Jacob Lederman

Jacob Lederman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology/Criminal Justice at the University of Michigan-Flint, within the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. His research and teaching focus on urban sociology, governance, and politics, with a strong interest in global urbanism and local democratic practices. He is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research and academic leadership, currently serving as Director of the Institute for Society and Technology.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Sociology, City University of New York, 2015
• B.A. in Economics, New York University, 2004

His research centers on the intersection of urban development, political coalitions, and everyday survival in cities, particularly in the Global South. He explores how global policy models interact with local realities, especially in Latin America, and investigates democratic cultures in post-industrial cities like Flint. His work combines ethnographic methods with critical theory to understand urban transformation and resistance.

The recent publications show a consistent focus on urban governance, progressive city-building, and placemaking as political processes. His work bridges theoretical sociology with applied urban studies, emphasizing community agency and structural constraints in shaping urban futures.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Dr. Lederman has secured significant external funding for his research, notably as Principal Investigator on a $495,000 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant titled Cracks in the Pavement: Cultures of Democracy in Post-Democratic Flint (2024–2027). He has also served as Co-Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on multiple Mellon-funded initiatives focused on global questions and interdisciplinary collaboration at UM-Flint. While no formal student advising list is provided, his role as a faculty mentor is evident through collaborative research and institutional leadership.

He leads the Institute for Society and Technology, fostering interdisciplinary research at the intersection of social science, technology, and public engagement. This initiative supports collaborative scholarship and community-based research, particularly in examining democratic practices in post-industrial urban contexts.