Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
Geoffrey John Booth, program coordinator of the Master of Science in Land Development program at Texas A&M, has been designated the Nicole and Kevin Youngblood Professor in Residential Land Development.
The professorship is part of the Mitchell Initiative, a $2,300,000 gift to the Texas A&M Foundation in 2006 from the Mitchell family, founders and owners of History Maker Homes. The gift supports the Sandy and Bryan Mitchell Master Builder Chair, three professorships, scholarships and a multidisciplinary studio at the College of Architecture and a fellowship at the Mays Business School.
Prior to joining the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning faculty this fall, Booth, an associate professor of urban planning, served as senior fellow in sustainable development for Environmental Resources Management, an environmental consulting service.
While at ERM, he advised for the Santee Cooper South Carolina Public Service Authority on the sustainable development of its extensive real estate portfolio and consulted the city of Alexandria, Va. on sustainable development and green building policy development and implementation.
He also helped the city of Rockville, Md., formulate and implement a parks, recreation and open space plan and worked with the World Bank on Global City Indicators.
Booth came to the United States from Australia in 1999 to work for the Washington-based Urban Land Institute, where he became vice president of global development, and spearheaded the organization’s expansion into Asia and Latin America and established a partnership with the World Bank.
In his 30-year career he has conceptualized, developed, financed, leased, managed and sold real estate projects and portfolios; run real estate joint venture companies and trusts; drafted, administered and defended public policy and legislative initiatives; provided leadership and direction to public, private and not-for-profit organizations; authored and edited a range of books, publications and opinion pieces, and has been a keynote speaker at conferences in Australia, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
Born in Australia in 1957, he holds academic qualifications in urban planning, public administration, applied finance and investment.
The Youngblood professorship supports Booth’s teaching, research and professional development. It is also meant to encourage cooperation with the Mitchell Master Builder Chair, held by Jorge Vanegas, dean of the Texas A&M College of Architecture, and the other Mitchell professorships, as well as other faculty with a teaching focus on residential development, construction and design.
- Posted: Sept. 21, 2009 -
