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WASHINGTON, DC, January 31, 2024 — The Urban Institute announced today the conclusion of its successful Equity Scholars Program and the hiring of five scholars to new permanent positions where they will continue their work on confronting structural racism and advancing equity-centered research. The other three scholars, who already held tenured or tenure-track positions in academia, are returning as expected to academic roles but will continue to work with Urban as nonresident fellows or in a part-time capacity.

Launched in January 2022 through a $2 million commitment from Urban, the Equity Scholars Program, run by the Office of Race and Equity Research, welcomed eight scholars with expertise in racial equity and structural racism research for a two-year collaboration. Over that timeframe, the program expanded Urban’s capacity to conduct independent policy research addressing the consequences of structural racism and promote equitable outcomes. It also strengthened the organization’s talent pipeline.

The five permanent scholars are:

• Karishma Furtado, senior research associate
• Luisa Godinez-Puig, senior research associate
• Diana Guelespe, senior research associate
• Michael Neal, senior fellow
• Brian Smedley, senior fellow

Shauna Cooper and Dawn Dow will continue their Urban-affiliated work as nonresident fellows, while John Eason will continue to serve as a senior fellow and an intermittent scholar.

“We commend these eight individuals for the energy and creativity they have brought to the Urban Institute and for strengthening our ability to deliver evidence and equity-focused solutions,” said Kimberlyn Leary, Urban’s executive vice president. “We are pleased that these partnerships and the important work the scholars are doing will continue here at Urban.”

The scholars have been instrumental in signature projects that elevate Urban’s reputation for excellence in equity measurement and analytics, including

• piloting approaches for helping traditional researchers study structural racism,
• supporting scholars from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the study of Black women’s wealth-building strategies, and
• synthesizing lessons on equitable nonprofit leadership.

They also expanded Urban’s work on topics like prison proliferation, families with mixed immigration statuses, and cryptocurrency in state and local finance. Their expertise in community-engaged research and organizing informed the research they initiated at Urban, bolstering the institution’s capacity for community-engaged methods. The scholars taught these and other research techniques in equity consultations delivered to government agencies, funders, and community-based organizations.

“Overall, the equity scholars contributed to 58 externally funded projects and to the lasting commitment to equity at Urban. They have changed our institution for the better and moved us closer to our vision of a future where every person and every community have the opportunity and power to thrive,” Leary said.

About the Urban Institute

The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity. We are a trusted source for changemakers who seek to strengthen decisionmaking, create inclusive economic growth, and improve the well-being of families and communities. For more than 50 years, Urban has delivered facts that inspire
solutions—and this remains our charge today.