Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter launches Penn initiative connecting past mayors with future leaders
The first-of-its-kind Public Service and Policy Initiative brings accomplished local governing executives to Penn to translate experience into research, talent development, and policy innovation.
5 min. read
Michael A. Nutter (center), former Mayor of Philadelphia and managing director of the Public Service and Policy Initiative, with inaugural Impact Scholars Kasim Reed (left), former Mayor of Atlanta, and GT Bynum (right), former Mayor of Tulsa.
“From its earliest days, Penn has been a place where civic leaders converge to share their experiences and deepen their knowledge for the betterment of society, and the Impact Scholars Program continues the tradition,” said Weitzman dean and Paley Professor Fritz Steiner. “At a time when young Americans are expressing greater pessimism about civic life, it’s critical we connect them with public servants who are committed to transforming research into results.”
The Impact Scholars Program is a unique U.S. fellowship designed specifically for former local public executives. Built as a two-way exchange, the program gives experienced civic leaders a platform to:
Advance unfinished policy work;
Translate hard-won lessons into actionable guidance for other cities and future leaders; and
Connect directly with the next generation of changemakers.
(Left to right) Fritz Steiner, Dean and Paley Professor, Weitzman School of Design; Michael A. Nutter, Former Mayor of Philadelphia; J. Larry Jameson, President, University of Pennsylvania; Kasim Reed, Former Mayor of Atlanta; and G.T. Bynum, Former Mayor of Tulsa, attend a breakfast on Penn’s campus to launch the Impact Scholars Program.
(Image: Kait Privitera)
“Serving as Mayor of Atlanta taught me that the toughest challenges cities face—including expanding economic opportunity, job creation, building a city where everyone can afford to live, fiscal strength, and keeping people safe—are never solved in a single term or even two terms. They require effort and constant vigilance,” said Reed. “The Impact Scholars program offers something rare: the chance for us to take what we learned in the arena and put it to work alongside Penn’s researchers and students who will serve as the next generation of leaders. I am grateful to Mayor Nutter and Penn for building this bridge between experience and the future.”
“I am honored to join Mayor Reed as an Impact Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania,” said Bynum. “My greatest hope for our country is in local government, where leaders are still expected to work with a broad range of people and beliefs to deliver practical results. I am excited to work with and educate Penn students, who will be the future leaders of American communities. And I am very grateful to be invited to join this program by Mayor Michael Nutter, who has been a mentor and hero of mine for over a decade.”
In addition to cultivating the next generation of civic talent, Reed and Bynum will collaborate with Penn researchers to translate local data into actionable strategies for local governments. Their feedback will inform the Philadelphia Economic Equity Project (PEEP), PSPI’s research group studying economic mobility in Philadelphia, ensuring that PEEP’s work is grounded in the realities of governing.
Together, these programs bridge academic research, community data, and public leadership—creating direct pathways for students and researchers to collaborate with former local governing executives on cities’ most persistent economic and social challenges.
“Cities face increasingly complex challenges that require leaders who bridge research and real-world practice,” said Nutter, who is the managing director of the Public Service and Policy Initiative. “My work with institutions like Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard’s Institute of Politics, University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, and Columbia University’s Institute of Global Politics at SIPA inspired me to launch the Impact Scholars Program—a dedicated space where experienced local public executives can reflect on what they’ve learned, advance ideas that deserve a second life, and work alongside researchers and students to develop next generation solutions. I am honored to welcome former Mayors Kasim Reed and G.T. Bynum as our inaugural scholars.”
Throughout the semester, scholars will lead seminars for Penn students, and advise on research, white papers, and policy briefs for local decision makers.
Inaugural Scholars
Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed served two terms as the city’s 59th mayor from 2010 to 2018. During one of the nation’s most challenging economic periods, his administration restored Atlanta’s fiscal health through eight consecutive balanced budgets, increased city reserves from $7.4 million to $200 million, implemented pension reform, expanded public safety, and earned eight consecutive credit-rating upgrades. Reed is widely recognized nationally for his leadership in urban governance and economic development.
Former Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum served from 2016 to 2024 after eight years on the Tulsa City Council. He guided Tulsa through the COVID-19 pandemic and major natural disasters while leading transformative public investments, including the Gathering Place, Gilcrease Museum, and Zink Lake projects. His administration also initiated the search for victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, expanded civic innovation, and attracted significant private-sector investment to the city. Today, Bynum advises national organizations including Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Aspen Institute, and Johns Hopkins University on leadership and civic innovation.
For more information about the Public Service and Policy Initiative, visit www.design.upenn.edu/pspi.
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
