The University of Pennsylvania Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) is pleased to welcome the 2026–27 cohort of Fellows in Urban Leadership, 20 Penn undergraduates who bring a wide range of academic backgrounds, professional experiences and perspectives on the challenges facing cities today.
This year’s competitively selected Fellows are Gabrielle Cayo, Lucy Chamberlain, Natalie Cheng, Diemmy Dang, Danielle Esan, Adijared Huerta Flores, Ingrid Holmquist, Charlotte Kemp, Jack Kramer, Daylia Lian, Paarth Nayak, Federico Ramírez, Ryan Rodriguez, Michael Shapiro, Marilyn Shi, Sanya Tinaikar, Shivaek Venkateswaran, Rachel Wang, Nicolas West, and Allison Xu.
Drawn from across Penn, the new cohort’s interests span housing affordability, transportation, climate adaptation, energy infrastructure, public health, municipal finance, economic development, environmental justice, and the built environment. Their experiences are equally varied. Gabrielle Cayo has worked with the National Urban League and Philadelphia’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity; Jack Kramer spent the summer working on bike-lane planning with the New York City Department of Transportation; and Adijared Huerta Flores has served on SEPTA’s Youth Advisory Council and worked with environmental organizations in Southeast Los Angeles.
Others are approaching urban issues through finance, health, climate, and design. Rachel Wang has worked in public finance investment banking, examining capital for municipal governments, higher education, and affordable housing; Shivaek Venkateswaran founded the Philadelphia Lung Cancer Screening Initiative; Daylia Lian studies the connections among energy systems, affordability, resilience, and community well-being; and Natalie Cheng brings together architecture and urban studies to pursue more community-focused approaches to design.
The cohort also brings a distinctly global perspective. Federico Ramírez’s academic and professional experiences have taken him across Latin America, China, Europe, and North Africa, while Marilyn Shi has lived and studied across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Nicolas West developed his interest in transit-oriented cities while studying in Lisbon, and Paarth Nayak has conducted climate-related research in Greenland and Vietnam.
Throughout the academic year, the Fellows will meet with leaders from government, business, and civic organizations to explore the opportunities and challenges involved in creating more resilient, equitable, and sustainable cities. Through these conversations and immersive experiences, the program gives students a firsthand look at urban leadership in practice.
Penn IUR is following their experiences throughout the year. To learn more about the program and this year's cohort, visit https://penniur.upenn.edu/student-programs/penn-iur-fellows-inurban-leadership.
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