The University’s top teaching assistants were recognized by the Graduate School with the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.

The important work and contributions of teaching assistants were recognized yesterday at a ceremony hosted by the .

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award is given to teaching assistants who have demonstrated excellence in the role through activities such as classroom teaching, laboratory or studio instruction, leading recitation or discussion sections or assisting senior faculty members with high-enrollment courses.

“Teaching assistants are vital to the undergraduate experience,” says Graduate School Dean Peter Vanable. “They bring energy and important insights to their academic disciplines and are dedicated to the students with whom they work. I thank this year’s award winners for their contributions to the University’s academic mission.”

The 2025 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awardees, representing the top 3.5% of the TA workforce, are:

• Agathe Baggieri, languages, literatures and linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Karisa Bridgelal, writing studies, rhetoric and composition, College of Arts and Sciences
• Caroline Capuano, physics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Yu-Wei Chang, psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jing Cheng, mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Gargi De, civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ayşenur Değer, political science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Julie Harnett, teaching and curriculum, School of Education
• Tori-Ann Haywood, sociology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Elise Hegarty, languages, literatures and linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Elana Israel, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Benjamin Kaufman, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Harneet Kaur, social science, College of Arts and Sciences
• Pyeonghwa Kim, information science and technology, School of Information Studies
• Hannah Kimbrell, mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Amanda Kingston, cultural foundations of education, School of Information Studies
• Connor Knowlan, communication and rhetorical studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Megan Koch, earth and environmental sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
• Elise Krespan, biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Gabriella Larson, psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Adarsh Raghuram, geography and the environment, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Abhishek Samlodia, physics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Hector I. Sanchez, history, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Victor Sholl, philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
• Nathalie Uwamahoro, electrical engineering and computer science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Josiah van Egdom, political science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Ying Xu, human development and family science, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Awardees are nominated by their departments and must present a teaching portfolio as part of the review process.

Recipients of the 2025 Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award were honored by the Graduate School at a campus ceremony April 24. Pictured from left are Joon Young Kim, Scott Landes, Natalie Russo, Eman Tadros, Catherine García, Angela Oliverio and Qiu Wang.

Ten ���ϲ����� faculty members were honored with the Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award at a campus ceremony April 24. The award, given annually by the , honors professors who have had a significant impact on graduate education through teaching, service and research or creative activities.

This year’s awardees, chosen by an interdisciplinary committee of graduate students, are the following:

• , associate professor of communications, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• , assistant professor of human development and family science, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• , assistant professor of exercise science, Falk College
• , associate professor of sociology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• , professor of mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
• , assistant professor of biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• , associate professor and associate chair of psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• , mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• , assistant professor of marriage and family therapy, Falk College
• , professor of higher education, School of Education

“We know that talented faculty members are the cornerstone of a quality graduate education,” says Peter Vanable, dean of the Graduate School. “This awards program gives us an opportunity to hear directly from our students, as well as from faculty, staff and alumni, about which professors have had a significant positive influence on their studies. We are delighted to recognize these ten individuals for their dedication and contributions to the University.”

This year’s recipients are:

• Jeffrey Adams, English,
• Akshay, computer and information science and engineering,
• Erika Arias, political science,
• Seok Wun (Shiila) Au Yong, cultural foundations of education,
• Bruce Baigrie, geography, Maxwell School
• Erin Bisesti, sociology, Maxwell School
• Eric Cochran, mathematics, Arts and Sciences
• Xiaoyu Fu, human development and family science,
• Jessica Fundalinski, teaching and curriculum, School of Education
• Michael Kelly, geography, Maxwell School
• Shanel Khaliq, sociology, Maxwell School
• Hyojeong Kim, public administration, Maxwell School
• Minseok Kim, philosophy, Arts and Sciences
• Amanda Kingston, cultural foundations of education, School of Education
• Elise Krespan, biology, Arts and Sciences
• Akit Kumar, information science and technology,
• Sanggu Lee, philosophy, Arts and Sciences
• Jinfen Li, information science and technology, Information Studies
• Tyler Logie, earth and environmental sciences, Arts and Sciences
• Abigail Long, composition and cultural rhetoric, Arts and Sciences
• Desiree Martin, mathematics, Arts and Sciences
• Fasika Melese, instructional design, development and evaluation, School of Education
• Arda Ozyenginer, English, Arts and Sciences
• Henry Potts-Rubin, mathematics, Arts and Sciences
• Samuel Santiago, English, Arts and Sciences
• Dustin Satterfield, sociology, Maxwell School
• Mahder Serekberhan, political science, Maxwell School
• Paige Spencer, religion, Arts and Sciences
• Elina (Ruiqi) Sun, social psychology, Arts and Sciences
• Benjamin Valen, social psychology, Arts and Sciences
• Jenna Walmer, social psychology, Arts and Sciences

The 2025 Winston Fisher cohort at AlphaSights, an information services company, in midtown Manhattan.

With so many career possibilities open to them, how can students explore which fits their interests? The ��offers a variety of programming to facilitate career exploration and readiness, such as��.

Over spring break, a group of 17 A&S | Maxwell undergraduates had the chance to experience one of those immersion trips: the annual Winston Fisher Seminar in New York City, which allows undergraduate students from all majors across the and the to explore how their liberal arts education can be leveraged into a wide variety of careers in the business world.

Founded in 2006 by Fisher Brothers partner, AREA15 CEO, Dean’s Advisory Board member and Trustee Winston Fisher ’96, the weeklong Winston Fisher Seminar allows��students to spend time developing and presenting business plans, touring different employers and gaining critical networking experience with recruiters and alumni.

During this year’s immersion, participants visited several high-profile organizations, including Penguin Random House, Major League Baseball, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Morgan Stanley, iHeartMedia and more.

“Connecting with the students throughout the week, hearing their business plans and learning about their aspirations is truly one of the highlights of my year,” Fisher says. “As a firm believer in the power of a liberal arts education, I’m excited to see where their journeys take them and the impact they’ll have on the world.”

“There’s no substitute for the first-hand knowledge and experience Winston’s seminar provides. In addition to gaining insight into the professional world and entrepreneurship, students build lasting relationships with peers and accomplished members of our alumni community,” says , director of employer and alumni engagement.

Check out these other photos from the 2025 Winston Fisher Seminar:

Students kick off the 2025 Winston Fisher Seminar with benefactor Winston Fisher ’96 at Fisher Brothers.

Students hear from an alumni panel led by policy studies alumna Kate Abogado ’20 at Deloitte.

Psychology and forensic science major Seth Cohen ’25 speaks with Charlamagne tha God on the set of The Breakfast Club.

Glenn Wright congratulates Three Minute Thesis competition winner Jayda Felder.

, a doctoral student in social psychology at the ,��won the competition with her presentation, “.” She received 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 and a one-year membership in the , the professional organization of her choice.

“The cliché is that academic research is both impenetrable and pointless,” says Glenn Wright, executive director of professional and career development at the Graduate School. “The 3MT really challenges graduate students to tackle that perception head-on, explaining quickly and clearly what their research is and why it makes a difference. That’s a great skill when engaging the public, and highly useful in academia, too.”

The other 3MT contestants were:

• Nimisha Krishnan (Ph.D., physics, ): “How Cells Move Cargo: Learning from Nature’s Tiny Transport System”
• Bramsh Khan (Ph.D., social science, Maxwell School): “Politics of Gendered Infrastructure Violence in Balochistan, Pakistan”
• Mary Theresa Pagan (Ph.D., sociology, Maxwell School): “Older Recent Widows and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Investigation of the Roles of Care Work and Social Support”
• Sarah Nahar (Ph.D., religion, Arts and Sciences): “Closing the Poop Loop: An Everyday Way to Heal the Planet”
• Ratnakshi Mandal (Ph.D., chemical engineering, ): “Decoding Alzheimer’s: Putting Together the Puzzle of Memory Loss”
• Abigail Helen Long (Ph.D., composition and cultural rhetoric, Arts and Sciences) “‘Stuck’ Together: Identifying Writing Teachers’ Access Needs”
• Nghia Le Ba Thai (Ph.D., bioengineering, Engineering and Computer Science): “PorousX: A Novel Artificial Matrix for Treating Chronic Wounds”
• Paul Sagoe (Ph.D., biomedical engineering, Engineering and Computer Science): “Small but Mighty: Therapeutic Nanoparticles, the Tiny Heroes Fighting Arthritis”
• Qingyang Liu (Ph.D., human development and family science, ): “When and Where to Invest: Early Material Hardship and Children’s Self-Regulation.”

Three-Minute Thesis participants share details about their research and creative work in a compelling way—within a three-minute time limit.

Wright moderated the event. Judges were Matthew Carr, chief financial officer at Manlius Pebble Hill School; Davoud Mozhdehi, associate professor of chemistry at the College of Arts and Sciences; and Sylvia Sierra, associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies in the .

was first developed at the University of Queensland in Australia and is now held at colleges and universities around the world.

Rebekah Lewis

“I am thrilled to begin the director position and look forward to collaborating with center staff and faculty affiliates to expand its crucial work,” says Lewis, who has more than 15 years of experience in health and higher education settings.

In her previous role at the Ottawa University Heart Institute, Lewis provided program evaluation and qualitative research expertise for a variety of women’s cardiovascular disease prevention projects at the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre. Her current evaluation research focuses on improving primary prevention of cardiovascular disease among high-risk women. She received a master of public health from Boston University School of Public Health in 2001.

“We are pleased to welcome Rebekah Lewis to the Lerner Center as its new director,” says , Lerner Chair in Public Health Promotion and Population Health, director of the and professor of sociology. “Rebekah brings a wealth of expertise in health education, program evaluation and research. Her forward-thinking orientation and ideas for program development align perfectly with the Lerner Center’s mission.”

The Lerner Center was established in 2011 with an endowment from Sidney Lerner ’53, a marketing executive and public health advocate, and his wife, Helaine. Its mission is to improve population and community health through research, education, advocacy and programming focused on the social and structural determinants of health and health disparities. It supports numerous programs, assistantships and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, including the popular DeStress for Success course, an undergraduate social impact competition and internships.

The center recently announced that it will host national Healthy Monday programming, a signature public health campaign that aims to reduce the risk of chronic disease by offering prompts about healthier habits. Hosting the national Healthy Monday campaign was made possible by an organizational restructuring and a $2.52 million gift to the Lerner Center and ���ϲ�����’s Forever Orange Campaign by Helaine Lerner in 2023.

Story by Michael Kelly

Students wearing garments from SOLACE Collective’s new line of clothing for neurodivergent individuals.

Carolyn Fernandes ’25 remembers walking out of an interview for a design internship that she ended up not getting. She wondered if fidgeting with her nails—a common, repetitive expression of her nervous energy every day—was misconstrued as a sign of not paying attention and a reason for her not getting the position.

Carolyn Fernandes

Fernandes is part of the 20% of people worldwide who are neurodivergent and live with neurological differences like autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, bipolar disorder and social anxiety.

Stories like the one above motivated Fernandes and fellow students Lucas d’Oelsnitz ’25, Aphrodite Gioulekas ’25 and Aidan Turner ’25 to create , which aims to provide everyone, especially neurodivergent individuals, with comfortable garments that alleviate anxiety, increase confidence and reduce distractions by providing opportunities for fidgeting discreetly or openly.

