The RSA is pleased to announce the new Diversity and Inclusion Chair on the RSA Board is Rachel Franklin.
Rachel Franklin is Professor of Geographical Analysis in the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) and the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology at Newcastle University. I am also one of four chairs appointed to expand our international, cross-disciplinary reputation in Spatial Analytics and Modelling (SAM@Newcastle) and, as of Fall 2018, a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute. Her primary research focus is in spatial demography and the interplay between spatial analytics and demographic change, in particular quantifying patterns, sources and impacts of spatial inequality. Current projects, for example, study the role of spatial scale and context in understanding the manifestation and impacts of depopulation across neighbourhoods, cities, and regions in the United States. I also maintain an ongoing interest in pedagogy, especially the teaching of methods.
Rachel had this to share upon the news of her election:
“I am delighted at the opportunity to serve the Regional Studies community as a member of the RSA Board and look forward to representing its diverse, global and growing community of scholars in the years to come. We live in challenging and interesting times and the RSA has a key role to play not only in regional research and policy, but also in the support and career development of all its members—I am so happy to help be a part of these efforts.”