Samuel Ratensky Memorial Lecture: Shaun Donovan

Shaun Donovan has dedicated his life to public service, tackled the biggest challenges facing New York City and the nation and fought for people and communities too often left behind. 

Donovan served in President Obama’s Cabinet for his full eight years in office. From January, 2009 to July, 2014, Donovan was the 15th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he led the fight against the nation’s unprecedented foreclosure crisis. Under his leadership, HUD helped families rent or buy affordable homes, revitalized distressed communities, fought discrimination and dramatically reduced homelessness. After Hurricane Sandy hit his home town, President Obama asked him to lead the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, leaving a stronger, more resilient region than before the storm hit. 

In July, 2014, he was sworn in as the 40th Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. At OMB, Donovan increased investment in key domestic and national security priorities that grew the economy, protected our country and increased opportunity. And he oversaw regulations that reduced inequality, expanded health care, improved education and fought climate change. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Donovan served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. 

Deeply affected by the crisis he saw around him growing up in New York City in the 1970s, Donovan volunteered in a homeless shelter during college and interned for the National Coalition for the Homeless when he graduated. After studying housing in graduate school, he returned to work for the nonprofit Community Preservation Corporation in the Bronx and across New York City. 

Michael Kimmelmanis the architecture critic and founder of Headway at The New York Times. His work has often focused on urban affairs, public space, infrastructure and social equity as well as on new buildings and designs. He was the paper’s chief art critic; and, based in Berlin, created the Abroad column, covering cultural and political affairs across Europe and the Middle East.