Meet Jennifer Currin, Wake Forest’s new Planning Director

The Town of Wake Forest is pleased to announce Jennifer Currin as its new Planning Director. She assumes the role after serving as the Town’s Assistant Planning Director since January 2020.

As Planning Director, Currin will direct and review the activities of the Planning Department, including current and long-range planning initiatives and code enforcement programs. She will also play a leading role in the implementation of the Town's Community Plan which was adopted in 2022 and updated in 2024.

In fact, Currin says one of her proudest accomplishments was serving as staff project manager for the Community Plan update.

“Our updated Community Plan incorporated significant community engagement to create a cohesive and long-term vision for Wake Forest,” she says. “I’m proud that our efforts were acknowledged when Wake Forest was named a recipient of the 2024 NC Chapter of the American Planning Association's Marvin Collins Award in the category of Comprehensive Plan."

A Raleigh native, Currin has nearly 20 years of experience in public sector planning with a focus on development services (entitlements, site and subdivision plan review). In recent years, she oversaw the Planning Department’s Development Services division and – in addition to serving as the Planning staff project manager for the Community Plan update – reprised the role for the Downtown Plan update (2024).

Currin began her career as a Planning Assistant with the Town of Cary in 2004. Over the next four years she was promoted to Planner, then Planner II. From May 2008-July 2009, she worked as a Planner at WithersRavenel before moving on to the Town of Knightdale where she served as Senior Planner (July 2009-August 2016) and Assistant Development Services Director (August 2016-2017). She joined the Town of Wake Forest in 2017 as Development Services Manager, a position she held until 2020 when she was named Assistant Planning Director.

Currin graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Analysis. She obtained certifications from the NC Certified Zoning Officials (CZO) in 2010 and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) in 2011. She also completed the Local Government Federal Credit Union Fellows Program through the UNC School of Government in 2021.

When she’s not working, Currin enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and spending time with family and friends.

“Jennifer’s combination of experience and expertise make her the perfect person to serve as our new Planning Director,” said Town Manager Kip Padgett. “Having worked with her for several years and seen her serve in several leadership roles, I know our Planning Department is in capable hands.”

To reach Jennifer, call 919-435-9517 or email [email protected].