“People like me need to fidget to cope and feel comfortable, so I started researching ways clothing could be made to help neurodiverse people like myself feel more comfortable,” Fernandes says.

After an inspiring conversation with Linda Dickerson Hartsock—the retired founder and executive director of —and after taking an class focused on inclusive product design, Turner came up with the idea for SOLACE “to meet the needs of a huge portion of the population that is currently underserved,” says Turner.

Going All-In to Solve an Important Social Issue

Aidan Turner

In October, Turner set about assembling what he proudly refers to as his team of Avengers to turn concept into reality. As part of the group, Turner, a fifth-year architecture student in the , recruited Fernandes, who is studying industrial design in the (VPA) and Spanish and environmental geoscience in the ; d’Oelsnitz, who is studying finance and entrepreneurship in the ; Gioulekas, a fashion design major in VPA; Maria-Camila Molina ’25, a fashion design major in VPA; Christine Ianniello ’25, a biology major in Arts and Sciences; Bobby Anzaldua ’25, an economics major in the ; Bella Tabak ’25, a magazine, news and digital journalism in the ; and Francine��Tongol ’24, a communications design major in VPA.

Lucas d’Oelsnitz

After sharing their personal experiences with uncomfortable clothing with each other, Turner pitched creating the neurodivergent clothing line. The project’s potential impact immediately resonated with d’Oelsnitz. At Whitman, d’Oelsnitz does a lot of idea pitching but always struggles to control his fidgeting. After one of his first pitches before his peers, d’Oelsnitz nearly passed out because, unable to rely on his usual coping mechanisms like playing with his rings, he felt anxious and light-headed.

“Realizing this is something I would wear motivated me to go all-in on this project because this is not just a clothing brand; it’s solving an important social issue,” says d’Oelsnitz, who has ADHD and bouts of anxiety.

Meeting the Unique Needs of Neurodiverse Individuals

The team set out to collect data on how SOLACE could better meet the needs of neurodiverse individuals, beginning with a wardrobe analysis and personal interviews to determine what types of clothing neurodivergent people liked or didn’t like—including textures and how a garment feels.

Lucas d’Oelsnitz (right) discusses SOLACE Collective’s line of clothing with a student during one of 10 on-campus events where students could try on the clothes and provide feedback.

For the next step, Fernandes conducted a survey of 430 people ages 5 to 91 and discovered that 95% of respondents, including 97% of neurodiverse people, experienced discomfort from their clothing.

Incorporating the feedback and relying on sketches, Turner created a visual design brief that served as the blueprint for the first line of clothing, and Fernandes and others on the team used sewing machines to create prototypes from fabric samples collected from their closets and local thrift shops.

Currently there are four prototypes consisting of a matching sweatshirt or hoodie and sweatpants of assorted colors, fabrics and designs:

• Concealed fidgeting: A sweatsuit featuring textured cargo pockets with hidden interior fabrics for discreet sensory engagement
• Participatory fidgeting: A distressed, double-layered top and bottom set with tactile cutouts for visible fidgeting—turning a need into a confident form of self-expression
• Airy and light: A minimal-stitched, ultra-breathable sweat set built for those sensitive to seams and pressure, offering a loose and calming fit
• Clasp cuffs: A crewneck set with subtly exposed, adjustable elastic cuffs that let wearers control tightness for customized comfort

The clothes are tagless (product details and cleaning instructions are screen-printed on the outside), with many of the items providing its wearer a sense of grounded-ness thanks to the use of heavy fabric, while others rely on light and airy fabrics.

“Our product line serves to confirm to a lot of neurodivergent people that what they’re doing is okay and that they can be normal,” says Fernandes, who serves as SOLACE’s industrial designer. “And it’s not just neurodivergent people that want this clothing. If everyone is wearing it, then no one is going to feel like they’re sticking out like a sore thumb while they fidget.”

Aidan Turner (far right) talks with students during one of SOLACE Collective’s on-campus feedback events.

Transforming Vision into Reality

“We try to achieve a grounded feeling while providing warmth and the reassurance that you’re safe. We’re trying to find a sustainable way to produce items of clothing for everyone, no matter how your neurodiversity presents,” says d’Oelsnitz, SOLACE’s project coordinator.

The group has received more than $32,000 in startup investment money through entrepreneurial competitions held on campus and through grants, including the��2025 School of Information Studies’ Raymond von Dran Fund for Student Entrepreneurship iPrize competition. Earlier this semester, they held 10 events on campus for students to try on the clothes and provide feedback.

After running a marketing campaign, including the launch of a website and social media channels, they hope to start accepting pre-orders in late June, with items being distributed to customers by the end of the summer. Knowing how well-received their casual prototypes have been, Turner, Fernandes and d’Oelsnitz next want to expand into business casual clothing.

“I have a passion for designing fashion, for retail and for entrepreneurship, and I was introduced to the lack of solutions that exist for neurodivergent individuals,” says Turner, SOLACE’s team coordinator. “There are a lot of opportunities for us to give this overlooked community reassurance and warmth through our clothing, and I’m proud of what this wonderful team has accomplished so far.”

Members of the campus community learn about the SOLACE Collective’s line of clothing for neurodivergent individuals.

Gisela von Dran, widow of Raymond von Dran, served as a judge and handed out RvD iPrize awards.

Winners of the 2025 School of Information Studies’ (iSchool) Raymond von Dran (RvD) Fund for Student Entrepreneurship iPrize competition and the Hunter Brooks Watson (HBW) Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award were announced on April 10 at the Blackstone LaunchPad in Bird Library. The award competition highlights the University’s entrepreneurial focus. Each team received a $2,000 award.

Raymond von Dran, who served as dean of the School of Information Studies from 1995 until his passing in 2007, was a longtime academic, entrepreneur and staunch supporter of student innovation.

The 2025 RvD iPrize winners are the following:

• SipSafe, founded by Lindy Elizabeth Truitt ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Anjaneya Sanjay Padwal G’25 (School of Information Studies)
• Diabetech, founded by Tosin Alabi G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management)
• InstaHelp, founded by Mirco Sascha Kunz G’26 (Whitman School)
• Game, founded by Carena Gianna Colo G’25 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
• SOLACE, founded by Carolyn Fernandes G’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
• Pari Beauty, founded by Aarna Taparia ’27 (School of Architecture)
• WW Productions, founded by James Oliver Welch G’28 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Reid Willar G’27 (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
• Palmarati, founded by Tommy Brown G’28 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and School of Information Studies) and Oscar Rune Goranson G’28 (Whitman School)
• RYZYN, founded by Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies)
• BetaKola, founded by Alie Savane ’25 (College of Arts and Sciences)

The Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award began in 2018 through the Hunter Brooks Watson Memorial Fund and is awarded to students who best exemplify “The Spirit of Entrepreneurship.” Prizes honor the memory of Hunter Brooks Watson, a ���ϲ����� student who died tragically in a distracted driving accident. The 2025 HBW Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award Winners are the following:

• Carolina Aguayo-Pla ’27 (Whitman School and School of Information Studies)
• Waqar Hussain ’25 (Whitman School)
• Isabella Carter G’26 (Newhouse School) and Ava Lubkemann G’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science)
• Ziekariba Nonr Diallo G’28 (School of Information Studies)
• Jase M Malloy ’25 (School of Information Studies)

Thirty-five students have been chosen as the 2025-26 ���ϲ����� Remembrance Scholars.

The scholarships, now in their 36th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through ���ϲ����� who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Those students were among the 270 people who perished in the bombing. The scholarships are funded through an endowment supported by gifts from alumni, friends, parents and corporations.

Significant support for the Remembrance Scholarships has been provided by Jean Thompson ’66 and ���ϲ����� Life Trustee Richard L. Thompson G’67 in memory of Jean Taylor Phelan Terry ’43 and John F. Phelan, Jean Thompson’s parents; by Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Steven Barnes ’82 and Deborah Barnes; by The ���ϲ����� Association of Zeta Psi in memory of Alexander Lowenstein; and by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation.

Selection Process

Remembrance Scholars are chosen in their junior year through a competitive selection process. Applicants submitted an essay and a reflective response in multimedia, artistic, musical or written format as part of a comprehensive application. The application evaluation committee is composed of University faculty and staff and current Remembrance Scholars. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded on the basis of community impact, leadership, creativity and thoughtful academic inquiry.

“Remembrance Scholars, through their academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the campus and local communities, exemplify what a ���ϲ����� education has to offer and represent the promise of the students for whom these scholarships are named,” says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. “We are proud to recognize their accomplishments.”

The Remembrance Scholars plan the Remembrance activities held at the University each year, and the cohort will be recognized during a convocation in the fall.

The 2025-26 Remembrance Scholars, their hometowns, majors and schools and colleges are the following:

• Ellie Allen of Newton, Massachusetts, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Jacqueline Arbogast of Warwick, New York, a television, radio and film major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications;
• Rohan Bangalore of Sterling, Virginia, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School;
• Caiyan Bass of Aurora, Colorado, a communication sciences and disorders major in A&S;
• Michael Capous of Wantagh, New York, a nutrition science major (pre-med track) in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics;
• Belinda Chan of Brooklyn, New York, a social work major in the Falk College;
• Tommy DaSilva of Newark, Delaware, a public health major in the Falk College; a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S, and a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School;
• Nick Dekaney of ���ϲ�����, New York, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
• Ava Downey of Newport Beach, California, a linguistics major in A&S, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Leah Farrell of New Milford, Connecticut, a citizenship and civic engagement major in the Maxwell School and policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Abbey Fitzpatrick of Pacific Grove, California, a history and political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S;
• Olivia Fried of Clinton Corners, New York, an international relations major in the Maxwell School and A&S and magazine, news and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
• Tanishka Gajula of Chicago, Illinois, a biology major (pre-med track) in A&S;
• Olutoyin Green, of Long Island, New York, a health humanities and political philosophy major in A&S, a law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Alani Henderson of ���ϲ�����, New York, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a law, society and policy major the Maxwell School;
• Nico Horning of El Dorado Hills, California, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the Newhouse School;
• Wafiq Khondkar of New Hyde Park, New York, a biotechnology and philosophy major in A&S and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Edward Lu of Robbinsville, New Jersey, a music composition major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA);
• Joy Mao, of Cary, North Carolina, a policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a television, radio and film major in the Newhouse School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Valeria Martinez-Gutierrez of Laredo, Texas, a geography and sociology major in the Maxwell School and A&S; an environment, sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• German Nolivos of Miami, Florida, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a public relations major in the Newhouse School;
• Luiza Owour of Kisumu, Kenya, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS);
• Marc Pantano of Newington, Connecticut, a marketing and supply chain management major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management;
• Annaliese Pillitteri of Babylon, New York, a film major in VPA;
• Savion Pollard of Queens, New York, an electrical engineering major in ECS and a U.S. Navy veteran;
• Zachary Setzkorn of Overland Park, Kansas, a geography and history major in the Maxwell School and A&S, a social studies education major in the Maxwell School and School of Education, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Ethan Shavelson of Parkland, Florida, an acting major in VPA;
• Taylor Stubitsch of Arlington Heights, Illinois, a biochemistry and forensic science major in A&S and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Candace Tabb of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, a civil engineering major in ECS;
• Nathan Torabi, of Visalia, California, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S; a citizenship and civic engagement and law, society and policy major in the Maxwell School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Jacquelyn Trotman of Edison, New Jersey, a retail management major in the Whitman School, an advertising major (creative track) in the Newhouse School, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Anya Von Wolff of San Francisco, California, a fashion design major in VPA;
• Logan Wagner of Great Falls, Virginia, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S, an environmental sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School and a history of music and cultures major in A&S;
• Gillian Weltman of Rochester, New York, a communications sciences and disorders and neuroscience major in A&S; and
• Ethan Yankey of Roseau, Dominica, a design studies major in VPA.

