Gretchen Rabinkin

Gretchen Rabinkin, AIA, Affiliate ASLA is executive director of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) – the Massachusetts and Maine chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The BSLA serves to connect, convene, and support landscape architects throughout the arc of their careers, and advance the creation of extraordinary – resilient, equitable, beautiful – environments throughout the region and the world.

A licensed architect and longtime educator, she works at the intersection of individuals, organizations, and community groups to improve the spaces of everyday experience. With BSLA, Gretchen collaborates with chapter leaders to guide strategic direction and oversees all operations, including organizing landscape architects and students in engagement initiatives, such as with Boston Green Academy, Chelsea GreenRoots, and the Friends of the East Boston Greenway. Prior to BSLA, Gretchen led the civic and community initiatives of Boston’s AIA chapter, where she initiated and helped coordinate community resiliency preparedness activities with multiple neighborhood and academic partners, led the BSA Urban Design Workshops, and served on the steering committee for the Boston Living with Water International Design Competition.

For nearly three decades, Gretchen has taught introductory design to professional, pre-professional, and youth audiences. Currently, she is visiting faculty in architectural studies at Amherst College and co-directs “The Complete City” summer design program at the University of Southern Maine. She is managing editor of BSLA’s annual Fieldbook – the most recent theme, “CLIMATE” -- and former deputy editor of ArchitectureBoston. Gretchen received a BA from Smith College and a MArch from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.