About me
Kathleen M. Galvin, FAIA is a registered architect with her own practice based in Charlottesville, VA (Galvin Architects). Throughout her professional and political career, she has demonstrated a commitment to creating authentic, equitable and sustainable places.
Ms. Galvin was the lead designer on several Virginia-based projects such as Albemarle County’s Crozet and Places 29 Master Plans, Crozet’s Old Trail Village, the Town of Orange’s form-based code and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District’s Eastern Planning Initiative. For over fifteen years, she taught courses in walkable, transit-ready neighborhood design at the University of Virginia (UVA.) Ms. Galvin served two terms as a Charlottesville City Councilor and one term as a City School Board member (2008-2020) where she focused on: creating pathways out of poverty; working with communities to reimagine their own neighborhoods to be more walkable and accessible to jobs, healthy food, and affordable housing; transforming city streets and bridges to be safe for walkers, cyclists and motorists alike; reforming the city's zoning laws to better reflect the community’s values; making government more effective; and designing schools to be more healthy and sustainable.
Ms. Galvin received the highest distinction in the profession of architecture when she was invited to join the National American Institute of Architects (AIA) “College of Fellows” in 2021. She serves on the Sorensen Advisory Board (an affiliate of the UVA Karsh Center for Democracy,) the Center for Zoning Solutions Advisory Committee (an affiliate of Smart Growth America) and the Kindlewood (formerly Friendship Court) Advisory Committee. She has a Bachelor of Arts in economics (with distinction) and geography from Boston University and a master’s in architecture from the University of Virginia (UVA.)