The “Picturing the Pandemic” exhibition can be found in the first floor foyer of Maxwell Hall until May 15.

For the next month the Maxwell School’s Qualitative Data Repository (QDR) will help us remember this time by hosting a traveling version of an exhibition titled “Picturing the Pandemic: Images from the Pandemic Journaling Project.”

The exhibition is drawn from a collection of images and audio files contributed to the Pandemic Journaling Project (PJP), which was started in May 2020 by a team of researchers from the University of Connecticut and Brown University. Their goal was to create an online archive of COVID-19 stories, described as a “grassroots collaborative ethnography.” By May 2022, over 1,800 people from 55 countries had shared nearly 27,000 online journal entries of text, images and audio—including almost 3,000 photos.

Maxwell is the seventh stop for “Picturing the Pandemic,” following exhibitions in Heidelberg, Mexico City and Toronto, as well as Hartford, Connecticut, where the show was first launched in 2022.�� The from phase one of the wider PJP early in 2024, making it a natural stop for the traveling exhibition. The exhibition can be found in the first floor foyer of Maxwell Hall until May 15.

The kickoff of the exhibition included a panel discussion featuring PJP co-founders Associate Professor Sarah S. Willen of the University of Connecticut and Associate Professor Katherine A. Mason of Brown University, as well as University Professor Amy Fairchild and Maxwell Associate Dean for Research Shana Gadarian. The talk was moderated by Sebastian Karcher, associate director of QDR.

The full PJP data maintained by QDR is currently available for use and re-use by researchers. Though, to protect privacy, access requires prior approval, with requests submitted from the dataset’s page on the��. A significant subset of more than 2,000 entries are also publicly available for searching and browsing by anyone on the��.

Connor McNeil, left, holds the U.S. flag with a fellow solider just after conducting a mission in which they fended off a mock attack on snowmobiles and skis.

A student in the master of arts in international relations program in the recently returned from a unique training exercise that brought together U.S. and Canadian troops in the Arctic.

Connor McNeil participated in Guerrier Nordique (Nordic Warrior) 25 as a member of the Vermont Army National Guard. He joined troops from the Virginia National Guard, 75th Ranger Regiment, Marine Mountain Warfare Training Center and 10th Mountain Division while partnering with the Canadian Arctic Response Company Group, which hosts and organizes the event.

Over the course of three weeks in March, participants skied more than 20 miles across the frozen Lake Saint-Jean, hauling gear on pulk sleds, and ran recon missions, mock platoon attacks and other tactical operations—all while facing blowing snow and temperatures as low as -25°F.

“Despite the conditions, the training was amazing. We were able to interact with our Canadian counterparts who were delighted to teach us the institutional knowledge they had gained from decades of training in these harsh environments,” says McNeil. “From snowmobiling and skiing to setting up Arctic tents and fixing stoves, we learned exactly what it would take to sustain ourselves in the field. Conversely, we were able to share with them our tactics and operating procedures.”

McNeil says the experience was a good complement to his studies, which he began in August 2024. He said climate change and economic interests will continue to drive human activities in the Arctic, threatening Indigenous communities, wildlife and diplomatic stability.

“As a byproduct of these changes, the demand for highly capable response groups from Arctic stakeholder nations will also increase,” McNeil says. “Multinational military training exercises in the Arctic are amazing opportunities to collaborate with partner nations who are concerned about the preservation and security of the region. This common ground created a two-way exchange for every soldier to teach, learn and share what they have learned and hope to learn about the Arctic. This is the gold standard of developing collaboration between nations.”

McNeil is especially interested in the Asia-Pacific region and a career in international trade and finance. “I hope to also leverage my military connections and develop international military partnerships between the U.S. and foreign nations,” McNeil says. “I know Maxwell is the launching platform for these aspirations and I know I made the right choice by coming to ���ϲ�����. We have world-class practitioners and subject matter experts in the Maxwell School that have truly challenged my abilities.”

Ryan Monarch

The Moynihan Award is given annually in recognition of an outstanding record of teaching, research and service. It was established eponymously in 1985 by then-U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who was also a former member of Maxwell’s junior faculty from 1959 to 1961.

Monarch joined Maxwell in August 2021 after serving as principal economist for the international finance division of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2021. He received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan in 2014.

Monarch studies U.S.-China trade, buyer-supplier relationships in international trade and how the recent tariff war affects U.S. exports and supply chains. His research has been published in the Journal of International Economics–the top journal in international economics–and multiple other top-tier economics journals, such as the Review of Economics and Statistics, the Journal of the European Economic Association and American Economics Journal: Applied Economics. He has also written numerous policy reports. His work has been sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research and has been cited by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Economist and Reuters.

In recent months, Monarch has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, the South China Morning Post, the New York Post, Spectrum TV, National Public Radio, The Motley Fool and other outlets for his expertise on ongoing events in international trade policy, and he served as a panelist for the Maxwell School event “Trump’s Tariffs: Issues and Implications” held on April 9.

The Moynihan Award recipient was chosen by a committee of faculty comprised of Leonard Lopoo, Andrew Cohen and Emily Thorson. In a nomination letter submitted by Lopoo, they noted that Monarch is “an expert in international trade” who has “made important contributions to the ‘buyer-supplier matching’ topic.”

“His course evaluations are outstanding,” wrote Lopoo, associate dean, chair and professor of public administration and international affairs. “Students frequently commented on how Professor Monarch makes complicated topics easy to understand” and enjoyable to learn.”

Lopoo also noted Monarch’s “important service to the Maxwell School,” serving on the international trade search committee and serving as director of the Trade, Development and Political Economy Workshop.

This story was written by Michael Kelly

Community engagement. Reciprocal learning. Service to others through volunteering.

Those were the principles behind the creation of the in 1994 under the direction of then-���ϲ����� Chancellor Kenneth Shaw and his wife, Mary Ann, who also served as the associate of the Chancellor.

The Shaw Center represented Kenneth and Mary Ann’s promise to the University and Central New York community that student learning would hold the highest priority on campus, promoting volunteer service as a fundamental component of the student experience.

For 30 years, the Shaw Center has proudly served as the University’s hub for academic community engagement. By giving back to nonprofits and organizations around ���ϲ����� through service learning and volunteering, the campus community engages in the high impact practice of experiential learning.

Claire Ceccoli

When senior Claire Ceccoli ’25 learned that there were children who didn’t have a bed to sleep on at night, she chaired the annual bed-building project that benefits the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Through efforts she spearheaded the last two years, 132 beds have been built and donated to children in need.

“We want to help the community, and we’re also learning from them. It’s a two-way street, doing this work with that reciprocal learning mindset,” says Claire Ceccoli ’25, a Shaw Center leadership intern who is studying public relations in the and psychology in the .

Derek Wallace

Derek Wallace ’00 was in the first group of tutors in the ���ϲ����� City School District during the summer before his sophomore year. He eventually took over as Literacy Corps student manager, planting the managerial and entrepreneurial skills that inspired him to become CEO of Golden Fork Media and founder of the children’s book series and brand, “Kalamata’s Kitchen,” a multimedia property that uses the power of food to help children get excited to experience all that their world has to offer them.

“It’s hard to imagine what I would be doing or where I would be if I wasn’t given those opportunities to do well, do good and create change in the community under the mentorship of [Shaw Center Associate Vice President and Director] Pam Heintz,” says Wallace, who earned dual degrees in policy studies from the and public relations from the Newhouse School.

On April 21, the and ahead of the event, Wallace and Ceccoli discuss how their involvement with the Shaw Center transformed them into leaders in their communities.

Check out�� featuring Ceccoli and Wallace. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

What drew you to the Shaw Center?

Wallace: I wanted to do impactful things, and the Shaw Center felt like that’s exactly what we were trying to do. There was an innovative vision for how we would leverage the skillset of the students in a way that wasn’t just learning in a classroom. It was applied learning and skills applications outside of the classroom that not only benefited our careers as students but also built bridges to the community.

Ceccoli: What drew me to the Shaw Center was the people. Every intern and staff member is so passionate about the work they’re doing. My whole life, I’ve been interested in mission-driven work and nonprofit work. Having an office at the University that’s committed to these initiatives and getting students into the community, I don’t think I could have found a better or more natural fit.

What activities did you organize with the Shaw Center?

Claire Ceccoli (second from left) poses with two volunteers who helped build beds for Central New York children in need.

Ceccoli: As president of the ���ϲ����� Volunteer Organization, we’ve partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an incredible nonprofit organization, to build beds for children in the community. The ���ϲ����� chapter has delivered 6,000 beds within our area. They always wanted to do a bed build on campus with our students, so I pitched this idea and the staff at the Shaw Center were so supportive. The leader I’ve become today is largely a result of my experiences at the Shaw Center.

Wallace: As a Literacy Corps tutor, I worked in an inclusive kindergarten classroom, reading to children with autism and getting them excited about literacy. I wound up taking over as the student manager, which was one of the best leadership experiences I ever had. Along with my classmate, Chad Duhon, we launched Shooting for A’s, an athletic and academic program that invited fifth and sixth graders to come to campus, meet some of their athlete heroes and learn civics lessons. We also launched a service and experiential learning program, Balancing the Books, in partnership with the Whitman School.

As a Shaw Center volunteer, Derek Wallace (third from left) helped launched Shooting for A’s, an athletic and academic program that taught fifth and sixth graders civics lessons while introducing them to their athlete heroes.

How did the Shaw Center influence your career aspirations?

Derek Wallace relies on lessons learned as a Shaw Center volunteer to fuel his career as CEO of Golden Fork Media and founder of the children’s book series and brand, “Kalamata’s Kitchen.”

Wallace: My career started at the Shaw Center in children’s literacy, and now I’m the co-creator of a children’s book series. It’s a full circle moment for me. The passion I have for the work I do, what led me down this path were the values I learned and the lessons taught at the Shaw Center. Chancellor Shaw, Mary Ann Shaw, Pam Heintz and [Maxwell School] Professor Bill Coplin believed in my abilities to make a difference and they provided mentorship that put me on this path and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Ceccoli: I know this is the type of work I want to do for the rest of my life. This passion that I see in these community organizations and the change that is possible when people take their skills and step up for their community is something that I want to model for the rest of my life.

Long lines of families turned out for support and shared their heartbreaking stories of evacuations and lost homes. Amid the sorrowful scene, Aga recalls watching a group of children playing tag and laughing in the parking lot while their mother waited in line for food and other provisions.

“It was just such a human moment in such a tragic, apocalyptic scenario that it just really struck me that this is something people are going to have to deal with for years, and it’s real people just trying to get through it,” says Aga, who has worked as a field representative in Chu’s Pasadena office for three years.

On the first day of the Eaton fire, Jan. 7, Aga fielded calls from residents who had evacuated, who had lost their homes, and who couldn’t find family members. Some had lost loved ones in the flames. Chu’s district, which covers most of northeastern Los Angeles county and serves nearly 750,000 residents, was heavily impacted by the Eaton Fire; it destroyed nearly 9,500 structures, scorched over 14,000 acres and claimed 17 lives before it was fully contained.

