Interview with Leonard Ortolano : Stanford Urban Studies at 50 Oral History Project
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- In this oral history, Leonard Ortolano, the UPS Foundation Professor of Civil Engineering in Urban and Regional Planning, Emeritus, discusses his directorship of the Urban Studies Program from 1980 to 2003. Ortolano details his responsibilities and some of the decisions he made as director, including the recruitment of adjunct lecturers; the institution of a student-organized career seminar to supplement the program’s advising; and the stewardship of the UPS Foundation grant. He explains the interaction between the School of Engineering and Urban Studies, the impact of changes in the architecture program on Urban Studies, and the circumstances that led to the program’s attainment of degree-granting status in 1985. He reflects on leading the program through various budget crises and administrative challenges and his dedication to shaping the program to support student interests. He also recounts other key aspects of his career, including growing up in Brooklyn, his early work in the Public Health Service, his tenure with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and his position and influence as director of the Haas Center for Public Service.
Description
| Type of resource | sound recording-nonmusical, text, still image |
|---|---|
| Extent | 1 audio file; 1 text file; 1 photograph |
| Place | Stanford (Calif.) |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
| Date created | August 5, 2020 |
| Language | English |
| Digital origin | born digital |
Creators/Contributors
| Interviewee | Ortolano, Leonard | |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | Ortolano, Leonard | |
| Interviewer | Kahan, Michael | |
| Interviewer | Meurice, Nova | |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
Subjects
| Subject | Ortolano, Leonard |
|---|---|
| Subject | Cities and towns > Study and teaching |
| Subject | College teachers |
| Genre | Interview |
Bibliographic information
| Biographical profile | Leonard Ortolano is a specialist in environmental and water resources planning, with a focus on the design and implementation of environmental policies and programs in the United States and developing countries. Current research includes studies of: (1) policies for environmental planning and management in China and South Asia; (2) corporate environmental management; (3) delivery of water supply and sewerage services to disadvantaged communities; and (4) community-based organizations. In addition to his research activities, Professor Ortolano has worked as an environmental engineer for the U.S. Public Health Service and as a consultant to environmental management firms and agencies as well as international development aid organizations. Professor Ortolano has received two Fulbright-Hays grants: one as a visiting professor at the Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque in Rome (1978-1979); and a second as a visiting professor at the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris (1978-1988). He received the Lillian and Thomas B. Rhodes Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 1996, and the Eugene L. Grant Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2005. Between 2003 and 2006, Professor Ortolano served as director of Stanford's Haas Center for Public Service, and from 1980 to 2003, he was director of Stanford’s Program on Urban Studies. |
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| Transcript |
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| Finding Aid |
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| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/hq414rd6692 |
| Location | SC1580 |
| Repository | Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Collection
Urban Studies at 50
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