GRACIE MANSION CONSERVANCY NAMES ANDREA SHAPIRO DAVIS AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Mark Gold
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 1, 2025
New York, New York – The Board of Directors of the Gracie Mansion Conservancy (www.graciemansion.org), which was created in 1981 to assist in the restoration and maintenance of Gracie Mansion, today announced that it has named Andrea Shapiro Davis as its new Executive Director, effective April 1, 2025. Ms. Davis succeeds Rhonda Binda, who has led the Conservancy for the past two years.
Ms. Davis served as Senior Advisor and Director of Public Service Engagement for Mayor Eric Adams, where she worked to enhance professional development and career advancement opportunities for City employees, and helped to lead innovative Mayoral initiatives. She has had a long and distinguished career in public service, including spending eight years leading private fundraising efforts at the City University of New York (CUNY), serving as Executive Director of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s Office of Appointments from 2002 to 2013, and serving as the Director of Development and External Relations at the CUNY School of Law from 1993 to 2002. Ms. Davis received her undergraduate degree from Queens College and her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law.
"We are exceptionally fortunate to have Andrea Shapiro Davis assume leadership of the Gracie Mansion Conservancy during this critical period, " stated Camille Joseph Varlack, Deputy Mayor for Administration and Chair of the Gracie Mansion Conservancy. "Her unmatched expertise in fundraising, extensive experience in leading public and private partnerships, and deep knowledge in government operations are precisely what we need to ensure that Gracie Mansion is restored and preserved as one of the City's historical assets. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Rhonda Binda for her contributions in this position over the past two years."
“I am both humbled and excited about taking on this new role leading the Gracie Mansion Conservancy,” said Ms. Shapiro Davis. “Gracie Mansion is not just the Mayor’s home – it is also one of the City’s architectural treasures. I want to thank the Board for showing their confidence in me, and I look forward to working with them to ensure not just that the mansion is restored and maintained, but also that we open up the public portions of the house to allow more visitors to experience its unique splendor.”
About Gracie Mansion: Gracie Mansion was initially constructed in 1799 as a country home for merchant Archibald Gracie. The mansion is one of the oldest surviving wooden structures in Manhattan and has been the official residence of New York City mayors since Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia moved there with his family in 1942.
About the Gracie Mansion Conservancy: The Gracie Mansion Conservancy was established in 1981 by Mayor Edward Koch and Joan Davidson as a public/private partnership to perform a major restoration of the house. The Conservancy continues to operate as a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to enhancing and enlivening the mansion, including preserving and honoring Gracie Mansion’s historical elements while also making sure it remains inclusive and reflective of the city it serves.
