Prof. Tilma, a practicing community planner, has taught our Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning course since 1993.  He has worked for a regional planning commission, an architecture and engineering firm, and a large urban county's community development department.  He received the B.A. degree from Calvin College and a Master of Urban Planning degree from the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.  Prof. Tilma has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since 1992, and a member of the American Planning Association and Michigan Association of Planning for over 20 years. 

Prof. Tilma's other affiliations include Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), United Growth for Kent County, Michigan Community Development Directors Association, and National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).  He earned NAHRO's HUD Section 8 Housing Program Manager (SHM) professional certification in 2004.  Prof. Tilma is a member of the faculty of the Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies, where he has served as associate professor, teaching the Land Resources course at the Great Lakes campus in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.  He is past recipient of the Adopt-a-House Volunteer Award from Habitat for Humanity of Kent County.

Prof. Tilma has provided internship opportunities for several Calvin College students, and has assisted many Calvin students interested in urban planning and community development with internship and job leads, resume development, and graduate school recommendations.