Maxwell alumnus Zayn Aga (pictured center, wearing a tie) is shown with colleagues during a visit to fire-ravaged Altadena, California, by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (left) and other lawmakers.

Aga was part of a team advocating for federal aid to support the affected community. They also assisted residents in receiving medical equipment and in recovering lost mail and other critical documents.

“It’s our job and our responsibility to make government work for people,” Aga says, adding that he strives to “make government work for somebody just a little bit better and be a little bit more accessible.”

Aga said he finds purpose in making a difference in small, meaningful ways. Despite evacuating his own home, he gathered supplies and drove across the city, visiting four different centers in search of one still accepting donations. One day he rounded up a lost dog and located its worried owner who had been searching since the fires.

“Helping people in a crisis, and exercising initiative and going the extra mile even when his own safety and property are being threatened, sounds so much like Zayn,” says , professor of political science. “He’s the complete Maxwell package—empathy, dedication to service and determination to improve government. I’m very proud of him.”

Aga says his Maxwell schooling helped prepare him to support others in times of need, reinforcing the importance of solving problems one step at a time. He said he gained especially valuable experience interning for U.S. Sen. Charles “Chuck” Schumer and U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi.

“At its core, this was all just people doing their best and trying to be there for one another,” says Aga of his experience.

Story by Mikayla Melo

Lauren Woodard

, assistant professor of anthropology, has received the Spring 2025 Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) First Book Subvention for her upcoming book on Russia’s migration policies on the Russia-China border.

Woodard’s book is titled “Ambiguous Inclusion: Migration and Race on the Russia-China Border” (University of Toronto Press, 2026). It draws on her 17 months of ethnographic fieldwork, including interviews and immersive participant observation in Moscow and Vladivostok, Russia, and Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 2014-17.

Further, it explores how those who immigrate to Russia through its Resettlement of Compatriots Program experience challenges adapting to life in the country, despite receiving expedited citizenship and state benefits. Migrants’ uneasiness, she argues, reflects racial hierarchies that are shaped by complex configurations of ethnicity, language and culture.

The ASEEES is a nonprofit scholarly society that supports teaching, research and publishing about Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia and Eastern Europe. It hosts an annual convention, book prizes and the Slavic Review—the leading peer-reviewed journal in the field. The first book subvention prize is awarded twice annually to three winners for individually authored books.

Woodard’s research has been supported by the Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fellowship, Fulbright research grants to Russia and Kazakhstan, and the Social Science Research Council. She was also awarded the Title VIII Research Scholar fellowship by the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., in 2022 for her research on migration, race and belonging in Russia’s Far East. She received the International Relations Teaching Award for the 2022-23 academic year, which recognizes excellence in teaching and contributions to the international relations undergraduate program.

Woodard is a senior research associate in the Center for European Studies. She teaches courses on political anthropology, Eastern Europe, anthropological theory and global encounters.

Story by Michael Kelly

“We are honored to be recognized for our work by peers at institutions of higher education dedicated to public service,” says Dean . “It is a challenging time for many with a commitment to effective public service, yet our mission remains clear: to prepare the next generation of leaders dedicated to improving their communities, strengthening democracy and leaving the world better than they found it.”

The Best Public Affairs Schools rankings are based solely on surveys of deans, directors and department chairs representing 268 master’s programs in public affairs and public administration. Each school is numerically ranked by peer school leadership on a 5-point scale, with the average score determining the school’s overall rank. Additionally, survey respondents can nominate up to 15 schools for excellence in 12 subspecialties, with the number of nominations determining each school’s position in the ranking.

U.S. News began ranking graduate programs in public affairs in 1995. Since then, the Maxwell School has been ranked No. 1 in every survey but one. In addition, the school remains highly ranked in 10 subspecialties:

• Environmental policy and management
• Health policy and management
• International global policy and administration
• Information and technology management
• Local government management
• Non-profit management
• Public finance and budgeting
• Public management and leadership
• Public policy analysis
• Social policy

“We are honored for this recognition and thankful to our peers,” says , associate dean, chair and professor of public administration and international affairs. “I believe it speaks to the tremendous research and teaching done by our faculty and the outstanding contributions to public affairs made by our many accomplished alums.”

Launched in 1924 as the School of American Citizenship by ���ϲ����� alumnus George Holmes Maxwell, the school began with a graduate program in public administration, an undergraduate citizenship course and a weekly seminar in political science. Today the school is home to 12 academic departments and 15 interdisciplinary research centers and institutes, where students and scholars grapple with a range of issues, including environmental sustainability; autonomous systems policy; population health and aging; law and security; conflict resolution; democracy and journalism; global affairs; and regional studies.

The Student Experience division is honored to announce the selection of Chidera Olalere ’26 and Silke Pion ’26 as the Class of 2026 Senior Class Marshals. As the all-University representatives for their class, in this role they will help to recommend the Commencement speaker, offer insights and suggestions to the student experience, participate in campus events and conclude their service by leading the student procession during the 2026 Commencement ceremony.

“Leading with heart, purpose and unmistakable Orange pride, Chidera and Silke have made a lasting impact on our ���ϲ����� community through their dedication to campus involvement, community service and academic excellence,” says Sheriah N. Dixon, associate vice president for the��, dean of students and chair of the selection committee. “As the Class of 2026 Senior Class Marshals, they embody the true spirit of ���ϲ�����—guiding us with vision, unity and distinction as we step boldly into the future.”

Chidera Olalere

Home is where you find community and belonging and for rising senior Chidera Olalere, her homes include Nigeria, North Yorkshire, England, and ���ϲ�����. Driven to immerse herself in learning experiences in and beyond the classroom, Olalere joined the Orange community as an international student and soon after, quickly began building a student experience unique to her passions, goals and academic pursuits.

“I have been introduced to opportunities that I would not have known existed otherwise and I have been given mentors in more spaces and fields than I could have imagined. The people at this University invest in you and as I have been thinking intently about how I want to close out my time at ���ϲ�����, I knew I wanted to pay all this forward,” says Olalere in reflection of what motivated her to apply for Senior Class Marshal. “I am also excited to represent all my different experiences at the University, my background and hopefully show other students the value of being open to the opportunities around them and pursuing the things they are passionate about.”

Within the Olalere is pursuing dual majors in biochemistry and forensic science, with a minor in economics. Highlighted scholarly accomplishments include being a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program and a recipient of the Invest in Success and 1870 scholarships. Bridging what is learned in the classroom to future professional endeavors, Olalere has entered her second year as an undergraduate research intern within the Upstate Medical University Bourboulia Lab, working to identify potential new therapeutic agents for cancer therapy.

Driven by a passion for making a meaningful impact, Olalere is deeply involved in the campus community. She supports student success as a Stevenson Education Center tutor and cultivates community connections as a residence assistant. As a student leader she has consistently sought opportunities to support her peers. Additional highlights include serving as an Office of Academic Integrity student hearing panelist, a first-responder EMT on the ���ϲ����� Ambulance team, as a college ministry worship leader and a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences.

“To me, being Orange has looked like inviting people into your life and loving them well. Whether the interaction is one minute or semester long, being Orange is being enthusiastic and supportive, and using what you have learned to help those coming up after you,” says Olalere. “The legacy I have found at ���ϲ����� is one of joyful service and community and that is the same legacy I hope to leave behind.”

Silke Pion

As a California resident, contemplating leaving the West Coast for ���ϲ����� was at first a daunting decision for Pion, a junior in the and pursuing bachelor’s degrees in political science, finance and business analytics. Soon after starting her first semester, it became clear that not only did she make the right choice by pursuing ���ϲ����� but the opportunities for student success were limitless.

“I want my legacy to remain here at ���ϲ����� and remind students who may second guess themselves that they are worthy of every opportunity in front of them. Before ���ϲ�����, I would have never applied for opportunities such as being a Senior Class Marshal—out of pure fear of rejection,” says Pion. “My time here has demonstrated that rejection is not the end of the world and often leads to some other unexpected surprises.”

As a recipient of the Chancellor’s and Invest in Success scholarships, in addition to being a member of the dean’s list, Renée Crown University Honors Program and the International Business Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma, Pion quickly dove into the student experience, facing uncertainty head-on and working to earn success both inside and outside of the classroom.

Throughout her undergraduate career, Pion has immersed herself into a variety of student experiences focusing on professional development, leadership and community service. Within the campus community she has led Alpha Gamma Delta as the director of finance, served as a Martin J. Whitman School of Management Marshall House teaching assistant and Harrison House leader, as president and service chair for Challah for Hunger: A Project of MAZON, community service chair under ���ϲ����� Hillel and as a member of Beta Alpha Psi: Finance and Accounting Professional Fraternity.

When working to build a strong launchpad for the future, Pion prioritized finding personal success just as much as finding success for others within the communities she supports. Immersing herself in professional development within the greater global community, her experience includes being a junior analyst for The Orange Value Fund, LLC, policy analyst intern within the New York State Assembly Member Pamela Hunter’s district office, communications and community coordinator for the Kenya Immersion Experience and an active member of the Goodman IMPRESS Program and volunteer in the ���ϲ����� community.

“No opportunity or experience stands alone, instead, it’s the result of the hard work and commitment of others who came before. I want to continue the tradition of paying it forward and spread the message across campus.” Pion shares as she eagerly prepares for her final chapter as an undergraduate student and looks to how she can support future generations of students. “Although my time at ���ϲ����� is quickly coming to an end, a piece of my heart will always be here. I want my legacy to remain here at ���ϲ����� and remind the students who may second guess themselves that they are worthy of every opportunity in front of them.”

The annual Maxwell Awards of Excellence celebrated five exceptional alumni who embody the school’s commitment to engaged citizenship. Pictured are (from left to right) Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke with honorees Sahil Jain ’13, Margaret Abraham ’89 Ph.D., Ana Maria Menezes ’06 and Tom Bozzuto ’71. Tiesha Peal ’99 was unable to attend.

Standing on stage before an audience of community members, Sahil Jain ’13 B.A. (IR) reflected on the “incredible people, valuable lessons and pivotal experiences” leading to his receipt of the school’s Compass Award for exceptional accomplishments as an early-career alumnus.

“Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the resilience of my parents,” Jain said at the Awards of Excellence celebration in Washington, D.C., on March 27. “They fled turmoil and worked tirelessly to build a future for our family. Their unwavering determination taught me that true leadership is not solely about personal achievements but about the impact we have on those around us—uplifting others, empowering them and creating opportunities where few exist.”

Jain, who was one of five alumni honored at the event, shared how he completed his ���ϲ����� application at his family’s liquor store in Sacramento, California, and, upon receiving his acceptance months later, was so overwhelmed with excitement that he nearly hugged a customer.

“That moment marked the beginning of a transformative journey,” Jain said.

A foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State, Jain has held roles across the U.S. government helping to advance peace and security around the world. From 2024-25, he was special assistant to the deputy secretary of state, focused on U.S. policy related to South and Central Asia. He served in the White House as a senior advisor at the National Security Council and as policy advisor in the Vice President’s Office of National Security Affairs. He was a political officer at U.S. Embassies in China from 2021-23 and India from 2018-20.

