Martin Bierbaum

Martin Bierbaum holds an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan; an M.C.R.P. and Ph.D. in Planning and Public Policy, as well as a J.D. from Rutgers University; and a Certificate in New Town Planning from the University of Manchester (U.K.). 

Dr. Bierbaum held several policy-making posts in New Jersey State government between 1987 and 2004 that included Assistant Director of the Office of State Planning (1987-1991), New Jersey's first Director of Environmental Planning (1991-1995) and Quality Management Coordinator (1995-1998) both within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. He also served as Special Assistant to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner for State Plan Implementation (1998-2002); and as Deputy Policy Director in the Governor’s Policy Office (2002-2004). 

In January 2004, Dr. Bierbaum was named Executive Director of the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey. This Center is Federal- and State- funded. Its primary purpose is to provide technical assistance, grants and training to enhance planning capacity among New Jersey’s county and municipal governments to promote smart growth and encourage more sustainable development. Dr. Bierbaum also taught undergraduate planning courses at the College. 

Dr. Bierbaum won the Distinguished Leadership in Planning Award from the N.J. Chapter of the American Planning Association in November 2006. In 2007 he was enlisted as principal author of the third iteration of the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan, which he submitted to the New Jersey Office of Smart Growth in February 2009 and is currently under consideration by the New Jersey State Planning Commission. 

Dr. Bierbaum assumed the post of Associate Director of the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland in July 2009.