Philip J. Ethington

Philip J. Ethington is Professor of History, Political Science, and Spatial Sciences at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. As Co-Director of the USC Center for Transformative Scholarship and Fellow of the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities, he bridges historical scholarship with digital innovation through projects like HyperCities.

Ethington's educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in History from Stanford University (1989)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University's Charles Warren Center (2007-2008)
• Getty Scholar at the Getty Research Institute (1996-1997)

His research pioneers spatial theory of history through chronographs and digital cartography, examining urban evolution from Pleistocene times to present. Key interests include global metropolis studies, visual culture, and digital humanities, with focus on Los Angeles as a case study for transnational urban dynamics.

Recent publications reveal consistent exploration of spatial dimensions in historical analysis, particularly through geographic institutionalism and deep historical regionalism. His work integrates cartographic innovation with theoretical frameworks to map urban change across millennia, emphasizing institutional ecology and transnational connections.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Nomination for USC's Steven B. Sample Teaching Award (2010-2011)
• USC Interdisciplinary Faculty Fellowship (2004-2005)
• Award-winning documentary film Visual Acoustics (2009)

Ethington mentors undergraduate researchers in urban history while leading major grants including MacArthur Foundation's HyperCities project ($238,000) and NEH's Digital Humanities initiative ($248,492). His funded work develops collaborative platforms for geohistorical research and digital publishing.

He co-directs the USC History Lab and Center for Transformative Scholarship, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through the Population Dynamics Lab and HyperCities consortium for participatory urban mapping.