“Over the years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to serve in the halls of the State Department, our embassies overseas and at the White House,” Jain said. “Walking through these corridors of power, I often reflect on the journey from the liquor store in Sacramento to where I stand today. I arrived at Maxwell filled with uncertainty and hope; I departed empowered and prepared to contribute.”

Established in 2022, the Awards of Excellence program celebrates the contributions of the school’s alumni and friends to their fields, communities and society through work that reflects the Maxwell School mission and values. In addition to the Compass Award, recognition categories include the 1924 Award, Bridge Award, Charles V. Willie Advocate Award and Spirit of Public Service Award. In the spring of 2024 the event was expanded to celebrate Maxwell’s centennial year.

This year’s event was held at the University’s new home in Dupont Circle. In addition to Jain, honorees included Margaret Abraham ’89 Ph.D. (Soc); Tom Bozzuto ’71 M.P.A.; Ana Maria Menezes ’06 M.A. (PA); and Tiesha Peal ’99 B.A. (PSc).

Abraham received the 1924 Award, honoring graduates for their distinguished and sustained professional or civic leadership and achievement in the spirit of the school’s mission. She is a professor of sociology and the Harry H. Wachtel Distinguished Teaching Professor for the Study of Nonviolent Social Change at Hofstra University. Her leadership roles include serving as past president of the International Sociological Association and, at Hofstra, as senior vice provost for academic affairs, special advisor to the provost for diversity initiatives and director of the Women’s Studies Program.

An author, lecturer and advisor, Abraham bridges scholarship and social justice advocacy in the areas of ethnicity, gender, migration and domestic violence. She has published four books and two special volumes, including “Speaking the Unspeakable: Marital Violence Among South Asian Immigrants in the United States.”

Abraham thanked her supporters and reflected on recent transitions in the federal government. “We are at the crossroads, where we are witnessing multiple cascading effects of policies and laws on political, social and economic institutions that impact everyday lives, especially on the marginalized,” she said. “In these times our activism, engagement and pursuit of justice becomes even more vital. As social scientists, we must share our learning and knowledge with the broader societies of which we are a part. We need to use data and analytical tools, critique, counter misinformation, inform publics and collectively address issues we face. We have the responsibility to engage in building a better world.”

Bozzuto, chairman and co-founder of The Bozzuto Group, received the Bridge Award, which honors exemplary leadership across sectors. Throughout his career in real estate development and management, he has created more than 62,000 homes and apartments, nurturing vibrant multifamily communities. A Vietnam veteran, he worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and spent 13 years as mid-Atlantic regional partner at Oxford Development Corp. His leadership roles have included serving as board chair of the Baltimore Community Foundation, the National Multifamily Housing Council, the Maryland Science Center and Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he received undergraduate and honorary degrees.

He thanked Dean David M. Van Slyke for encouraging his re-engagement with the Maxwell School in recent years, and then, shared what has been his family’s guiding compass.

“My wife and I, and our children believe that as citizens, we have a responsibility to our community that goes beyond just paying taxes and obeying the law. As citizens, our duty does not stop at the doorway to our homes. As citizens, regardless of where we work, each of us in some way should try to make our world a better place in which to live,” Bozzuto said. “Our family has been blessed with the resources to allow us to be very active in our city and our state and even a bit in our nation. However, I also know that one of my greatest blessings was a terrific education, the capstone of which was the year I spent at Maxwell.”

Menezes received the Spirit of Public Service Award which recognizes contributions that have had a widespread global impact. For more than 35 years she has applied her knowledge in aquaculture and natural resource management to help eradicate food insecurity, improve nutrition and reduce poverty in some of the poorest regions of the world.

As senior fisheries officer with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, Menezes works with member nations to increase aquaculture production. Previously, she was national officer for the UN Environment Programme and she served as national director of planning and research for the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and aquaculture researcher at the Instituto Nacional de Investigação Pesqueira in her native country of Mozambique.

“I’ve witnessed from within the rise from Zero to the Blue Economy, the Blue Foods and the Blue Transformation movement, harvesting from the ocean, rivers and lakes, from man-made ponds to feed billions of people around the planet. It’s my great fortune to have been part of this,” she said, later adding, “What I really want to make clear is that what I learned at the Maxwell School in the public administration master’s degree program set me up for a fulfilling journey, a greater purpose and you in this room share in this honor.”

Peal, an attorney with 20 years of experience helping to ensure equal treatment for all under the law, received the Charles V. Willie Advocate Award. She was unable to attend the event to accept the award in person.

Peal previously worked as the assistant district attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney Office, handling litigation and conducting investigations into criminal activity ranging from contraband to gang assaults. She also represented New York City employees in housing court as an attorney for District Council 37 Union and was a staff attorney with Essex-Newark Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to very low-income residents. She is a founding member of the Maxwell School’s Alumni Affinity Group and a frequent mentor to current students and alumni.

Haowei Wang

Wang’s research focuses on understanding the social determinants of healthy aging in a global context. In particular, she investigates the transformation of family networks, how multiple dimensions of family relationships impact well-being and caregiving in later life, and how demographic shifts and social policies shape physical and mental health across the life course.

The APC Fellowship program is designed to help early-career population researchers network, increase their profile and develop skills for disseminating research. Fellows are invited to give a talk at an APC research center, present at an APC virtual event and receive support in preparing a policy brief. Founded in 1991, the APC is an independent group of over 40 research institutions in the U.S. that brings together scholars across disciplines to educate policymakers and collaborate on research related to demographics and population change.

“Professor Wang is doing important policy-relevant work on healthy aging and family structures that impact not just individuals but whole communities,” says Shana Kushner Gadarian, associate dean for research. “We are so happy to see this recognition of her research and her strong trajectory.”

Wang is a research affiliate at the Center for Aging and Policy Studies, a faculty associate at the Aging Studies Institute and a research affiliate at the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health. Her areas of expertise are in social gerontology, family demography, aging and population health. She has contributed to many articles in interdisciplinary journals on topics including population aging, health disparities, family structure changes, intergenerational relationships, and COVID-19 experiences among middle-aged and older adults.

Story by Michael Kelly

Bob Mankoff

Bob Mankoff ’66, who melded academic interests in psychology and philosophy with comedy and satire to become one of the nation’s most influential cartoonists as cartoon editor of The New Yorker for 20 years, will deliver the alumni keynote address at the on Saturday, May 10, at 8:30 a.m.

His journey from a psychology student at ���ϲ����� to a prominent figure in American humor illustrates his lifelong dedication to exploring what makes people laugh and his remarkable ability to translate that understanding into a successful career spanning cartoons, editing, writing and education. The Queens native has remained committed to understanding and teaching the psychology of humor, leading workshops at institutions like Swarthmore College and Fordham University. More recently, his popular TED Talks have explored whether comedy is a distinctly human trait or if artificial intelligence might master the art of comedy—“”

Mankoff exemplifies how the breadth and depth of a liberal arts education helps students develop the professional flexibility that serves A&S | Maxwell School graduates throughout their lives. “I think it is hubristic to only focus on one area of study and not engage with all this past knowledge that humanity has acquired,” he said in 2024. “A liberal arts education illustrates the idea that now is as it was and as it will be.”

“We are honored to welcome Bob Mankoff ’66, who perfectly embodies A&S’ mission of creating agents of change,” says A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi. “His use of humor as a means of cultural commentary reflects the critical thinking, creativity and social awareness all students cultivate here. His work not only entertains but also challenges us to see the world from new perspectives—and maybe even change it for the better.”

About Mankoff

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Mankoff attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art before choosing ���ϲ�����. After graduating with a psychology degree in 1966, he briefly pursued doctoral studies before focusing on cartooning.

Success required persistence—Mankoff submitted approximately 2,000 cartoons to��The New Yorker��before his first publication. He eventually contributed nearly 1,000 cartoons to the magazine, including his famous “How About Never—Is Never Good For You?”

In 1997, he became��The New Yorker’s��cartoon editor, a position he held for 20 years, where he reviewed thousands of submissions weekly and mentored cartoonists. In 2005, he launched the “New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest,” later partnering with Microsoft and Google DeepMind to develop selection algorithms.

Mankoff’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to found the Cartoon Bank in 1992, which evolved into CartoonStock.com in 2018. This platform houses over 500,000 cartoons from an array of notable publications, supporting cartoonists while preserving the art form.

���ڳٱ����The New Yorker, Mankoff served as cartoon editor at��Esquire��and currently holds the same position at��Air Mail. He co-runs Botnik Studios, using big data analytics to enhance creative processes, and has authored several books, including his��New York Times��bestselling memoir “How About Never—Is Never Good For You?: My Life In Cartoons.”

Convocation will be held in the JMA Wireless Dome with a reception to follow in the Quad at 10:30 a.m.

Read a��.

The move is part of a wider reorganization announced by the Lerner Center and The Monday Campaigns.

The Lerner Center, which was established at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 2011��with a gift��from alumnus Sidney “Sid” Lerner ’53 and his wife, Helaine, now houses Healthy Monday digital materials and programming on a newly designed��. It will also initiate a broad campaign through social media, newsletters and other platforms, and implement signature programs that leverage ���ϲ�����’s expertise in health promotion. Students will continue to be involved in developing and implementing programming aimed at improving population health.

The restructuring follows����to the Lerner Center and ���ϲ�����’s Forever Orange Campaign by Helaine Lerner in 2023 and ensures the future of The Monday Campaigns’ beloved global health campaigns. While the Lerner Center will now own Healthy Monday, the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future at the Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore will launch a new��. In addition, New York University Langone Health will launch��.

This��marks a new phase of growth for The Monday Campaigns and its programs, founded in 2003 by Lerner, an advertising and marketing innovator who died in 2021 at the age of 90. A legend in the advertising business, he helped create the “Please Don’t Squeeze the Charmin” campaign featuring Mr. Whipple for his client, Procter & Gamble. He applied his gift for developing a simple and compelling message to improving public health after a conversation he had with physicians about the need to cut back on dietary saturated fats. His Meatless Monday campaign became a global health phenomenon, reportedly convincing two-thirds of Americans to reduce meat consumption. In 2006, it morphed into the Healthy Monday movement in partnership with universities, workplaces, schools and communities.

“Sid’s original vision was to create initiatives that anyone could pick up and shape for their own institutions and lives, or as Sid said, ‘take my campaign please,’” said Dana Smith, campaign director for The Monday Campaigns. “Twenty-two years later, institutional partners and advocates worldwide have embraced Monday as—also in Sid’s words—‘the day all health breaks loose.’ We’re excited for the next chapter of this movement, anchored to trusted and leading academic partners.”

Through Healthy Monday, individuals and organizations use turnkey program guides or design their own programs to commit to better health every Monday.��Research shows that healthy thinking and behavior are synchronized with the week, with Monday being the day people are most open to positive changes.

“Healthy Monday is a dynamic, adaptable campaign that helps people start their week off right,” said Casey Collins, digital specialist for the Lerner Center. “As everyone from students to health professionals look for ways to achieve better health and well-being for themselves and the population as a whole, Healthy Monday has tremendous potential. We’re excited to move this important public health initiative forward.”

Guided by the principles of scientific rigor, equity, justice, community engagement, and multidisciplinary and multi-institution collaboration, the Lerner Center’s mission is to improve population and community health through research, education, outreach and health promotion programming focused on the social, spatial and structural determinants of physical, mental, and behavioral health and health disparities.

