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
Guest Commentary

Higher Ed’s Answer to Philadelphia’s Lost Jobs

Philly missed out on nearly 188,000 family-sustaining jobs over the last decade. Holy Family University’s president has a solution to reverse that trend

By Anne Prisco

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

Schools of Civic Thought

15 universities in 10 states — including Yale and University of Texas — have launched programs that focus on thinking and citizenship. We could use more of that here, too

By Benjamin Storey and Jenna Silber Storey
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
Guest Commentary

Penn, Do the Right Thing on Diversity

The Philadelphia City Councilmember (and alumna) who represents the district where University of Pennsylvania resides urges the Ivy to make DEI an ethical and core operating principle

By Jamie R. Gauthier

Partisanship Has No Place in College Loans

President Trump is rescinding loan forgiveness for people who he thinks flout his politics — including possibly Philly public school teachers. A longtime university president cries foul

By Elaine Maimon