Diane Sandman, AICP

Diane Sandman exemplifies dynamic leadership in her role as Division President of Consulting at Harris & Associates. With a proven track record of inspiring teams and delivering innovative solutions, Diane is instrumental in guiding Harris’ Consulting division to address the complex challenges faced by communities today.

Throughout her career, Diane has excelled as a specialist in the environmental sciences. She has focused on planning, permitting and compliance and developed a specialty in the preparation of complex documents in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Her professional experience includes over 18 years of coordination with local, state and federal agencies on public- and private-sector projects that cover the entire spectrum of infrastructure.

At Harris, Diane led the firm's Environmental Planning + Compliance practice as Vice President and played an integral role in helping clients navigate the complex, changing landscape associated with environmental regulations for project planning, design and construction. Her transition to leading the entire Consulting division is a testament to her strategic vision and ability to deliver results. Diane oversees all operational facets of the division, which includes the Environmental Planning + Compliance, Municipal Finance, and Community Development + Housing.

Among her proudest professional accomplishments, she helped a team complete the County of San Diego’s General Plan Update and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in only three years. Diane was the project manager for the Program EIR and read every word of the 1,200-page document several times. The project earned an Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document Award from the Association of Environmental Professionals.

Her commitment to sound environmental strategy extends beyond her project responsibilities. In her spare time, she’s the instructor for the Environmental Assessment Practices course at the University of San Diego, where she teaches students about NEPA, CEQA and the many careers in her field. She finds it especially rewarding to teach a class she once took at her alma mater.  

Awards

Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document Award from the Association of Environmental Professionals for the following projects:

• City of Chula Vista Palomar Gateway District Specific Plan EIR (2013)
• County of San Diego General Plan Update EIR (2012)
• City of Escondido General Plan Update, Downtown Specific Plan Update and Climate Action Plan EIR (2012)

Why Harris?

I’m inspired by the shared values, commitment to improving communities and investment in people.