Richard Florida — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Visiting Distinguished Professor at Vanderbilt University (since 2024).
University Professor at University of Toronto's School of Cities and Rotman School of Management (since 2007).
Founder of Creative Class Group (since 2005) and Co-founder of CityLab (since 2012).
Developed the concept of the 'creative class' and its implications for urban regeneration and economic development.
Author of best-selling books including 'The Rise of the Creative Class' (2002), 'Who's Your City?', and 'The New Urban Crisis'.
Holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Urban Planning from Columbia University.
Served as a Senior Editor at The Atlantic starting in March 2011.

Biography

Richard Florida is an American urban studies theorist, professor, and author. He is currently a Visiting Distinguished Professor at Vanderbilt University and a University Professor at the University of Toronto's School of Cities and Rotman School of Management. He is also a Visiting Senior Fellow at The Kresge Foundation and a Distinguished Fellow at NYU's School of Professional Studies.

Florida is best known for his concept of the 'creative class' and its implications for urban regeneration.