Towers
CivicLab has announced the launch of a new, national fellowship program and has selected an IUPUC professor as the group’s first member.
The nonprofit institute announced it is launching the CivicLab Fellows program and has appointed George Towers as its first fellow. Towers is the head of IUPUC’s Division of Liberal Arts and a professor of geography.
The fellowship will include national leaders selected for “their unique knowledge, skills, and abilities that can be applicable to civic collaboration at the community, regional, and state level,” said CivicLab leaders. Fellows will work to further CivicLab’s mission and serve dozens of partnerships that seek to address complex social challenges.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Towers join CivicLab as its inaugural Fellow,” said Dakota Pawlicki, director at CivicLab, in an official statement. “He has served CivicLab’s home community of Bartholomew County for the past three years, helping us make progress towards becoming the most equitable community for youth by 2030. As a Fellow, we will open his data visualization and analytic support to many more communities around the country, as we all work towards a more equitable and prosperous future.”
Towers’ career has included teaching about human geography, cartography and geographic information systems (GIS). He has also published research contributing to faculty development, GIS, political geography, historical geography, urban geography, environmental impact analysis, Appalachian studies, and U.S. – Mexico Borderlands studies.
“Our geo-demographic work has two goals,” said Towers. “First, by displaying similarities and differences between neighborhoods, we want to help people visualize diversity. Second, by furthering our understanding of the spatial dimensions of diversity, our work can help craft strategies to advance social equity in our communities.”
As a CivicLab Fellow, Towers will bring his expertise to various communities and regions served by CivicLab. According to the nonprofit, his data visualizations and equity-focused indices will support places and partnerships as they focus on improving equitable outcomes.
Several communities have already registered with CivicLab to receive support from Towers. Those who wish to learn more or request CivicLab services can contact Pawlicki at [email protected].
