Northeastern University has appointed Kathy Spiegelman to the new position of vice president and chief of campus planning and development. A proven leader in real estate, planning, and community affairs, Spiegelman will bring focused leadership to a broad range of activities involved with campus planning, real estate, and facilities.

The position was created to ensure that Northeastern’s campuses and facilities meet the needs of the university as it innovates and expands to deliver the highest quality education and research, as well as enhanced spaces for student life.

“Kathy’s leadership and expertise in campus planning and development will help to support and improve our facilities for research, teaching, and student life,” remarked Steve Kadish, senior vice president and chief operating officer. “She will ensure that the university’s physical resources keep pace with our core values and ambitions.”

Spiegelman will be responsible for the effective use of existing land and buildings on Northeastern’s main campus in Boston, its satellite graduate campuses in Charlotte, N.C., and Seattle, and other university facilities, including sites in the Massachusetts towns of Burlington, Dedham, Nahant, and Ashland. Her work will include development of new opportunities within Northeastern’s footprint, as well as potential sites and locations for future programs.

“Northeastern is engaged in an exciting process of transformation as it welcomes innovative ideas for teaching and research,” Spiegelman said. “I look forward to being part of ensuring that the university’s physical resources will be ready to support this transformation in Boston and beyond.”

Spiegelman joins Northeastern with decades of real estate and physical planning experience. She spent more than 25 years at Harvard University, where she led a number of key development projects involving coordination with design and planning consultants, representatives of Harvard faculties, and members of the surrounding communities to launch a 20-year building program and infrastructure plan.

Spiegelman established her own consulting firm in 2011, where she worked with educational institutions, municipalities, redevelopment agencies, and other organizations on an array of high-profile projects and initiatives. She teaches in the core urban planning program at Harvard and is actively involved with civic boards and community service.

Spiegelman is a graduate of Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in American civilization. She also holds a master’s degree in historic preservation from the Columbia University School of Architecture and Planning.

Spiegelman will join Northeastern on March 1.