Ralph W. Conant
Ralph Wendell Conant (1926-2017) was a writer and researcher in the areas of social policy, metropolitan governance, and regional planning. Conant is also the former president of Shimer College and Unity College. Biography He holds a PhD and a MA degree from the University of Chicago, where he studied public administration, urban politics and political philosophy. His most recent publications are: Toward a More Perfect Union: The Governance of Metropolitan America, with Daniel J. Myers, 1st edition, 2002 (); 2nd edition, 2006 () and forthcoming, City of Destiny: Denver in the Making, with Maxine Kurtz, to be published by Chandler & Sharp in 2007. He served as faculty at several institutions and as a staff member at advocacy groups and research groups. From 1975 to 1978, he was president of Shimer College. From 1978-1980, he was president of Unity College in Maine. He lived in Trinidad, California. Professional, academic, and civic experience He has served on the faculty of Michigan State University (1956-1957); staff, National Municipal (Civic) League (1957-1959); Lecturer, Graduate School of Public Administration, New York University, 1958-1959; Executive Director, Citizens for Michigan (1959-1960); faculty, University of Denver (1960-1961); as Assistant Director, Joint Center for Urban Studies, MIT-Harvard (1961-1967);