Executive Vice President

Maxine Griffith

Executive Vice President, Government and Community Affairs & Special Advisor for Campus Planning

Maxine Griffith is the Executive Vice President for Government and Community Affairs at Columbia University and Special Advisor for Campus Planning.

(212)-854-6524
(212) 854-7366
mfg30@columbia.edu

Reporting to Columbia’s president, Lee C. Bollinger, Ms. Griffith is responsible for the oversight and coordination of Columbia's collaborations with government at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as the strengthening of Columbia's many partnerships with local organizations. In addition, she is a senior member of the team planning for the University’s proposed campus expansion.

Griffith brings more than 20 years of experience and a strong background in both urban planning and government affairs. From 2000 to 2005, Griffith served as executive director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and as the Secretary (Deputy Mayor) for Strategic Planning. Previously, Griffith served in the Clinton administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), first as the Regional Representative 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 and Design, a firm providing planning, urban design, and development services to a diverse list of clients.

She has also served on the New York City Planning Commission, on the New York State Commission on the Restoration of the Capital, the national Planning Accreditation Board, and the Board of Directors of the American Planning Association. She now serves on the boards of directors of the Architectural League of New York, the Regional Plan Association, and Seeds, an organization building schools and libraries in West Africa.

Griffith was born in Harlem, graduated cum laude from Hunter College in New York, and holds a master's degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. She has taught city planning and urban design at Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Pennsylvania and is an accredited member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Tel: (212) 854-6524
Fax: (212) 854-7366
mfg30@columbia.edu

Assistant, Associate and Vice Presidents

Karen Jewett

Vice President, Government and Community Affairs

Karen Jewett organizes and manages interactions between the Office of Government and Community Affairs and various segments of the University community.  She works closely with the Office of the Provost and others, to foster dialogue within the Columbia community about neighborhood issues and concerns, in particular those surrounding the West Harlem Community Benefits Agreement.  Her University Relations & Partnerships unit also coordinates congressional internships, publishes  a Community Newsletter, and provides technical assistance and student internships to local not-for-profit organizations.

Karen previously worked at New York University, where she served as Acting Assistant Dean, Arts and Humanities Programs, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and director, Liberal Arts Programs, McGhee Division, School of Continuing and Professional Studies. She also held the title of Master Teacher at the University. Prior to her ten-year stint at NYU, Karen was the program manager for Cooper Union’s Extended Studies Program.  Karen received her A.B. from Dartmouth College in English and her M.A.,  M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Columbia University in English and Comparative Literature.
Tel: (212) 854-4434
Fax: (212) 851-7719
kej1@columbia.edu

Victoria Mason-Ailey

Associate VP, Planning and Community Affairs

Victoria Mason-Ailey heads up the Planning and Community Affairs unit, which provides analysis, coordination and communication associated with physical planning, land-use development, and zoning policy.  Victoria and her team maintain frequent contact with community leaders, public officials as well as University officials, staff and consultants.  Their activities extend from initiatives on the Morningside campus to those of the Medical Center in Upper Manhattan.

Trained as an Urban Planner with a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from Columbia and 20+ years of experience, Victoria has participated in a range of inter-agency, as well as public and private planning initiatives in several major cities, including New York City and Philadelphia.  Victoria holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Brown University and is professionally certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Tel: (212) 854-3887
Fax: (212) 851-7719
vm116@columbia.edu

Flores A. Forbes

Associate VP, Strategic Policy and Program Implementation

Flores A. Forbes coordinates economic development opportunities and entrepreneurial activities with local organizations on behalf of the Office of Government and Community Affairs.  He maintains relationships with community-based organizations, government officials, corporations, minority entrepreneurs and developers, and others.  Currently, Flores' work is largely focused on activities related to the University's proposed expansion into Manhattanville and with the Columbia Harlem Small Business Development Center, a program of the US Small Business Administration that provides technical assistance to small businesses and non profits, as well as workforce development for youth and veterans.

Flores last served as Chief Strategic Officer for the Abyssinian Development Corporation.  Prior to his tenure at Abyssinian, Flores worked for the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, where he served first as Deputy Director of Land Use Housing and Development and then as Director of Borough President Fields' Northern Manhattan Office.  Flores has also written extensively; his work includes a study of his life as a radical in the 1970's.

Flores holds an undergraduate degree from San Francisco State University.  He received a Masters in Urban Planning from New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and was a Revson Fellow at Columbia. 
Tel: (212) 851-0285
Fax: (212) 666-1952
faf2106@columbia.edu

Theodore J. Gershon

Associate VP, Community Based Initiatives & Special Advisor, Workforce Development

Theodore J. Gershon is charged with the design, implementation and management of workforce development initiatives associated with the University’s proposed campus expansion into Manhattanville. His work requires that he maintain frequent contact with the New York City and State Departments of Education, community-based organizations, government sponsored workforce development agencies, community leaders, public officials as well as University officials, staff and consultants.  His activities include providing consulting services related to workforce development to the University and the community and faith based organizations located in Upper Manhattan.

