Greg Wilson, MAPSS’11

Currently an Assistant Professor and Provost Fellow at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University, Greg Wilson attributes much of his academic and professional success to day to the MAPSS program. However, Greg’s path to UChicago and MAPSS wasn’t a planned route. 

“When I entered MAPSS, I had already been in a PhD program in Education in another university, but I realized it wasn’t aligned with where I was going intellectually,” says Greg. 

Originally from Chicago, he found himself back home from the summer and decided to go to the UChicago campus to find a place to study. He ended up in the admissions office by accident, and a staff member there directed him to meet with someone in the MAPSS program. That meeting led to a longer conversation with a faculty member, John McAloon, and after an hour of discussing his research and interests, Greg knew he wanted to be at UChicago. He applied, was accepted, and left the program he was in for MAPSS.

MAPSS was a transformational experience for Greg. 

“First, it exposed me to sociological knowledge more intentionally. Though I had talked about sociology all my life, I had never formally studied it, not even as an undergrad,” he says. “The exposure I received, particularly through courses and mentorship with my thesis advisor, Mario Small, truly catalyzed the work I’m doing now.” 

Greg also notes the impact the Little Red Schoolhouse course (Academic and Professional Writing) had on his skills: “This course didn’t just teach me what to write but how to write. It forced me to think critically about communication, and that’s been transformational,” he says.

His thesis project laid the groundwork for the research he continues today. His thesis examined how community leaders in the Woodlawn community developed the capacity to work with their neighbors for neighborhood change. 

“I was curious about the oversaturation of community-based organizations in the area and why change wasn’t happening despite what seemed like the right conditions,” Greg says. “I started thinking about collective efficacy, a concept I came across from one of my professors, Stephen Raudenbush. I wrote my thesis under Mario Small’s supervision, focusing on how people develop efficacious attitudes and what factors preclude neighborhood improvements, like those in Woodlawn, despite active community organizations.”

In addition, while a student, he worked as a researcher with the University of Chicago Survey Lab, which focused on surrounding communities, particularly their access to health resources. That experience connected him with local community leaders and organizations. He was also a fellow with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, where he had additional opportunities to engage with community leaders. These experiences prepared for his subsequent PhD at the University of Wisconsin. “MAPSS is the best preparatory program for pursuing a PhD,” he notes.

Now at The Ohio State University in a tenure-track position, he credits the University of Chicago for beginning his intellectual journey. “It's always been my dream to become a tenure-track professor, and now I'm living that dream,” he says. “I've been counting the days because every day has been an extraordinary experience for me.”

When asked if he has any advice for current and future MAPSS students, he says: “Lean heavily into the skills you develop at UChicago, particularly research and writing. Engage with the vast network and resources the program offers.”