College Towns: Urbanism from a Past Era with Ryan Allen

Art Deco City From Time and Jerry Today, I bring you an interview with Ryan Allen. Ryan Allen is a professor of international education at University of America in Southern California and the author of the newsletter "College Towns," which explores the intersection of higher education and urbanism. Our conversation covers his transition from academic publishing to public writing, the challenges facing higher education, and how colleges can better integrate with their communities through thoughtful urban design. Key points: The PhD trap: "We probably got to start telling people don't go do PhDs" — the job market has collapsed while universities keep churning out graduates destined for precarious employment. Universities as urban saviors: Colleges preserved walkable "pre-war" neighborhoods that would have been bulldozed for suburban sprawl elsewhere. Everyone loves universities except their neighbors: The persistent "town and gown" conflict sees locals fighting against student housi ... Read full article.