An Pham

An is a junior majoring in Economics and Mathematics and is interested in inequality, environmental policy, and urban economics. He hopes to pursue a career in policy analysis, where he can work with city governments, activists, and other academics to make a difference.

An’s directed study will focus on the history of Boston housing policy. He is investigating the social patterns and policy choices that defined major eras of Boston’s development, from the post-war period, through urban renewal, and into ongoing suburbanization and gentrification. An will focus on interventions by the City of Boston, including how they’ve worked, who they’ve served and failed, and whether lessons can be learned for Boston’s current housing crisis.

An was born in Cambridge but spent most of his life in Toronto, Canada. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, An attended schools in different areas of Toronto and made friends with vastly different economic backgrounds. An’s exposure to economic and cultural diversity made him passionate about inequality and its causes. He wrote for his high school’s newspaper, serving as Editor-in-Chief, and started an archive of its old documents. He also developed a passion for coding, leading lessons for other students. In his free time, An writes songs, codes demoscenes, and—according to An—”recommends terrible music to his friends.”

Learn more about An.
Learn more about the NLC Menino Fellowship.