Rebecca Retzlaff

Rebecca Retzlaff is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts, where she also directs the interdisciplinary Academic Sustainability Program. Her work bridges urban planning, law, history, and social justice, with a strong regional focus on Alabama.

Education:

• PhD in Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago
• MS in Historic Preservation, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• BS in Urban and Regional Planning, Michigan State University

Her research centers on planning law and planning history, particularly the racial dimensions of urban development. She investigates how infrastructure projects like interstate highways were used as tools of racial segregation and displacement, especially during the civil rights era. Her recent publications explore the intersection of urban renewal, school segregation, and highway planning in cities like Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama. She also studies green building policy, land use regulation, and historic preservation, often analyzing the legal and historical foundations of planning tools.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on systemic racism in 20th-century urban planning, legal precedents in land use, and sustainability policy. Her work spans urban history, transportation policy, environmental law, and civil rights, with a methodological emphasis on archival research and legal analysis. She frequently collaborates with scholars in planning and policy, and her research has been cited by federal and state courts.

Scientific Awards:

• No specific awards listed, but her co-authored legal treatise Ohio Planning and Zoning Law has been cited by the Ohio Supreme Court and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, indicating high scholarly and legal impact.

Dr. Retzlaff is actively involved in advising through graduate studio courses and community outreach projects. Her classes include fieldwork components where students collaborate with Alabama towns on historic preservation plans, zoning reform, and sustainable development strategies. While no named advisees are listed, she mentors students through the Master of Community Planning Program. She has led or contributed to numerous research projects funded by agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Transportation Research Board.

She is affiliated with research initiatives including the Academic Sustainability Program and has worked with interdisciplinary teams on tribal transportation, smart growth, and regional housing. Her future work appears to continue exploring racial justice in planning, legal history, and sustainable urban development.