At the Center of the City: Governing a Big City Now

Watch our latest Present Tense episode featuring Tiffany Thurman and Patrick Morgan

Philadelphia City Hall from the Parkway

Urban Strategy in the Present Tense is a conversation series featuring notable urbanists discussing their frontline work in urban resilience, as well as sharing their insights about public policymaking, urban problem solving, and life in Philadelphia.

This installment of our conversation series featured Tiffany Thurman, Chief of Staff to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker & Patrick Morgan, Distinguished Resident Fellow for Civic Design at the Lindy Institute in conversation about what it takes to run a major American city. Read more about them below.

The series is produced by the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation at Drexel University in partnership with the Urban Strategy Masters Program in Drexel's Westphal College of Media, Arts & Design.

Tiffany W. Thurman oversees the executive office’s daily operations and emergency response for the Parker Administration. She manages a portfolio of departments that deliver services and drive the Mayor’s strategic agenda, including Communications, PHL Airport, Planning and Development, Policy and Delivery, PhillyStat 360, and the Integrity Office. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA and, from 2016 to 2020, as Chief of Staff for Parks & Recreation. Earlier, she led the Philadelphia Delegation to the PA House of Representatives. Thurman holds an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania at Fels and a BA in Economics and Political Science from Temple University.


Patrick Morgan is a Distinguished Resident Fellow for Civic Design and teaches in Drexel's Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. Previously, he was 1st Deputy Commissioner of Strategy & Engagement with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, leading its first strategic plan and key initiatives like Reimagining the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Greenworks 2.0. As Program Director for the Knight Foundation, he managed a $26 million portfolio of community-focused grants. Earlier, he served in Mayor Nutter's administration as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources and as an Assistant Managing Director.