Biography:

 Working since 1987 at the interface between planning analysis and policy implementation, Jeff Rader is widely recognized for shaping public sector and community organizations for greater impact by integrating comprehensive planning principles into major decisions in metropolitan Atlanta.

Focusing on infrastructure, environmental and development policy, the expert administration of the public trust, and influencing business, public interest, and governmental policymakers, Jeff is exemplary of a planner and public official assuming direct responsibility for change. In private and public sector roles, and in elected office, his signature achievement is advancing a clear, inclusive public interest in response to challenges imposed by rapid growth and a changing world, pursuing that vision with an expert understanding of the mechanics of governance.

Jeff is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, a German Marshall Fund Fellow, recipient of a Common Cause Democracy Award, and a Citizen Action Citizen of the Year. Over his career, he served as a staff planner at Cobb and Fayette Counties, VP at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Greater Atlanta Homebuilders, Planning Director at GRTA, Executive Director at Regional Business Coalition, and as a consultant.  Elected in 2006, he served 16 years on the DeKalb County Commission until retirement in 2022.

Jeff earned a 1981 AB in Economics at the University of Georgia and a 1987 Master's of City Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Teaching Interest:

As a practitioner whose terminal degree is a MCP (now MCRP) from Georgia Tech, my instructional focus is the application of planning principles and techniques to real-world situations.  My experience has been broad in scope, but limited in geographical span, so I work to augment direct experience with best practices from other states and nations, drawing parallels and pointing out contextual differences as they occur.  Nevertheless, students seem vitally interested in local experience, and metro Atlanta offers a rich environment for learning in many areas of practice.

Personal experience and examples are, however insufficient to fully explore the body of knowledge that students are seeking.  I therefore seek the assistance of a wide network of practitioners and experts from related fields who have insights to share with the student.  I benefit from my past opportunities to work on projects and policies that not only provide best practices, but also evidence of pitfalls that have resulted in suboptimal results.  Showing both the bad and good provides an appreciation of the key determinants of success, both those directly and formally related to the outcome, but also those cultural and procedural elements that can make or break a decision.

Research Interest:

Practical application of planning principles to cross-cutting urban and economic development issues.

List of Recent Scholarly Work:

N/A

Degrees with Year of Award:

Bachelor of Arts, Economics, University of Georgia 1981
Masters of City Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology 1987