Originally published on April 6, 2023 (Episode 311)
Introduction
Town–gown clashes are as old as universities, but they don’t have to be inevitable. In Knowledge Towns: Colleges and Universities as Talent Magnets (Hopkins Press, 2023), David Staley and Dominic Endicott propose a different compact: institutions that anchor local prosperity, cultivate homegrown talent, and weave themselves into the fabric of “strong towns” rather than operating as academic islands.
Our conversation traces the model they envision—place-based, entrepreneur-friendly, civically minded—along with the practical levers: new public–private partnerships, endowments investing locally, regenerative agriculture and biochar pilots, broadband and main-street revivals, and metrics that value community well-being as much as enrollment numbers. We also talk scenarios (a Staley specialty), the pitfalls of campus monocultures, and why micropolitan regions may be the most overlooked engines of the knowledge economy.
About the Guests
David Staley is Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University and the author of Alternative Universities.
Dominic Endicott is a venture capitalist and partner at Northstar Ventures.
For Further Investigation
Dominic Endicott and David Staley, Knowledge Towns: Colleges and Universities as Talent Magnets (Hopkins Press, 2023)
Previous episodes with David Staley include his imagining what Alternative Universities might look like, arguing for the benefits of history for thinking about future scenarios, and the importance of historical context.
Higher Education — A Guide for the Perplexed
Biochar—an overview for those, like me, wondering what the heck it is
Walton Family Foundation report on “Most Dynamic Micropolitans”
💬 Listen & Discuss
What would it take for your college to become a magnet for local talent rather than an exporter of it? Which one partnership, pilot, or investment could catalyze your town–gown ecosystem this year? Share the episode with someone you know who’s trying to build a strong town!
