About
SMU’s Urban Research Faculty Cluster (UFRC) supports scholars pursuing research into a variety of urban-centered fields, and aims to facilitate interdisciplinary connections between urban-focused researchers. The UFRC builds on a pool of faculty members engaged in both global and local approaches to urban dynamics, and over the next several years will expand to include multiple new faculty positions from a range of disciplinary backgrounds.
Dallas: A Growing, Globally Connected City
SMU’s location in Dallas provides unique opportunities for urban research. One of the “sun-belt” cities that has seen substantial recent growth, and the broader Dallas-Fort Worth area are home to multiple Fortune 500 countries and a vibrant and diverse small business community. The city of Dallas has prioritized efforts to spur innovation and robust economic growth alongside efforts to address issues such as adequate housing, transportation, and public safety and equity concerns in the context of its sustained growth. Moreover, Dallas has strong global connections, making it a rich site for both local and global research programs.
The UFRC intends to facilitate interdisciplinary engagement within and across themes such as urban growth – including its relation to education, human capital, and innovation; opportunity – including the roles of migration, wealth and poverty, and inclusion/exclusion in urban life; well-being – including climate resilience, infrastructure, and health; and civic engagement – including the role of media, the arts, civil society organizations, and social entrepreneurship in urban dynamics.
SMU also contains a wealth of faculty and programs concerned with urban-relevant dynamics. Key programs, centers, and faculty are engaged in urban research, and the university provides opportunities for research, teaching, and mentoring relevant to the work of the Urban Cluster.