Over the past several years, the Lerner Center has launched numerous health promotion programs and community partnerships, including the Monday Mile walking routes developed in partnership with the City of ���ϲ�����, Onondaga County, local hospitals and the Madison County Rural Health Council. In 2019, the Center launched��—a six-week workshop series for undergraduate students that offers evidence-based tools to help students manage their stress and thrive while in college.

Twelve seniors have been named as the 2025 ���ϲ����� Scholars, the highest undergraduate honor the University bestows.

The ���ϲ����� Scholars Selection Committee, a Universitywide faculty committee, selected the scholars using criteria that included coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation.

“We are proud to recognize our University Scholars for their many accomplishments. Not only have they achieved academic success, they have also embraced opportunities—like research and community service—to enhance and expand their undergraduate experience and make the most of their time here. As they prepare to graduate, we are looking forward to celebrating their future accomplishments and success,” says Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew.

The 2025 ���ϲ����� Scholars are:

• Jonathan Collard de Beaufort, a biochemistry major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Charlotte Ebel, a public relations major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, a women and gender studies and German language, literature and culture major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Abigail Greenfield, a history major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a political philosophy major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Yuming Jiang, a mathematics and physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Sierra Kaplan, a political science major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, a health humanities major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Emmy Njue, a finance and business analytics majors in the Whitman School of Management;
• Kerrin O’Grady, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and a neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Morgan Opp, a chemistry and biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Timothy Paek, a computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program;
• Skyla Ross-Graham a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Yifan Shen, an architecture major in the School of Architecture, a music history and cultures major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program; and
• Sophia Znamierowski, a biology and neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program.

Those are a few of the questions examined by a multidisciplinary panel of Maxwell School faculty experts during a recent “What’s at Stake” panel discussion hosted by the Center for Policy Research (CPR).

More than 250 people joined the virtual event held four days before the swearing in of Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. The same day, she sent her staff an email titled “Our Department’s Final Mission” fueling speculation that an executive order to abolish the Department of Education would soon follow. On March 11, the department announced it would cut its workforce nearly in half, to about 2,183 workers.

Sean Drake

Robert Bifulco, professor of public administration and international affairs, moderated the conversation with colleagues Elizabeth Martin, assistant professor of sociology; Michah Rothbart, associate professor of public administration and international affairs; and Sean Drake, assistant professor of sociology. All four panelists are senior research associates at CPR.

Robert Bifulco

To open the session, Bifulco provided some factual context about the Department of Education. In its 2024 fiscal year budget, he pointed out, the department administered programs totaling $268 billion—about 4 percent of the federal budget, a far smaller piece than agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Defense. About 60 percent of the Department of Education budget is spent on Pell grants and federal student loan programs; 17 percent on Title I grants to high poverty schools; and 14 percent to support the education of students with disabilities. “Each of these programs, which together account for over 90 percent of the department’s budget, was established prior to 1979, when the department itself was established,” said Bifulco, who serves as director of CPR’s Program on Educational Equity and Policy.

“President Trump claims the department has been overtaken by radicals, zealots and Marxists, that it promotes liberal ideologies in schools, and that it wastes taxpayers’ money,” Bifulco said. “But when you look at the overwhelming bulk of what the department focuses on and what its budget allocations go for, it’s not clear what most people would want to see cut.”

Martin, whose own research focuses on economic insecurity, credit and debt burdens and financial shocks, spoke to the broad impact of the Department of Education’s programs for students pursuing higher education.

Elizabeth Martin

“This is everything from Pell grants that help lower income students, to work study to student loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized,” she said. “So dismantling the Department of Education, moving the federal aid functions either to states or to the Department of Treasury, which is one proposal I’ve seen, would affect a lot of people. Something like 20 percent of all U.S. households have student loan debt; 30 to 40 percent of students who are currently enrolled are taking on loans every semester.”

One potential consequence of shifting student aid programs out of the federal government, she added, would be to increase gaps between states in higher education opportunities, particularly at public institutions.

“We see huge inequalities in appropriations per student, credit hour and tuition costs and merit- and need-based scholarships,” Martin said. “If federal aid or student loans are moved down to the state level, I imagine that we would see even more widening inequality between states.”

Shifting educational loans away from the federal government may also result in greater reliance on private loans—and the loss of key protections, pointed out Rothbart, who studies public finance and financial management particularly in education.

Michah Rothbart

“Federal student loans provide protections against inability to pay in some circumstances,” Rothbart said. “I could imagine a world where there would be a large increase in the use of private borrowing to pay for higher education, and then students would not have those protections as they move out in their careers.”

In the area of public school funding, Rothbart noted that cutting the Department of Education’s programs, or shifting them outside the federal government, could have unintended consequences on the department’s influence over policy.

“The federal government only provides a small portion of public school funding, but it leverages that to nudge educational priorities,” Rothbart said. “That approach has been in place for years, even predating the formation of the Department of Education. I think it’s important to note that the use of this funding to shape policies can be effective. It actually presents a catch-22 for conservative administrations like the one that’s currently in the office of the presidency, because if the federal government makes cuts to these programs, they could lose some of that leverage to incentivize their other priorities.”

Bifulco said the elimination of Department of Education programs that account for more than 90 percent of its spending would require congressional action. “I think that’s very unlikely,” he said. More likely, he said, is a shift of functions to other federal departments, for instance, moving the Office of Civil Rights out of the Department of Education into the Department of Justice. “That could have big effects on how civil rights are enforced, and what data is collected on civil rights,” he said.

Rothbart said the reshuffling of programs under federal departments “is actually a pretty fruitful discussion.” He pointed out several programs that fall under the purview of education yet are not overseen by the Department of Education. For instance, Head Start is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, national school meals programs are run by the Department of Agriculture, and the GI Bill is overseen by the Department of Veterans Administration. “You could imagine moving programs from other agencies into the Department of Education if it were a different administration,” he said, later adding, “There hasn’t been a major reshuffling of the federal government across agencies in a long, long time.”

Visit the to read the full story.

Story by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

Gretchen Ritter

“” will begin at 6 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in the Falk College Complex. Led by Regina Luttrell, senior associate dean and associate professor of public relations in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and Jason Davis, research professor in the Office of Research and Creativity in the Newhouse School, the session will focus on the critical skills of detection, attribution and characterization, empowering participants to identify and counter deceptive narratives.

The lecture is part of the Life Together: Seeking the Common Good in a Diverse Democracy��initiative, led by Gretchen Ritter, vice president of civic engagement and education. The initiative began with an inaugural community conversation in October and expanded this semester.

Regina Luttrell

This event is open to the University community and welcomes all who value informed citizenry and seek actionable strategies to promote a resilient, truth-centered democratic society.

“Part of being an engaged citizen is being well-informed on pertinent public issues. We want to help the members of our campus community to be engaged, thoughtful citizens by helping them to understand whether different sources of information are reliable and trustworthy or suspect and problematic,” says Ritter.

“In an era where trust in civil society is eroding and the shared civic sphere is under strain, this event underscores the importance of regaining public trust in news and information,” Davis says. “By fostering critical thinking and media literacy, attendees will discover how these tools are essential not only for navigating today’s complex information environment but also for safeguarding the principles of democracy.”

Jason Davis

“With disinformation everywhere, understanding its long-term impact is critical for protecting democracy, public trust, and informed decision-making,” says Luttrell. “My hope is that people walk away with a deeper understanding of how media manipulation and information ecosystems shape��our world and what they can do to assess, challenge and mitigate its harmful effects.”

Luttrell and Davis serve as co-directors of the Newhouse School’s . The lab serves as a multidisciplinary research center focusing on analytics, artificial intelligence, digital and emerging media as well as an active classroom, and shared lab environment for projects undertaken by faculty and students.

Installation view of “Joiri Minaya: Unseeing the Tropics at the Museum”

“We are thrilled to host Joiri Minaya’s work at the museum in conversation with the permanent collection,” says museum Director Emily Dittman. “Her work invites visitors to examine their notions of the ‘tropics’ as well as expand that to thinking more broadly. We hope that this critical examination will provide a platform for conversations at the museum as well as in the community.”

When thinking of the “tropics,” the Caribbeans islands often come to mind. Palm-fringed horizons, sweeping ocean views and pristine beaches have become a visual shorthand for “tropicality” and suggest landscapes that are idyllic, untouched paradises.

The idea of the “tropics” dates to the 15th century, when Spanish and Anglo-European explorers and writers, and later, in the 19th century, photographers represented these regions as virgin paradises or dangerous territories, inhabited by peoples perceived as “primitive.” This framework has reduced the “tropics” to a narrow set of images that have shaped colonial legacies and commercial interests. “Joiri Minaya: Unseeing the Tropics at the Museum” challenges this idea. It encourages reconsideration of the historical and contemporary misrepresentations that shape our perceptions of tropical regions. By juxtaposing Minaya’s work, including video, installation, and photography, with 20th-century artworks from the museum’s collection, the exhibition invites an “unseeing” of the tropics.

The interpretive text in the exhibition is bilingual, providing both English and Spanish text for visitors. Support for this exhibition is provided by Centro de Estudio Hispánicos; Latino-Latin American Studies; and the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics in the College of Arts and Sciences; and the Program on Latin America and The Caribbean (PLACA) in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

About the Artist

Joiri Minaya (born 1990) is a Dominican-United Statesian multidisciplinary artist whose recent works focus on destabilizing historic and contemporary representations of an imagined tropical identity. Minaya attended the Escuela Nacional de Artes Visuales in Santo Domingo (2009), Altos de Chavón School of Design (2011) and Parsons the New School for Design (2013). She has participated in residencies at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Guttenberg Arts, Smack Mellon, the Bronx Museum’s AIM Program and the NYFA Mentoring Program for Immigrant Artists, Red Bull House of Art, the Lower East Side Printshop, ISCP, Art Omi, Vermont Studio Center, New Wave, Silver Art Projects and Fountainhead.

She has received awards, fellowships and grants from New York State Council on the Arts/New York Foundation for the Arts, Jerome Hill, Artadia, the BRIC’s Colene Brown Art Prize, Socrates Sculpture Park, the Joan Mitchell Foundation, the Rema Hort Mann Foundation and the Nancy Graves Foundation, among other organizations. Minaya’s work is in the collections of the Santo Domingo Museo de Arte Moderno, the Centro León Jiménes, the Kemper Museum, El Museo del Barrio and several private collections.

Featured Events

On Opacity: Gallery Talk with Artist Joiri Minaya

March 18, 4:30 p.m., reception to follow

���ϲ����� Art Museum

Lines of Flight: Screening + Q&A with Miryam Charles and Joiri Minaya

March 20, 6:30 p.m.

Presented by Light Work

Watson Theater, 316 Waverly Ave.

Community Day

March 29, noon-4 p.m.

���ϲ����� Art Museum

Visit the museum’s website for more public programs surrounding the exhibition.

Their research, recently published in the Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, is the result of a collaboration between the and the to address teaching disparities in K-12 public school districts. Numerous studies have shown that students are more likely to be successful when they can identify with their teachers.

The two-fold endeavor was launched in the fall of 2021 with a gift from ���ϲ����� alumni couple Marcia Baldanza and her late husband, Ben, who passed away this past November. While the School of Education developed the Baldanza Fellows Program that provides a full-tuition grant, a partial cost-of-living stipend and the promise of a teaching job in a partner school district, the X Lab used behavioral science to test the effectiveness of various types of email recruitment to prospective applicants.

