Maxine Griffith

Biography: Maxine Griffith AICP Executive Vice President Columbia University New York, NY Maxine Griffith holds the title of Executive Vice President for Government and Community Affairs and Special Advisor for Campus Planning. Reporting to Columbia’s President, Ms. Griffith brings a strong background in urban planning and design to her role as a key member of the leadership team planning for the University’s 17 acre, 6 billion dollar Manhattanville campus. She led the effort to take the project through the complex New York City and State approval processes and is also responsible for Columbia's relationships with government, civic organizations and community residents. From 2000 to 2005, Griffith served as Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and Secretary (Deputy Mayor) for Strategic Planning. During that time, among other accomplishments, Griffith updated the Center City (Central Business District) plan, revised the City’s antiquated residential zoning text, developed a traveling exhibit documenting the history of two of Philadelphia’s African-American communities and established an innovative Planner’s Exchange Program with the City of Wenzhou, China. During this period the agency received two national awards from the American Planning Association. Prior to her appointment in Philadelphia, Griffith served in the Clinton administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), first as the Regional Director for New York and New Jersey, and then in Washington as HUD's Assistant Deputy Secretary. From 1988 to 1996 she was Principal of Griffith Planning & Design, a rm providing planning, urban design and development services to a diverse list of clients. Ms. Griffith was an appointee to the New York City Planning Commission, a post that she held for 6 years. She has served on the National Planning Accreditation Board, the Board of Directors of the American Planning Assoc