Ted has over 40 years experience in education and workforce development. He has served as a consultant on workforce development in Federal Empowerment Zones with the U.S. Department of Education and assisted The White House Community Empowerment Board in the design and implementation of workforce development programs. Additionally, he served as Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Education in New Jersey and participated in the management team responsible for state operated educational facilities, academic and vocational education in state correctional and mental health facilities, New Jersey Job Corps, and research and demonstration sites providing vocational and technical training. Ted has a Master’s Degree in Vocational and Technical Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education of the Handicapped.
Tel: (212) 854-1116
Fax: 9212) 666-1952
tjg2110@columbia.edu

Marcia Lynn Sells

Associate VP, Program Development and Initiatives

Marcia coordinates strategic planning, communications, and program development with a focus on law, arts and culture.  She and her staff execute community outreach plans, develop partnerships and joint programming with University departments and schools, local public and private schools, and with the arts and cultural communities and organizations of upper Manhattan . They also coordinate partnerships with the Law School and community law offices. 

Marcia started life in New York as a ballerina with the Dance Theatre of Harlem before going to college.  After receiving her Law Degree, she spent five years as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, trying rape and child abuse cases, and moved from there to Chadbourne and Parke as an Associate in the Litigation Department. After leaving the law firm, Marcia returned to Columbia and was appointed Dean of Students at the Law School.  She left Columbia to work for the National Basketball Association as Vice President of Organizational Development and Human Resources  for 4 years before leaving the NBA to join Reuters America as Vice President of Human Resources.  Marcia is a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia University School of Law.
Tel: (212) 854-0314
Fax: (212) 666-1952
mls19@columbia.edu

Loftin Flowers

Assistant Vice President, Government Relations

Loftin Flowers works with the Executive Vice President and other senior managers on a wide range of matters related to Federal, State and City government affairs.  He and his staff are charged with maintaining communication between the University and its partners in government.  They work to ensure that students, faculty, and staff are informed of legislative and regulatory developments, while government officials and other public-policy makers are helped to understand the contributions made by Columbia and America ’s research universities.

Loftin is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Haverford College with a B.A. in history. He comes to Columbia from Washington, D.C. , where he worked most recently at the national offices of the Children's Defense Fund.
Tel: (212) 854-3738
Fax: (212) 666-1952
llf2105@columbia.edu

Officers and Support Staff

Junior M. Benjamin

Special Projects Manager

Working closely with the Executive Vice President and Associate Vice Presidents in the Office of Government and Community Affairs, Junior Benjamin works on event planning and coordination and the execution of special projects and activities. He is the primary coordinator of the University’s blood drive campaigns, skin cancer screening, Everybody Wins reading program, and bone marrow drives.   Junior works directly with the Associate Director of Budget and Administration to ensure the Office's compliance with Columbia 's financial  and HR protocols, and is responsible for the maintenance of GCA’s Web presence.

A native of Grenada, W.I., Junior taught high school business and social studies in his homeland before migrating to Brooklyn, New York . He graduated magna cum laude from Baruch College in 2001 with a B.B.A. in Human Resources Management. He joined Columbia as the Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery at Columbia University 's Medical Center (CUMC), and while there completed an M.P.A. Degree (summa cum laude).  Junior is an active volunteer with NY Cares, iMentor organization and the Brooklyn Public library, serving as mentor, tutor, and adult literacy provider.  He is a recent graduate of the Adult Literacy and Leadership / Organization and Leadership Program at Columbia's Teachers College.
Tel: (212) 854-3716
Fax: (212) 666-1952
jb2058@columbia.edu

Kevin Brannon

Administrative Coordinator

Kevin Brannon is an Administrative Coordinator for the Office of Government & Community Affairs, working with Vice-President Karen Jewett.  Kevin edits the GCA Community Newsletter, coordinates GCA’s Community Internship program, and assists in outreach activities for the campus.

Born in Little Rock Arkansas, Kevin received B.A.’s in English and Philosophy from Hendrix College in 1999.  As a United States Peace Corps Volunteer, Kevin taught conversational English in Rakvere, Estonia before moving to New York .  He comes to Columbia University from Volunteers of America Greater New York where he provided administrative support for one of that organization’s housing programs.  He received his Masters Degree from Columbia’s School of Journalism in 2009.
Tel: (212) 854-3117
Fax: (212) 851-7719
kb2332@columbia.edu

Yanira Cantres

Project Coordinator

Yanira Cantres works with Vice President Karen Jewett.  Her work focuses primarily on space coordination and event planning assistance to community non-profits within the Columbia community.  Additionally, she coordinates special projects and student related activities.  Her efforts facilitate inter-departmental communications between the Morningside campus and the wider university community.

