Meredith Drake Reitan is a historian of Los Angeles whose work explores the built environment, urban planning, and the forces that have shaped the city over the past century. Her research examines how planners, designers, and civic leaders have envisioned Los Angeles, and how those visions have affected the people who live here.
She serves as Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at the University of Southern California, where she also holds appointments as an adjunct associate professor in the Sol Price School of Public Policy and the School of Architecture. Her courses on planning history, urban design, and heritage conservation challenge students to think critically about cities, power, and public space.
Drake Reitan’s scholarship has appeared in leading journals including the Journal of the American Planning Association, the Journal of Urban Design, and the Journal of Planning History. She is also a frequent contributor to public history platforms, writing about Los Angeles’ architectural heritage for KCET’s Lost LA series and other popular outlets. In 2020, she delivered the inaugural Betty Croly Memorial Lecture for the American Planning Association’s California Chapter.
Her current research project, Bunker Hill Refrain, uses digital humanities tools and archival sources to tell the story of Downtown Los Angeles’ most controversial urban renewal project. The work has been supported by grants from USC’s Office of Research and Innovation, the Ahmanson Lab, and other funders.
Community Engagement
Scholar in Residence, Ebell of Los Angeles (2024–present)
As scholar in residence at one of Los Angeles’ most historic women’s clubs, Drake Reitan develops public programs that connect the city’s past to contemporary conversations about culture, civic engagement, and urban life.
Board Member, Los Angeles Planning History Group (2020–present)
She serves on the board of this organization dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of planning and development in the Los Angeles region.
Former Vice President & Board Member, El Pueblo Park Association (2017–2024)
Drake Reitan helped lead this nonprofit partner to the City of Los Angeles in stewarding El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, the city’s birthplace.
Research Interests
- Urban planning history and the rhetorical practices of planners
- Los Angeles’ built environment and cultural landscapes
- Women’s contributions to city planning and civic life
- Public space, civic architecture, and urban design
- Heritage conservation policy and practice
- The visual culture of cities
Contact
Email: mereditd@usc.edu
Office:
Graduate School, Office of the Provost
University of Southern California
3601 Trousdale Parkway, STU 301
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Meredith Drake Reitan 