The former Mayor of Philadelphia will share his significant experience in public service.
Michael A. Nutter
Michael A. Nutter speaks at a 2012 Harris event with Distinguished Senior Fellow Richard M. Daley.

Michael A. Nutter, former Mayor of Philadelphia, has joined the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy as a senior fellow.

Nutter will participate in seminars, conferences and workshops at Harris focusing on his significant knowledge of public service, government and civic leadership. His expertise in public policy, crime and education in an urban setting will be a valuable addition to the Harris community, complementing Harris’ ongoing scholarship on issues facing cities, and will also help foster ties between students and other elected officials.

“Our senior fellows play an important role at Harris as role models, mentors and connectors for our students,” said Kerwin K. Charles, interim dean of Harris. “Michael will be a valuable addition to the school, bringing into our community a practitioner whose career has been marked by distinctive policy impact.”

As Mayor of Philadelphia from January 2008 to January 2016, Nutter’s tenure in office was distinguished by a series of noteworthy accomplishments, including a large reduction in crime, improvements to education, attraction of new businesses and implementation of ambitious environmental policies, all of which were priorities for his time in office.

“Effecting change in public policy is no easy task, but I strongly believe that there is no more worthy of an occupation,” said Nutter. “I am pleased to be joining a top policy school like Harris, which is helping to lead the charge in preparing the next generation of policy leaders to drive our cities forward.”

Nutter will also serve as a special advisor to the dean of Harris, providing advice in areas of public policy related to his expertise. His appointment is effective July 1.

Nutter served on the Philadelphia City Council for fourteen years and was President of the United States Conference of Mayors from June 2012 to June 2013. Since leaving public office in 2016, Nutter has stayed involved in public policy, including with an appointment as an executive fellow at the University of Chicago Urban Labs. Among his many other commitments are as a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, as the David N. Dinkins Professor of Professional Practice in Urban and Public Affairs at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and as a senior fellow for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities program. He also serves as a political commentator for CNN.

Nutter’s commitment to public service came through clearly when he spoke to Harris students in 2012 at the invitation of Distinguished Senior Fellow Richard M. Daley, former longtime mayor of Chicago.

“There is something about the feeling that you are creating change, that you are making things better, that you are improving the lives of your fellow Chicagoans or fellow Philadelphians or wherever you live,” Nutter said. “It is almost indescribable, but I’ve got to tell you, there is nothing else like it.”

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