NYU Rudin Center's 15th Annual Celebration of Excellence in Transportation: Advancing Mobility in a Changing World

The NYU Rudin Center for Transportation hosted our 15th annual “Excellence in Transportation” event on May 8, 2025, at 3 Times Square. The event featured Clay Shirky, NYU’s Vice Provost for AI and Technology in Education, who delivered a keynote address on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on city planning. He also explored the challenges of embracing and implementing emerging technologies. Additionally, Michael Rudin, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Rudin, spoke about the importance of urban mobility and his family’s long-standing commitment to advancing transportation in New York City.

Industry leaders participated in dynamic conversations about the future of transit development and research in a time of shifting political priorities. The NYU Rudin Center is deeply grateful to our partners and generous supporters, whose continued commitment enables us to advance transportation policy and management through research, public forums, and student development.

A highlight of the event was an intricately designed cake shaped like Times Square—our event venue—that delighted attendees by taking selfies using embedded tech.

Below are several highlights of the event; photos by Don Pollard.

Bill Rudin, Co- Executive Chairman, Rudin Management Company; Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation; and Michael Rudin, Co-CEO, Rudin Management Company
Bill Rudin, Co- Executive Chairman, Rudin Management Company; Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation; and Michael Rudin, Co-CEO, Rudin Management Company 

 

Bill Rudin, Co- Executive Chairman, Rudin Management Company; Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation; Barry Langer, Executive Vice President - Development and Co-Head of Real Estate, Vornado Realty Trust; and Janno Lieber, CEO and Chairman, MTA
Bill Rudin, Co- Executive Chairman, Rudin Management Company; Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation; Barry Langer, Executive Vice President - Development and Co-Head of Real Estate, Vornado Realty Trust; and Janno Lieber, CEO and Chairman, MTA

 

 

Jamie Torres-Springer, President of Design and Construction, MTA; and Dan Garodnick, President, City Planning Commission
Jamie Torres-Springer, President of Design and Construction, MTA; and Dan Garodnick, President, City Planning Commission

 

 

Dani Simons, Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Alstom; and Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation
Dani Simons, Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Alstom; and Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation 

 

 

 

Jeannie Kwon, Vice President, Mega Programs and Capital Delivery, Amtrak; Julia Kerson, Deputy Director for Infrastructure, NYS; and Midori Valdivia, Founder and Principal, Midori Valdivia Consulting
Jeannie Kwon, Vice President, Mega Programs and Capital Delivery, Amtrak; Julia Kerson, Deputy Director for Infrastructure, NYS; and Midori Valdivia, Founder and Principal, Midori Valdivia Consulting

 

 

 

Nivardo Lopez, Principal Deputy Chief Program Officer, Gateway Development Commission; Parth Doshi, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group; Selim Zalma, Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group
Nivardo Lopez, Principal Deputy Chief Program Officer, Gateway Development Commission; Parth Doshi, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group; Selim Zalma, Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group
Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center, delivers opening remarks
Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center, delivers opening remarks

 

 

 

Clay Shirky, Vice Provost for AI and Technology in Education, NYU, delivered a keynote talk
Clay Shirky,  Vice Provost for AI and Technology in Education, NYU, delivered a keynote talk

 

 

 

Attendees listen to remarks

 

Demetrius Crichlow, President, MTA NYCT; Lee Sander, Founder, NYU Rudin Center; Jeannie Kwon, Vice President, Mega Programs and Capital Delivery, Amtrak; and Nate Gilbertson, Vice President, Organizational Resiliency, MTA Metro-North Railroad.
Demetrius Crichlow, President, MTA NYCT; Lee Sander, Founder, NYU Rudin Center; Jeannie Kwon, Vice President, Mega Programs and Capital Delivery, Amtrak; and Nate Gilbertson, Vice President, Organizational Resiliency, MTA Metro-North Railroad
Demetrius Crichlow, President, MTA NYCT; and Chris Pangilinan, Acting Senior Vice President, Department of Buses, MTA NYCT
Demetrius Crichlow, President, MTA NYCT; and Chris Pangilinan, Acting Senior Vice President, Department of Buses, MTA NYCT

 

Patti Ornst, Director, New York State and Local Government Affairs at Delta Air Lines; Dan Garodnick, President, City Planning Commission; and Meera Joshi, Former Deputy Mayor for Operations, New York City.
Patti Ornst, Director, New York State and Local Government Affairs at Delta Air Lines; Dan Garodnick, President, City Planning Commission; and Meera Joshi, Former Deputy Mayor for Operations, New York City. 

 

 

An interactive streetscape cake that took photos of attendees
An interactive streetscape cake that took photos of attendees, designed and created by Abigail Edgecliffe-Johnson.