About T. Lester
Dr. Lester is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning. His research interests are broad within the field of urban and regional economic development, but generally focus on the role of social institutions and policy interventions in reducing income inequality and promoting balanced economic growth.Selected Publications
Lester, T. William and Matthew Wilson (2023) “The Racial and Spatial Impacts of the Paycheck Protection Program” Economic Development Quarterly. https:/doi.org/10.1177/08912424231157693Wilson, Matthew and Lester, T. William (2023) “Location, Location, Location” in Equitable Development: Evaluating the Spatial Targeting of Chicago’s Opportunity Zones,” Journal of Urban Affairs. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2023.2219005
Lester, T. William (2022) “Replacing Truth with Social Hope and Progress with Re-description: Can the Pragmatist Philosophy of Richard Rorty Help Reinvigorate Planning?” Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0739456X19827636
Lester, T. William. 2020. “Restructuring Restaurant Work: The impact of labor standards on employment practices in the restaurant industry: learning from extreme case comparisons” Urban Affairs Review. 56(2):605-639. doi:10.1177/1078087418773907
Recent Courses Taught
URBP 200- Seminar on Urban and Regional Planning (Core intro course)URBP 204- Quantitative Methods, URBP 223- Housing Economics and Policy
URBP 298A/B- Masters Planning Report Advising
T. Lester
Professor and Acting Chair