Chester Hartman is an urban planner, author, and academic. He is currently the director of research at Poverty & Race Research Action Council. He has served on the faculty (full time or visiting) of the City Planning Departments of Harvard University, Yale University, Cornell University, Columbia University, University of North Carolina, University of California-Berkeley, American University, and George Washington University. He is founder and former chair of the Planners Network, a national organization of progressive urban and rural planners and community organizers.