Penn IUR Welcomes 2022-23 Fellows in Urban Leadership
September 19, 2022
As a rising junior at Wharton minoring in urban studies, Tani Madichetti applied to the Penn IUR Fellowship in Urban Leadership because “although Penn's curriculum and faculty are amongst the most respected in the world, sitting in a classroom cannot compare to learning from real-world experiences.” Madichetti will get her chance to connect in person with city leaders in Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C. as she joins 15 other Penn students who are members of the fellowship’s fifth cohort this year.
The Penn IUR Fellowship in Urban Leadership program provides an exceptional group of Penn undergraduates with the unique opportunity to engage with established urban leaders in dialogues and site visits. Each month, the fellows hear from featured speakers, such as Michael Nutter, former Mayor, City of Philadelphia; Matt Bergheiser, CEO, University City District; and Rebecca Rhynhart, Controller, City of Philadelphia, among others. Through these no-holds-barred discussions, fellows gain insight into the role of visionary leadership and action in urbanization that is both equitable and sustainable.
“Through monthly meetings with innovators throughout the year, the fellows learn how urban leadership is truly spread across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors,” says Penn IUR Co-Director Eugénie L. Birch. “The opportunity to connect with an array of local leaders helps prepare students for their own futures as leaders in an increasingly urban world,” says Penn IUR Co-Director Susan M. Wachter.
In addition, the fellows will travel to New York and Washington, D.C, where Penn IUR Advisory Board Chair, Mark Rosenberg, Principal, MHR Fund Management LLC, and Penn IUR Advisory Board Member, Melanie Franco Nussdorf, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson, will curate a series of site visits and learning sessions with local leaders. “The field trips allow the fellows to see a variety of different approaches to urban issues and see these issues through a national lens,” says Nussdorf.
Rosenberg notes, “By increasing these connections to leaders in Washington, D.C. and New York, the fellows will have greater exposure to the issues facing cities and the people addressing them. While each city’s issues may be unique, there is much to be gained by broadening the focus to compare and contrast specific approaches and outcomes from multiple cities.”