Based in Brooklyn, the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management conducts applied research with cities on challenges associated with urban life, including health, safety, mobility and inclusion. Its approach is to develop research with practical relevance to public policy and city services, rather than treating urban issues solely as academic questions. 2
The institute was launched by New York University in 2013 with a $40 million gift from businessman and philanthropist Donald B. Marron. At launch, Richard Revesz, then dean of NYU’s School of Law, was named director. 1112 In July 2025, the institute announced that Kari Kohn would serve as interim director; she had been part of its founding team. 4
Its work spans urban planning, environmental health, civic analytics, transport and land use, human exploitation, and public-sector performance. The institute says its researchers build externally funded project portfolios and work with cities and public agencies; its partners also include intergovernmental bodies, NGOs, philanthropic foundations and academic institutions. 23 The institute’s Urban Expansion program, led by Shlomo Angel, works with rapidly growing cities to prepare for growth. Its Transportation and Land-Use program examines how public agencies plan, manage and finance infrastructure such as subway expansions, bicycle lanes and high-speed rail. 2 Other programs include Health, Environment, and Policy, which combines research with policy engagement, and Litmus, which develops and tests ideas to improve public-sector performance. 2
The institute’s stated geographic reach is international: its research and partnerships address urban challenges around the world, while some programs collaborate directly with agencies at local, federal and international levels. 23