- email mgrinnell@massart.edu
- phone (617) 879-7600
-
education
- AB, The University of Chicago (History and Geography)
- AM, The University of Chicago (Community Development)
- ABD, The University of Wisconsin (Geography)
As an urbanologist, geographer, historian, and professor, Max Grinnell finds his raison d’etre in describing, critiquing, and analyzing the urban condition.
Raised in Seattle and Madison, Wisconsin, Max was educated at the University of Chicago where he received degrees in history, geography, and community development.
He’s an expert on urban design, planning, public art, the creative economy, and the history of cities.
As part of his professional experience, Max has worked with the Michael Sorkin Design Studio, the American Institute of Architects, the Boston Public Library, the Chicago Public Library, the Newberry Library, Frommer’s, Fodor’s Travel + Leisure, AA Publishing, the Chicago Tribune, the city of Chicago’s Cultural Affairs Department, Boston University, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Chicago.
He has designed and taught courses on urban studies, community development, geography, planning and sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Boston University, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the University of Chicago.
From 2002 to 2014, he wrote and edited The Scout Report, a weekly publication sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Microsoft Corporation, and the University of Wisconsin. Each week, he curated a collection of resources profiling everything from medieval medical manuscripts to photo archives documenting the architectural history of San Francisco. The most recent edition of the Report can be found here.
In recent years, he’s published several substantive critiques of urban development policies, architectural guides to Chicago and Boston, and a book on the history of one of Chicago’s most diverse and culturally significant neighborhoods, Hyde Park.
His most recent book was for the Rough Guide series, where he was sought out to profile the cultural and historical facets of life in eight different states, including Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota.
As a dedicated supporter of cities large and small, Max has been awarded the key to the city in a number of places, including Staunton, Virginia, Carson City, Nevada, and Ashland, Kentucky.
When he’s not on the road, Max can be found in Boston or Chicago.
Industry Experience
Connect
- Twitter: @theurbanlogist
- Instagram: @theurbanologist
- theurbanologist.com
- YouTube: Massachusetts Teacher Association Presentation – The City as a Classroom
