How To Mobilize Hope In 2026

A longtime university president on how to turn the higher ed disasters of 2025 into actions that will preserve what’s best about our local colleges

By Elaine Maimon

A Holiday Thank You to Philadelphia Eds and Meds

A longtime university president applauds the courage, integrity and resilience of Philly's storied institutions

By Elaine Maimon

College as a Pathway to a Meaningful Life and Responsible Citizenship

A longtime university president reminds us that “career” means a life-path integrating work and meaning in the wider world

By Elaine Maimon

“You Can’t Be Denied If You Haven’t Applied”

Penn and the Heights have launched a program to help high schoolers navigate their way through college applications. A longtime university president visited a classroom at Carver to learn more

By Elaine Maimon

War on Antisemitism — or Distraction from Bigotry?

A longtime university president calls out the hypocrisy of Trump’s campaign to protect Jewish students

By Elaine Maimon
Ideas We Should Steal Festival 2025

Hope Chicago, Multigenerational College Access

Hope Chicago offers free college for public school students and one member of their family to break the cycle of poverty. Chief Program Officer Michele Howard will talk about its success at The Citizen’s 8th annual Ideas We Should Steal Festival November 14.

By Elaine Maimon

Young People, You Can Do Well and Do Good

Being young is hard these days. That’s why a longtime university president recommends a life in public service.

By Elaine Maimon

The Perils of Patronage

Penn this week refused preferential treatment from Trump that could jeopardize science funding. A longtime university president urges push-back on favoritism wherever it happens

By Elaine Maimon

In College Admissions, Bullies Win

A longtime university president urges the College Board to restore a tool that helped universities like Swarthmore and Haverford admit more low-income students

By Elaine Maimon
The Citizen Recommends

Celebrate Constitution Day by Defending our Founding Document

The unsung holiday — this week — is more important than ever this year, argues a longtime university president, who suggests an inspiring visit to an Independence Mall institution

By Elaine Maimon