Kristina Ford

Biography: Kristina Ford Professor of Professional Practice in International and Public Affairs Columbia University New York, NY Kristina Ford is Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Kristina Ford’s thoughtful, well-informed and articulate assessments – heard on CNN, BBC and National Public Radio – became the first, public voice of reason to mediate the great storm’s human and civic consequences to America and beyond. Starting in 1992 Ford was Director of City Planning in New Orleans; in 2000 she won the Award for Distinguished Leadership from Louisiana’s Chapter of the American Planning Association. Ms. Ford is a frequent speaker on urban affairs, and has appeared on the Op-Ed page of the New York Times and in Planning magazine. Prior to publishing The Trouble with City Planning, she wrote Planning Small Town America. Ford holds a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Michigan, and was, until her full-time entry into public service in 1983, Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Public Administration at NYU. From 2010 to 2011, Ms. Ford was Chief of Staff for New Orleans’ deputy mayor in charge of public facilities, infrastructure and community development. Updated July 2013