FAICP, Hon. FPIA

Mitchell, a principal with McAdams, a land planning and design company, brings a wealth of experience to his role. With over 40 years in the field, he is an award-winning planner and a trusted advisor in urban planning, parks, and public space planning. His international recognition for leadership and contributions to contemporary planning issues testify to his expertise. Mitchell's extensive experience is further demonstrated by his roles as the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation commissioner, Chief Planning Officer in Raleigh, NC, and president of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Mitchell is regarded as one of the nation’s most celebrated urban thinkers. His influence is underscored by numerous accolades, including being selected to Planetizen’s list of the 100 Most Influential Urbanists (2017 and 2023), named an honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (2017), and inducted as a fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (2014) and the Academy of the Social Sciences (2016). He has also been named an honorary fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia (2015) and an honorary lifetime member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (2014). His impact extends globally, having been honored as one of the top 100 City Innovators in the world by UBM Future Cities and recognized by the Urban Times as one of the top international thought leaders of the built environment. In 2021, William Peace University conferred him with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humanities, and in 2020, he was selected by Avenue Magazine as one of five Urbanists on New York City’s Power List. His contributions to the field were further acknowledged in 2021 when he was honored by ASLA-NY with the President’s Award for Design Excellence in the Public Realm. 

Education is a cornerstone of Mitchell's career, and he has shared his knowledge and passion for urban planning with students at several institutions such as Harvard University, Hunter College, Brooklyn College, Pratt Institute, and North Carolina State University. His commitment to education was further demonstrated in 2024 when the University of North Carolina appointed him a professor of practice (2024-2029). Mitchell's academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Pratt Institute and continued with a master’s in urban planning from Hunter College. He is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners, a testament to his dedication to the field.

of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners. Mitchell is one of the nation’s most celebrated urban thinkers. He was selected to Planetizen’s list of the 100 Most Influential Urbanists in the world. In addition, he has been honored as one of the top 100 City Innovators in the world by UBM Future Cities, and the Urban Times named him one of the top international thought leaders of the built environment.