Messages that were crafted as letters and promoted a long-term career opportunity were more successful in recruiting applicants to a School of Education teacher recruitment fellowship, their findings revealed.

X Lab researchers developed an email list of thousands of candidates, some of whom had recently completed their undergraduate degrees at ���ϲ�����. They then developed different types of email messages with trackable links to determine which elicited the most interest in the form of opens, clicks and ultimately, applications. The first message was delivered to approximately 6,000 candidates in November 2021, followed by a second email six weeks later.

Leonard M. Lopoo

The email recipients received either an official letter with the University seal, signed by the dean of the School of Education, or a message that was formatted as an informational flyer with photos. “Individuals also received one of two different message framings,” says Len Lopoo, director of the X Lab and associate dean, chair and professor of public administration and international affairs. “One appealed to those who want to pursue a challenging new endeavor, while the other appealed to those who may be looking for stable and long-term career prospects.”

Each email had a link to the fellowship website, which included details on the program and a link to the application.

The findings show that the emails in the form of an official letter were 15 to 17 percent more likely to be opened than emails that resembled a flyer for both the introductory email and the reminder email. The letter was also more effective at getting recipients to click on the link to the Baldanza Fellows website, but only for the reminder email, Lopoo says.

The official letter reminder email increased the likelihood of clicking by over 80 percent, relative to the flyer.

“The findings also demonstrate that messages that emphasized the long-term career opportunity of teaching were more successful at pushing recipients to open the follow-up message than those that highlighted the challenge of a career in teaching,” says Lopoo. “How does one communicate effectively with an email? The question is small, but I think the implications are important. This project has massive important implications in lots of fields.”

For example, says Lopoo, the findings can be applied by employers seeking job candidates as well as by social welfare organizations wishing to better align their services with those who could most benefit.

Ashraf Haque, a Ph.D. student in the Public Administration and International Affairs Department, was part of the X Lab’s research team. “I learned how to approach research systematically, how to analyze data in the most transparent way and how to communicate my findings,” he says. “Also, I learned about the academic publication process, which is immensely beneficial for my future research and publication.

In addition to Haque and Lopoo, the Maxwell research team included Robert Bifulco, professor of public administration and international affairs, and Hannah Patnaik, managing director of the X Lab. Professors Christine Ashby and George Theoharis represented the School of Education.

Ashby and Theoharis continue to run the using the outreach findings to recruit applicants. This year’s cohort of nine fellows will graduate in May 2025 and applications for the fourth cohort are currently under review.

“Collaborating with our Maxwell colleagues has been a delight. The same is true for working with our partner school districts,” says Theoharis of four area public school districts.

Theoharis meets three times a semester with the school district administrators. “They tell us ‘This is important to us—this is an issue we’re deeply committed to. We need teachers with varied life experiences and perspectives.’”

A delegation of 12 students from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs recently returned from Washington, D.C., where they participated in the International Model NATO under the guidance of Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs and director of the master of arts in international relations program.

Pictured from left to right are Col. Ben Schneller, Associate Professor Michael Williams, and students Joseph Reed, Casimir Wypyski, Angelica Molina, Austen Canal, Armita Hooman, Jake DeCarli, Megan Whipple, Caleb Mimms, Bella Biorac Haaja, Leah Harding, Ethan Engelhart. Not pictured is Ella Rozas.

The students represented Türkiye and Romania in the three-day simulation of the proceedings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The events, held at Howard University, are augmented by pre-conference study sessions and briefings at embassies.

“Model NATO provides a unique opportunity for students to develop and refine a professional skillset,” says Williams. “It’s no easy task to work under pressure to advance a common NATO agenda against the disparate national interests of each state. But every year, the students come back with the same comments: ‘that was hard, but awesome.’ Watching them learn in real time, and helping them along the way, is immensely rewarding.”

Howard University has hosted Model NATO for the past 40 years, in collaboration with Converse University, Northeastern University and the embassies of NATO member states. This year, 23 universities participated, with students attending from Sweden, Belgium, Canada and the United Kingdom.

This was the third time the Maxwell School participated. The trip was sponsored by Maxwell’s public administration and international affairs department and the Moynihan Institute’s Center for European Studies.

Alongside Williams, Lt. Col. Ben Scheller advised the Model NATO team on military matters, as he previously commanded a NATO battalion with service members from nine allied nations. He is a visiting scholar through the U.S. Army War College, studying at ���ϲ�����’s Institute for Security, Policy and Law for a year. As part of his professional development through the Army, Scheller takes courses through Maxwell and the College of Law and will return to command this August.

The student participants included:

• Joseph Reed, Caleb Mimms, Jake DeCarli, Meghan Whipple and Ethan Engelhart, all of whom are pursuing master’s degrees in international relations.
• Casimir Wypyski, Austen Canal, Armita Hooman, Ela Rozas and Angelica Molina, all of whom are pursuing master’s degrees in public administration and international relations.
• Leah Harding and Isabella Biorac Haaja, who are pursuing master’s degrees in public diplomacy and global communications through Maxwell and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Hooman was honored with the “Superior Delegation in Committee” award for her work on the

Armita Hooman was honored with the “Superior Delegation in Committee” award for her work on the Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee

Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee.

A highlight of Harding’s experience was speaking with a diplomat at the Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C. Even with her background covering NATO as a journalistfor Al Jazeera, Harding says that Model NATO gave her a fresh perspective on being part of the decision-making process.

“International Model NATO is all about role-playing,” says Harding. “You have to understand how your country operates and make decisions based on its historical positions, all while responding to real-time scenarios. But it meant more than just knowing its policies—it required interacting with other member states as if I were actually a Turkish diplomat.”

Through this experience, Harding learned to balance diplomacy with national interest, recognizing that decisions for a nation go beyond just policies—they also involve considering its presence, alliances and priorities.

Story by Mikayla Melo

Five extraordinary Maxwell School alumni will be recognized, and the school’s commitment to engaged citizenship will be celebrated, at a March 27 event at ���ϲ�����’s new home in Washington, D.C.

Members of the community are invited to an upcoming event in Washington, D.C., that will honor five accomplished alumni whose careers and civic contributions exemplify a commitment to giving back and improving the lives of others.

The annual Awards of Excellence, to be held on Thursday, March 27, will also serve as an opportunity to reunite, celebrate the school’s enduring commitment to engaged citizenship and visit ���ϲ�����’s newest DC home.

It will be held at ���ϲ�����’s recently opened center in the heart of Dupont Circle. It houses the and serves as a home base for study away programs offered by the Maxwell School, the and the .

Established in 2022, the Awards of Excellence program celebrates the contributions of the school’s alumni and friends to their fields, communities and society through work that reflects the Maxwell School mission and values. Recognition categories include the Compass Award, 1924 Award, Bridge Award, Charles V. Willie Advocate Award and Spirit of Public Service Award. In the spring of 2024 the event was expanded to celebrate Maxwell’s centennial year.

“We are honored to welcome members of the Maxwell community to join us for an evening of celebration and reflection,” says Dean David M. Van Slyke. “Now in its fourth year, I look forward to this event each spring as it fills me with a sense of pride and hope. This year’s awardees work in and across the public and private sectors in a range of professions. Through their work and additional pursuits, they have demonstrated engaged citizenship, and a sustained commitment to leaving what they find greater, better and more beautiful. This public service ethos is central to our mission since the school’s founding in 1924.”

The five 2025 honorees are Margaret Abraham ’89 Ph.D. (Soc); Tom Bozzuto ’71 M.P.A.; Sahil Jain ’13 B.A. (IR); Ana Maria Menezes ’06 M.A. (PA); and Tiesha Peal ’99 B.A. (PSc).

Margaret Abraham

Abraham is the recipient of the 1924 Award, honoring graduates for their distinguished and sustained professional or civic leadership and achievement in the spirit of the Maxwell School mission. She is a professor of sociology and the Harry H. Wachtel Distinguished Teaching Professor for the Study of Nonviolent Social Change at Hofstra University, where she has served on the faculty for 35 years. Her leadership roles include serving as past president of the International Sociological Association and, at Hofstra, as senior vice provost for academic affairs, special advisor to the provost for diversity initiatives and director of the Women’s Studies Program.

An author, lecturer and advisor, Abraham bridges scholarship and social justice advocacy in the areas of ethnicity, gender, migration and domestic violence. She is the author of four books and two special volumes, including “Speaking the Unspeakable: Marital Violence Among South Asian Immigrants in the United States.” She has been quoted in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Newsday and India Today.

Tom Bozzuto

Bozzuto, chairman and co-founder of The Bozzuto Group, is the recipient of the Bridge Award which honors exemplary leadership across sectors while upholding the Maxwell School’s mission of making the world a better place. He has led an extraordinary career in real estate development and management, creating more than 62,000 homes and apartments and nurturing vibrant multifamily communities. A Baltimore community leader, he is a driving force-for-good in civic and charitable circles.

Before attending the Maxwell School, Bozzuto served as a combat correspondent for the 25th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Early in his career, he worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and spent 13 years as mid-Atlantic regional partner at Oxford Development Corp. His leadership roles have included serving as board chair of the Baltimore Community Foundation, the National Multifamily Housing Council, the Maryland Science Center, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he received undergraduate and honorary degrees. He also served as a congressional appointee to the Millennial Housing Commission and twice as a gubernatorial appointee to the Maryland Housing Commission.

Sahil Jain

Jain is the recipient of this year’s Compass Award for his exceptional accomplishments as an early-career alumnus. A foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State, Jain has led an exemplary career in diverse roles across the U.S. government helping to advance peace and security around the world. From 2024-25, he was special assistant to the deputy secretary of state, focused on U.S. policy related to South and Central Asia. He served in the White House as a senior advisor at the National Security Council and as policy advisor in the Vice President’s Office of National Security Affairs.

A career diplomat, Jain was a political officer at U.S. Embassies in China from 2021-23 and India from 2018-20. He has contributed to key policy initiatives in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs and at USAID. He also managed the foreign affairs portfolio for California Congressman Ami Bera as a legislative assistant.

Ana Maria Menezes

Menezes is the recipient of this year’s Spirit of Public Service Award, which recognizes contributions that have had a widespread global impact. For more than 35 years she has applied her vast knowledge in aquaculture and natural resource management to help eradicate food insecurity, improve nutrition and reduce poverty in some of the poorest regions of the world.

As senior fisheries officer with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, Menezes works with member nations to increase aquaculture production using best practices that are both sustainable and profitable. She leaves a legacy of capacity development and good governance frameworks for government officers, financial institutions and farmers. Previously, Menezes was national officer for the UN Environment Programme and she served as national director of planning and research for the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and aquaculture researcher at the Instituto Nacional de Investigação Pesqueira in her native country of Mozambique.

Tiesha Peal

Peal, an attorney with 20 years of experience helping to ensure equal treatment for all under the law, is the recipient of the Charles V. Willie Advocate Award.

Peal previously worked as the assistant district attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney Office, handling litigation and conducting investigations into criminal activity ranging from contraband to gang assaults. She also represented New York City employees in housing court as an attorney for District Council 37 Union and was a staff attorney with Essex-Newark Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to very low-income residents. She is a founding member of the Maxwell School’s Alumni Affinity Group and a frequent mentor to current students and alumni.

