The School of Cities is pleased to welcome Meric Gertler as a Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence, effective January 1, 2026. Professor Gertler (CM, FRSC, FBA, FAcSS) recently concluded a 12-year term as the 16th President of the University of Toronto, where he continues to serve as Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and the Department of Geography & Planning and as Goldring Chair in Canadian Studies. He is also currently a Visiting Fellow of St Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford.
An expert on urban economies, local and national innovation policy, and the role of institutions in economic development, Professor Gertler has a longstanding interest and expertise in the challenges and opportunities inherent in cities. He is also deeply committed to the place of universities in the cities they live in and their role in promoting sustainability – a focus while he was President of U of T, when he framed sustainability as central to the university’s mission and implemented major initiatives on a path to making the campuses climate positive by 2050.
“I look forward to working with Professor Chapple and the School of Cities team to further their mission of building capacity among urban changemakers, policy leaders, and researchers. The School plays a central role in driving U of T’s city-building efforts, which not only enhance the wellbeing of urban residents but also create the conditions for an urban university like U of T to thrive.” – Professor Meric Gertler.
Professor Gertler joins the School of Cities for a three year term, during which he will engage with School initiatives in the areas of urban economies, innovation, and sustainability, support advancement efforts, and advise on the School’s next strategic plan.
“I have long admired Professor Gertler’s work as an urban geographer and expert on sustainability and innovation, and am excited to benefit from his experience as an academic leader who is so committed to the role of universities as sites of excellence, growth, and imagination,” says Karen Chapple, Director of the School of Cities.
