Megan S. Ryerson

Megan S. Ryerson holds the UPS Chair of Transportation and serves as Associate Chair of City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania's Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Previously, she was Associate Dean for Research (2018–2023), demonstrating sustained leadership in academic administration while maintaining an active research profile focused on transportation systems integration.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (2010)
• B.Sc. in Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania (2003)

Ryerson's research pioneers the integration of intercity transportation into urban planning frameworks, with foundational work in aviation infrastructure planning, airline demand forecasting, and transportation resilience. She investigates airport competition dynamics across megaregions, airline disaster recovery protocols, and fuel-efficient flight planning methodologies. Her scholarship actively bridges civil engineering and urban planning disciplines to design transportation systems that are inherently safe, efficient, and resilient against disruptions.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a pronounced shift toward transportation equity since 2022, particularly examining driver education accessibility ('driver training deserts') and bikeshare infrastructure allocation. This equity focus coexists with continued aviation research, while pandemic-era studies on transportation behavior (2020–2023) demonstrate methodological adaptability through quasi-experimental designs and real-world crisis response analysis.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• UPS Chair of Transportation (prestigious endowed professorship)

Dr. Ryerson has significantly expanded urban planning pedagogy by incorporating megaregional transportation systems into core curricula. Her leadership as former Associate Dean for Research reflects active engagement with funding agencies and research administration, though specific grant details aren't documented in source materials. Current work emphasizes translating research into equitable policy frameworks, particularly for vulnerable transportation populations.