Penn Almanac: 2026 Penn IUR Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Award Recipients

A Penn Almanac article highlights the 21st Annual Urban Leadership Forum hosted by Penn IUR, where global leaders and scholars gathered to examine the theme “Guiding Urban Futures in Uncertain Times.” The event recognized Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and climate finance expert Josué Tanaka with the 2026 Nussdorf Prize, while also honoring three outstanding Penn undergraduates—Stefan Hatch, Layla Sayed, and Yeeun Yoo—with the Lawrence C. Nussdorf Student Awards for their deep commitment to understanding cities, housing policy, and community organizing.

Penn IUR Co-Directors Eugenie Birch and Susan Wachter celebrate the honorees and weigh in on the urgency of adaptive leadership and cross-sector collaboration to address complex urban challenges like climate change, infrastructure, and housing.