Maxinne Leighton
Director of Marketing/Business Development
Jaros Baum & Bolles
Virtual Roundtable: Reflecting on 2020 and the Pandemic: An opportunity to build a more diverse and inclusive profession
Maxinne Rhea Leighton has held leadership roles in design firms for the past twenty years. A senior-level strategist in business development, marketing and communications for Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B), she has facilitated panels on climate change and professional practice at the United Nations and the NYC AIA. Her pioneering research on climate/disaster impactful events and the intersectionality of diversity and inclusion within the design profession was the focus of her doctoral dissertation.
As vice president of Women in International Security (WIIS-NY), her commitment to advancing equity and security in the built environment was intensified post-9/11 as a member of the initial Ground Zero planning team. Post-Hurricane Sandy she was part of a number of recovery efforts, including Rebuild by Design, NYC SIRR and Pratt Institute’s RAMP initiative. An honorary council member for the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization Global, she is also an advisory council member for Save Ellis Island and a board member of AMFP-NYC (Association of Medical Facility Professionals). Ms. Leighton is co-author of Educating for Social Justice, A Dangerous Game: Matilda Joslyn Gage Center (Journal of Museum Studies), and co-editor for The Future of Cities: An Integrated Approach to Urban Challenges; co-author of Grand Central: Gateway to a Million Lives (recipient of Chartered Builders of the United Kingdom Silver Literary Awards) and author of An Ellis Island Christmas, a book for children about immigration.