Ethan W. Ris

Assistant professor of higher education leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno and author of Other People's Colleges: The Origins of American Higher Education Reform (U Chicago Press, 2022), specializing in the history and policy of higher education and philanthropic influence.

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Nov 17, 2025 • 1h 6min

Ethan W. Ris, "Other People's Colleges: The Origins of American Higher Education Reform" (U Chicago Press, 2022)

Ethan W. Ris, an assistant professor of higher education leadership, delves into the evolution of American higher education reform in his discussion. He explores the elite ‘academic engineers’ of the early 20th century and their ambitious yet often unsuccessful overhaul efforts. Ris highlights how reformers' push for efficiency and centralization has been met with resistance from institutions valuing autonomy. The podcast also reveals the implications for marginalized groups and critiques the enduring influence of philanthropy on educational policy.

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