including Canada and Taiwan.

Dr. Fricano holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California, a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Arlington, an MBA from Texas Christian University and a Bachelor’s in Science from Canisius College. In his spare time, Dr. Fricano conducts research in the fields of growth management and urban analysis, presents papers at conferences and authors book reviews. His accomplishments include the Faculty Award for Excellence at the University of Texas at Arlington, the National Association of Counties Award for the Update of the Santa Clarita Valley Area Plan. In August of 2006, Dr. Fricano was named Los Angeles County Employee of the month, a distinction granted to one of 90,000 County employees. He was also named Los Angeles County Department Employee of the year for 2006. Dr. Fricano is listed in Marquis Who’s Who in America.