The most pressing social problems facing humanity in the 21st century are what systems theorist Russell Ackoff referred to as "messes"--complex dynamic systems of problems that interact and reinforce each other over time. In this article, the authors argue that the lack of progress in managing messes is in part due to the predominance of…

Urban life comes with diverse social, environmental, health care, and education problems. However, for many of the people seeking better economic, social, and education opportunities, the big city still holds a special allure. Jazz singer Frank Sinatra sings in "New York, New York" that he wants to "wake up in a city that never…

This case study discusses a seldom explored outcome of public scholarship in higher education: economic impact. The case study connects student field experiences and faculty scholarship to the sustainability of academic departments, providing administrative leaders with the information and tools necessary to both survive and thrive during times of…