The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation is pleased to announce that Maurice Cox has joined its Board of Directors. Maurice brings a wealth of professional experience as an architect, urban planner, educator, and civic leader and currently serves as the Emma Bloomberg Professor in Residence of Urban Planning and Design at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Maurice’s broad contributions to the built environment include private practice, higher education, and public service. Prior to his current faculty role, Maurice most recently was Commissioner of Planning and Development for the City of Chicago between 2019-2023, where he focused on neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing programs, and sustainable development. He was Director of Planning and Development for Detroit, Michigan from 2015-2019 and led efforts to reinvigorate neighborhoods through community-driven initiatives.
Previously, Maurice was the Design Director of the National Endowment of the Arts under President George W. Bush and President Obama. He also served as mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia from 2002-2004. His academic credentials are peerless as he has served on the faculty of Syracuse University, University of Virginia, Harvard GSD, and Tulane University. Additionally, he practiced architecture for ten years in Florence, Italy.
In March, the Richard H. Driehaus Prize jury named Maurice Cox the 2024 laureate of the Henry Hope Reed Award. The peer jury conferred this honor in recognition of Maurice’s contributions to education and the importance of preserving the social and built fabric of communities and his commitment to public service.
Executive Director Anne Lazar noted, “Throughout his career, Maurice’s leadership has demonstrated how thoughtful planning and community engagement support the development of vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities. I am thrilled to welcome Maurice to the board as we collaborate to further the mission of the Foundation. His decades of experience and deep knowledge of Chicago will support Richard’s longstanding vision for the important role philanthropy plays in addressing the city’s needs.”
