Graduate Students Finish First and Second Against Auburn and Jackson State Competitors

Two Alabama A&M University graduate students claimed the top two honors in a student research competition at the Alabama-Mississippi American Planning Association Deep South Planning Conference in Auburn, Alabama.

Nathaniel Worae Peprah earned first place, while Kweku T. Oppong Ampofo earned second place in the conference’s student poster competition. The students, both pursuing master's degrees in urban and regional planning at AAMU, competed against graduate planning students from Auburn University and Jackson State University.

Peprah’s research, “Predicting Agricultural Land Conversion in U.S. Peri-Urban Regions,” examines how urban growth is transforming agricultural land around Birmingham, Alabama. Using geographic information systems (GIS) and predictive land-change modeling, his study identifies farmland vulnerable to future development, providing insights to support land preservation and sustainable growth management.

Ampofo’s research, “Understanding the Geography of Community Vulnerability,” examines how vulnerability is distributed across neighborhoods in Huntsville, Alabama. Using GIS and spatial analysis, his study identifies geographic patterns and clusters of vulnerability that may not be apparent in citywide averages, offering insights for more targeted community planning and policy decisions.

The first- and second-place finishes highlighted the strength of AAMU’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program and the university’s commitment to research addressing real-world challenges.

Peprah, a native of Kumasi in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, said the conference provided an opportunity to move beyond the classroom and engage directly with professionals in the field.

“Presenting my research was a rewarding opportunity to explain my work and connect with people in the planning profession,” Peprah said. “It helped me build confidence in communicating my research and thinking about its relevance to planning practice.”

A graduate research assistant and graduate ambassador, Peprah credits AAMU with strengthening his skills in spatial analysis, research and planning policy. He said faculty guidance and opportunities to present his work have helped him connect classroom learning with practical planning challenges.

Ampofo, who is from Akwatia in Ghana’s Eastern Region, said the conference marked his first opportunity to present his research outside the classroom.

“The whole experience, from preparing for the conference to presenting my research, was very exciting because I had been working on the research for some time, and this was my first opportunity to present it outside the classroom,” Ampofo said. “I enjoyed networking, receiving feedback on my work and especially having conversations with planners who were dealing with similar issues in their own cities.”

Both students plan to build careers connected to their research interests. Peprah intends to pursue a doctorate focused on land use and community resilience, with the long-term goal of contributing to the planning profession through research, teaching and practice. Ampofo hopes to work in planning or research, focusing on zoning, land use and environmental regulations, ultimately pursuing a career at the intersection of planning, development and law.

The annual Deep South Planning Conference brings together planning professionals, educators, researchers and students from Alabama and Mississippi to explore emerging trends, innovative projects and practices shaping communities throughout the region. The conference also provides opportunities for professional development, networking and student research presentations.

AAMU’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program prepares students to address community and regional development challenges through planning, research, policy analysis and stakeholder engagement.