91ÑÇÉ«

Dear  all,

This spring marks a significant moment for the CITY Institute at 91ÑÇÉ« and for critical urban scholarship.

Professors Roger Keil and Linda Peake, two long term forces behind CITY’s vision and growth, and beyond, will be retiring at the end of this academic term. This brings to a close more than 30 years of institution-building, engaged scholarship, and mentorship for students and colleagues alike.

Roger is internationally recognized for his work on urban political ecology, cities and infectious diseases and global suburbanization. Linda has advanced feminist and decolonial approaches to urban theory, foregrounding the everyday experiences of women and reshaping how we think about urban knowledge production.

Their influence reaches far beyond their hundreds (!) of publications. Through their earlier leadership, CITY became a globally respected hub for critical, interdisciplinary urban research and a supportive space for students, early career scholars and community collaborators. Across continents, their ideas and their mentorship have shaped new theories, fostered solidarities, and inspired generations to pursue urban questions with rigour and care.

To honour this legacy, we are launching two named endowment funds at the CITY Institute:

• The Roger Keil Endowment Fund for Urban Political Ecology
• The Linda Peake Endowment Fund for Feminist Urban Research

These funds will provide ongoing support to graduate students and emerging scholars working in the critical traditions that Roger and Linda have so powerfully advanced.

If you’ve been shaped by their work, mentorship, friendship or vision, we warmly invite you to contribute. Every gift—large or small—will help carry forward the legacy they’ve built.

To donate, please visit:  

With thanks and warm wishes,

Luisa Sotomayor

Director, CITY Institute