Penn IUR Celebrates 20 Years of Global Urban Leadership at Annual Forum

Penn IUR Celebrates 20 Years of Global Urban Leadership at Annual Forum

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) will host the 20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum, a milestone event honoring visionary global leaders who have shaped today’s cities and have lessons for tomorrow's cities, on Friday, April 25. Taking place on the University of Pennsylvania campus, the forum will spotlight three recipients of the 2025 Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize and three recipients of the Lawrence C. Nussdorf Student Award while bringing together an extraordinary roster of past honorees and urban changemakers.

The prize and the award honor the legacy of the late Lawrence C. Nussdorf, a dedicated Penn IUR Advisory Board Member, Penn alum and visionary urban advocate. His passion for vibrant, inclusive cities lives on through this annual recognition of transformative urban leadership. 

Susan Wachter, Co-Director of Penn IUR, added: “The Urban Leadership Forum has always been about spotlighting catalytic leadership. We are proud that, over twenty years, this prize has elevated the work of leaders whose efforts are now models around the globe. The 2025 awardees stand firmly in that tradition.” 

This year’s distinguished awardees are:

• Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
• Patrick Harker, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
• Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia

These recipients have demonstrated bold, inclusive leadership in addressing the pressing urban challenges, from sustainability and mass transit innovation to economic mobility and equitable city planning.

“My husband believed that cities thrive when leaders have both vision and integrity,” said Melanie Nussdorf, current Penn IUR Advisory Board Member. “This prize continues his legacy by honoring individuals who embody that ethos—and by inspiring the next generation of urban leaders.”

The event will also recognize three undergraduate students, Nikita Bharati (C’25), Griffin Pitt (C’26), and Skyla Rimple (C’26), with Lawrence C. Nussdorf Student Awards for their outstanding engagement in urban research and leadership through Penn IUR’s student programs.

“We are thrilled to celebrate two decades of honoring the individuals who have not only shaped urban life but are continuing to actively build sustainable futures—and we have great hopes for the future leadership of our students,” said Eugenie Birch, Co-Director of Penn IUR. “This year’s honorees exemplify what it means to lead with courage, foresight, and an unshakable commitment to livable cities for all.”

The Forum will also feature remarks from an impressive cohort of past Nussdorf Prize recipients and distinguished urbanists, including:

• Henry Cisneros, Chairman, American Triple I; former Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2011 awardee)
• Manuel Diaz, Senior Partner, Lydecker Diaz, LLC; former Mayor, City of Miami, Florida (2005 awardee)
• Renee Glover, former CEO, Atlanta Housing Authority (2015 awardee)
• Paul Levy, Executive Director, Center City Foundation; former President and CEO, Center City District (2012 awardee)
• Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League; former Mayor, City of New Orleans, Louisiana (2005 awardee)
• Michael Nutter, former Mayor, City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2015 awardee)
• Sheela Patel, Founder and Director, Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) India (2023 awardee)
• Egbert Perry, Chairman and CEO, The Integral Group, LLC (2019 awardee)
• Jaime Alberto Pumarejo Heins, Executive Director, Breathe Cities; former Mayor, Barranquilla, Colombia (2024 awardee)
• Mauricio Rodas, Visiting Scholar, Penn IUR; former Mayor of Quito, Ecuador (2019 awardee)

The 20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum is open to members of the Penn community and the public. For more information about the event and the honorees and to register to attend, please visit https://penniur.upenn.edu/events/20th-annual-urban-leadership-forum-urban-leadership-for-the-21st-century.