The
Penn Urban Research Institute:
Specializing in All Aspects
of Urban Environment
President
Judith Rodin will announce the creation of the Penn Urban Research Institute during a 4 p.m. address, The University
and The City, on Thursday, March 4, at the School
of Design, Room B-1, Meyerson Hall.
The
Penn Urban Research Institute will be an umbrella structure
that will integrate and coordinate the research, education
and practice of experts in urbanism from Penn's 12
schools.
The
institute will develop and disseminate knowledge to
those charged with managing the growth, problems and
design of urban environments at the local, national
and international levels in the decades ahead. By serving
as a fulcrum for research findings, academic pursuits
and service learning projects related to urban issues,
the Penn Urban Research Institute is poised to become the authoritative
source, locally, nationally and internationally.
In
creating the Penn Urban Research Institute, the University
is building on its award-winning success in transforming
the safety and cleanliness of its West Philadelphia
neighborhood as well as providing new retail amenities
and home ownership, education and business opportunities
to the residents.
In
her March 4 speech, Dr. Rodin will discuss the Penn-assisted
urban revitalization efforts to a university-wide audience
that will include the School of Design board of overseers
and guests, as well as students, faculty, alumni and
the general public. She also will introduce the Penn Urban Research Institute co-directors, Dr. Eugenie Birch,
chair and professor of city and regional planning at
the School of Design, and Dr. Susan Wachter, Richard
B. Worley Professor of Financial Management and professor
of real estate and finance at the Wharton School.
Dr.
Birch has a long history of commitment to urbanism
having served as president of the Association of Collegiate
Schools of Planning, co-editor of the Journal of
the American Planning Association, and president
of the Society of American City and Regional Planning
History. From 1990 through 1995, Dr. Birch was a member
of the New York City Planning Commission. She joined
Penn's faculty in 1998.
Dr.
Wachter has taught at Wharton since 1972 and served
as chair of its real estate department from 1997 to
1999. She served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy
Development and Research at the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development from 1999-2001. Dr. Wachter--a
national expert in housing analysis and the first woman
to head the American Real Estate Urban Economics Association--is
the author of more than 200 publications.
As
co-directors, Dr. Birch and Dr. Wachter will be supported
by an executive committee comprised of Dr. Elijah Anderson,
SAS; Dr. Dennis Culhane, SSW; Dr. John DiIulio, SAS;
Dr. Michael Fitts, Law; Dr. Susan Furhman, GSE; Dr.
Richard Gelles, SSW; Dr. Joe Gyourko, Wharton; Dr.
Gary Hack, Design; Dr. Michael Katz, SAS; Dr. Shiriki
Kumanyika, Medicine; Dr. Janice Madden, SAS; Dr. Afaf
Meleis, Nursing; Dr. Samuel Preston, SAS; and Dr. Lawrence
Sherman, SAS. Provost Robert Barchi will chair the
executive committee.
An
external advisory board is expected to be in place
by autumn.
For
more on information the Penn Urban Research Institute, visit www.upenn.edu/uiap, call
(215) 573-8380 or e-mail Kendra Goldbas, associate
director, at kendrag@pobox.upenn.edu.