Marion E Orr

Marion E Orr is the Frederick Lippitt Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Political Science and Urban Studies at Brown University. She holds a B.A. from Savannah State University, M.A. from Atlanta University, and Ph.D. from University of Maryland. Her research focuses on urban politics, race and ethnic politics, and African-American politics. She has authored/co-authored eight books, including Black Social Capital: The Politics of School Reform in Baltimore and The Color of School Reform: Race, Politics, and the Challenge of Urban Education. Notable awards include the Aaron Wildavsky Award and APSA Urban Politics Best Book Award.

Dr. Orr has held leadership roles as Director of Brown's Taubman Center for Public Policy (2008-2014), Chair of Political Science Department, and Director of Urban Studies Program. She serves on editorial boards of journals like Urban Affairs Review and Journal of Urban Affairs. Her current projects include a biography of Michigan's first Black Congressman Charles Diggs, Jr., and research on community organizing's role in civic engagement.

Her funded research includes studies on urban policy, nonprofit governance, and historical civil rights movements. She has advised on urban revitalization strategies in Providence and Baltimore, examining themes like economic development, racial equity, and educational reform.

• Education:
  • B.A., Political Science, Savannah State University
  • M.A., Political Science, Atlanta University
  • Ph.D., Government and Politics, University of Maryland
• Key Roles:
  • Former Chair, Brown University Political Science Department
  • Former Director, Brown Urban Studies Program
  • President, APSA Urban Politics Section (2003-04)
  • Member, Urban Affairs Association Governing Board
• Research Themes:
  • Urban political regimes
  • Racialized policy-making
  • Community organizing impact
  • Historical Black leadership
• Awards:
  • APSA Hanes Walton Jr. Career Achievement Award
  • Policy Studies Organization's Aaron Wildavsky Award
  • Biographers International Fellowship