Yanira is a native of the Bronx and holds a B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Social Work, from St. John's University . 
Tel: (212) 854-2387
Fax: (212) 851-7719
yc2178@columbia.edu

Lauren L. Feighan

Senior Project Coordinator

Lauren Feighan works directly with Executive Vice President, Maxine Griffith, on a range of projects.  She also frequently works closely with Associate Vice Presidents on the coordination of special events and program initiatives.  

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Lauren attended Cornell University and received a B.S. in Policy Analysis and Management, with a concentration in Family and Social Welfare.  She has past experience in the field of community development. Previously, Lauren served as Program Assistant at Seedco, in New York City, in the areas of workforce and economic development, and most recently spent time in Tamil Nadu, India as Regional Associate with an international nonprofit organization.  She is currently working on her M.S.W. degree at the School of Social Work .
Tel: (212) 854-5710
Fax: (212) 851-7719
llf2108@columbia.edu

Joan Griffith-Lee

Senior Project Coordinator

Joan Griffith-Lee works with Vice President Karen Jewett and other senior staff in the Office of Government & Community Affairs.  Her primary role is to manage the Columbia Community Service Annual Appeal, which is an on-campus campaign that raises money to help fund more than 55 local community organizations.  

Joan has worked in various capacities within the University for the past seventeen (17) years, and with the Office of Government and Community Affairs for the last ten years.  She completed her B.A. in Sociology at Columbia University ’s School of General Studies and her M.P.A. in Public Management and Institutional Analysis at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.  She also achieved a Certificate of Completion in the Leadership Development Program with the Columbia Business School - Institute for Not-for-Profit Management.  Joan also serves on the boards of several community based organizations in her hometown.
Tel: (212) 854-4288
Fax: (212) 666-1952
jeg7@columbia.edu

Valerie G. James

Administrative Officer

Valerie works with Associate Vice Presidents Ted Gershon and Flores Forbes, providing research and coordination for their work on workforce development, work readiness and labor relations as well as education and jobs training.

Formerly, Valerie worked as the Administrative Coordinator to Roger Toussaint, President of Transport Workers Union Local 100.  Prior to that, she was the Regional Representative for United States Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman in the northeast region, and Assistant to the Vice President of MacAndrews & Forbes Holding, Inc.  She has also been the administrative assistant to the vice president for Merrill Lynch Capital Markets and, to the Managing Director of Bear Stearns & Co.  Additionally, Valerie worked on the Clinton/Gore campaigns and with former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins.

Valerie received her Associates degree at New York University and plans to return to school for her Bachelors degree in Communications.
Tel: (212) 854-3394
Fax: (212) 851-7719
vgj2101@columbia.edu

Eric Kuo

Project Coordinator

Eric Kuo works with Executive Vice President Maxine Griffith, Director of Government Relations Loftin Flowers, and other senior staff in the Office of Government and Community Affairs. He is the University’s liaison with area elected officials and city government and works to ensure Columbia University ’s interests are addressed at all levels of government.

Eric is a native of Maryland and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York . He completed his B.A. in Chemistry at New York University . Eric came from the New York City Council, and has worked on a number of political campaigns in New York .
Tel: (212) 854-6998
Fax: (212) 851-7719
ejk2140@columbia.edu

Chaz Macrina

Administrative Coordinator

Tel: (212) 854-3638
Fax: (212) 666-1952
cm2942@columbia.edu

Jalica Nieves

Administrative Coordinator

Tel: (212) 854-6648
Fax: (212) 666-1952
jn2279@columbia.edu

Norma Pressley

Administrative Coordinator

Tel: (212) 854-5301
Fax: (212) 666-1952
nvp3@columbia.edu

Annette Ralph

Administrative Coordinator

Tel: (212) 854-7011
Fax: (212) 666-1952
ar2635@columbia.edu

Nathan Robb

Project Coordinator

Nathan works closely with Loftin Flowers, Karen Jewett and Maxine Griffith on a range of issues related to government affairs. His work focuses on federal and state relations for the University, with an emphasis on policy, as well as federal funding at the appropriations and research grant levels. He also helps coordinate federal relations with the science research community at the University.

Prior to joining Government and Community Affairs at Columbia, Nathan was Political Analyst at the Consulate General of Japan in New York, where he served as an adviser on U.S. politics and U.S. foreign policy. And before that he worked in the press office at the Clinton Foundation in Harlem, and in UN-U.S. Congressional relations at the Humpty Dumpty Institute in New York. Nathan received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Chicago.     
Tel: (212) 854-4611
Fax: (212) 851-7719
nwr2102@columbia.edu