Eight graduate students will be honored with the Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work at an annual hosted by the Graduate School on Wednesday, March 5. The event will also include brief presentations from the awardees about their research or creative work. The campus community is invited and encouraged to attend.

This year’s honorees, selected by members of the Graduate Faculty Council from a pool of nearly 60 applicants from across the University, are:

• Caroline Charles, English, : “Black Family Photography in ���ϲ�����: Assembling a Community Collection with Family Photo-Sharing”
• Bramsh Khan, social science, : “Gendered Politics of Infrastructure Violence in Balochistan, Pakistan”
• Natalie Petryk, bioengineering, : “Biodegradable and Bioactive Polyurethane Foams to Improve Traumatic Wound Healing”
• Frank Sicong Chen, computer and information science and engineering, Engineering and Computer Science: “Enhancing Security and Health Monitoring on Wearable Devices through Multi-Modal Continuous Monitoring”
• Lily Holloway, creative writing, Arts and Sciences: “Always I Am Wanting and Wanting: A Literary Reading”
• Benjamin Valen, social psychology, Arts and Sciences: “Health Disparities Among Transgender, Nonbinary and Cisgender Undergraduate Students”
• Jersey Cosantino, cultural foundations of education, : “Resisting Pathologizing Discourses: (Re)claiming Mad, Neurodivergent and Trans* Narration via a Mad Trans* Studies Oral History Method(ology)”
• Yasmine Tiana Goring, television, radio and film, : “222 Macon Street”

“The depth and breadth of our graduate students’ portfolios are truly impressive,” says , dean of the Graduate School. “We are proud to honor them, and look forward to hearing more about their work during their presentations at the awards ceremony.”

The awards recognize overall academic excellence and outstanding research and creative activities by master’s and doctoral students. Honorees receive a certificate of recognition and a $500 award.

Student who earned honorable mention were:

• Azadeh Ghanizadeh, composition and cultural rhetoric, Arts and Sciences
• Pardha Sourya Nayani, electrical and computer engineering, Engineering and Computer Science
• Tevvon Hines, film,
• Elina Ruiqi Sun, social psychology, Maxwell School
• Tosin Alabi, business administration,

The will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. in 312 Lyman Hall. A reception will follow. For more information, contact Holly Johnson at hjohns02@syr.edu.

Among the winning team awards:

• $1,500 to Olutosin Alabi G’25 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Diabetech;
• $1,500 to Anthony H. Smith Jr. G’25 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), Bryson Carter G’25 (Newhouse School), Asha Breedlove G’25 (Newhouse School) and Stacey Collier G’25 (Newhouse School), founders of HBeatzCU;
• $1,000 to Sydney Moore G’25 (Whitman School), founder of Thrive Insights;
• $1,000 to Lindy Truitt ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) and Anjaneya Padwal G’25 (School of Information Studies), founders of Safe Sip;
• $500 to Tony Goncalves ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) and Armani Isonguyo ’24 (Engineering and Computer Science), founders of GymIn;
• $500 to Jasmine Mayers ’26 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), founder of Pressed;
• $500 to Elizabeth Paulin ’24 (College of Arts and Sciences), founder of Paulin Capital;
• $500 to Swathi Jacob G’25 (Whitman School); and
• $250 to Maven Kavan ’28 (Visual and Performing Arts).

A group photo of the 2025 Afropreneurship Celebration and Business Competition award winners

is an adjunct professor at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She has conducted research on myriad topics and issues related to the criminal legal system. As the founder of the Center for Community Alternatives, she led efforts to develop alternative-to-incarceration programs and conducted influential research on the impact of criminal history screening in college admissions. She writes:

“The wildcat strike by prison guards spread quickly across the system, leaving incarcerated people without food, medicine and access to their families and loved ones.�� Governor Hochul was forced to call in the national guard to take care of the basic necessities. Incarcerated persons have in fact welcomed the guard, finding them to be respectful and polite, with one person calling them ‘sweethearts.’

While working conditions inside prisons need to be improved, they are the pretextual for the walkout.�� The strike began on February 17, a mere three days after the guards involved in the beating of Robert Brooks were indicted on murder. Moreover, second only to amnesty, the key demand made by the guards’ union is the suspension of the Halt Solitary Confinement law, action which can only be taken by the state legislature as part of their lawmaking function.”

Lynne Vincent

is an assistant professor of management in ���ϲ�����’s Whitman School of Management with an expertise in labor and industrial relations. She wrote the following:

“This situation is really interesting as the Taylor Law restricts the ability of employees in critical positions such as prison guards to go on strike. The Taylor Law allows public employees to organize the join unions, and it requires public employers to negotiate with unions. It also established procedures for resolving contract disputes. However, the restriction of strikes has been seen as controversial. The penalties for going on strike are steep.��

The prison guards wouldn’t be the first public employee group to go on strike. In 1968, the United Federation of Teachers went on strike as did the Buffalo Teachers Federation in 2000. New York City Transit Authority went on strike in 1980 and 2005. While this is rare, it is not unheard of.”

is a military spouse and research associate at ���ϲ�����’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). She can speak to the impacts on service members and families of the National Guard when instances like this happen. Specifically, she can go into detail about IVMF’s latest research report with Blue Star Families which states approximately 50% of surveyors said the amount of time away from family as a result of military service is a top concern for them, with military pay and impacts of deployment on family being the next top issues ().

More than 50% of students explore the world through a center, says Nicole Collins, director of strategic partnerships and outreach with ���ϲ����� Abroad. With over , there’s a unique opportunity for every student.

Nicole Collins

While the spring has traditionally been when the majority of students study abroad, Collins says there’s been a in recent years. Among the reasons why Collins says students should consider studying abroad in the fall:

• More likely to get into the program and secure the housing type you want.
• More scholarships and grants available, including $2,000 per student grants for Central Europe and Santiago, Chile.
• Special fall-only programs and events, including Oktoberfest and Christmas markets.
• Experiment with locations that aren’t easy to visit later in life.
• Unique cultural opportunities for food lovers who study in Florence, Italy, including truffle hunting, chestnut harvests and festivals, olive oil harvesting and tasting, grape harvesting, and more.
• Easier for parents and family members to visit.

“Our students are realizing the amazing opportunities available in the fall,” Collins says. “We have great need-based and merit-based scholarship opportunities available for students in the fall, plus there’s less demand.”

On this episode of the , Collins and Sophia Moore ’25, who enjoyed a life-changing ���ϲ����� Abroad experience in the Fall 2023 semester, discuss the many benefits of studying abroad in the fall. A transcript [PDF]��is also available

Thinking of studying abroad in the fall? The is March 15.

The below Q&A spotlights how, through their semesters abroad, students Moore and Anna Meehan ’26 underwent transformative experiences by immersing themselves in a new country.

Sophia Moore ’25

Sophia Moore visited the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Academic majors:��Television, radio and film (); sociology ().

Semester Abroad: Fall 2023 at the in Santiago, Chile.

Why was Santiago the destination for you? I figured that I would have an opportunity at some point in my life to be able to travel to Europe, but to travel to South America, that was a rare opportunity. And I really wanted the chance to immerse myself in a culture that I was completely unfamiliar with in a country that I was completely unfamiliar with, with the safety net of doing it through ���ϲ����� Abroad.

Sophia Moore

What role did your host family play to help you get acclimated? My host family encouraged me to go out and do everything that Santiago had to offer. Every day, my host mom would check in and offer up a couple of places to check out. She was always pushing me to get out of the house and go explore the city because it’s important to take advantage of every moment. I wouldn’t have had access to that kind of cultural ambassadorship to Chile if I wasn’t living with a host family.

How close did you become with your peers in the Santiago program? We lived something so life-changing together, experienced so much culture and were exposed to this lifestyle that’s so different from the U.S. In five months, we all became very close, and that’s something that just is a bond for life.

What did you learn about yourself from your time studying abroad? Studying abroad somewhere where the language spoken is not my first language was a real challenge. Every day, I would wake up and push myself to just do a little bit more, speak in Spanish a little longer, think a little harder and get myself a little more comfortable with the language and with the space. But as time went on, just coaxing myself into doing a little bit more showed me that I have a level of resilience that I wasn’t aware of before I went abroad.

Anna Meehan ’26

Anna Meehan poses at Piłsudski Square (Plac Piłsudskiego) in Warsaw, Poland.

Academic majors:��International relations (); Russian language, literature and culture, and music history and cultures ().

Semester Abroad: Fall 2023 through the program (based in Wroclaw, Poland). Meehan visited Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Why was Central Europe and Poland the destination for you? My aunt studied abroad in Poland when she was about my age, and after hearing her stories, it just made sense that I study abroad here too. This program covered World War II history. The Holocaust and Judaic studies. The Soviet Union. My research is on the political culture in former Soviet countries, so this was a really good opportunity to go live in and get a great educational experience studying something relevant to my degrees.

Anna Meehan

How did you acclimate and adjust to life in your new home? I remember getting off the bus after flying into Wroclaw and feeling calm and comfortable. Part of that is because I spent so much time in my childhood and at ���ϲ����� reading about and studying Poland, and I knew one day I would get there. When I did, it just felt right. I had a revelation while I was studying abroad and now my plan is to go back to Poland for the long-term after college.

How close did you become with your peers in the Central Europe program? If you go through the experiences of visiting those three concentration camps like we did, it’s inevitable that you will grow close to these people. Sure, at first we were all shy and getting to know each other, but within the first two weeks, I saw people who didn’t know each other at all before the program supporting each other and helping everyone go through and process these really difficult concepts and emotions from the difficult places we visited. We still keep in touch, and we all got back together for a reunion this fall that was really special.

How did your semester abroad complement your academic goals and aspirations? I wanted to dedicate my studies to understanding the politics and history of Eastern Europe so I could learn more about my field of international relations and Russian language, literature and culture. I thought going to Poland would be a good way to see Eastern Europe in a more modern sense. But when I got there, I saw so many non-governmental organizations who used culture as the basis for healing the tensions of the refugees from Ukraine who have crossed the borders, and how art and music can really play a central role in that process. This drove me to eventually declare my music history and cultures major.

I also ended up going to an entire week of cultural festivals in support of Belarusians who had to flee Belarus and relocated to Poland. I went to plays, gatherings and concerts and left feeling like I understand my mission from a different perspective. I still want to promote how art, music and culture promote healing, but now it’s on a much more personal level.

The (QDR), established in 2014, provides social scientists with an avenue to qualitative data for the benefit of others.

“QDR is a valuable national resource for managing complexities of qualitative data across the social sciences. Qualitative data presents unique challenges for its archival, sharing, citation and management,” says , vice president for research. “QDR has been at the cutting edge of research in making qualitative data broadly accessible for more than a decade. As the leader in the field, their activities set the standard for best practices and are teaching others how to manage qualitative data.”

Pictured from left to right: Bharat Dhungana, Qualitative Data Repository graduate assistant; Christiane Pagé, associate director of the Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry; Sebastian Karcher, CQMI director; and Dessi Kirilova, QDR senior curation specialist.

The QDR was created by qualitative methods expert , professor of political science in the . It is now led by , director of the University’s and research associate professor of political science.

“This isn’t just an archive. We’re an active place of cutting-edge social science research and constantly engage with other qualitative data researchers. We’re interested in what the next generation of qualitative data looks like, what avenues it opens, how it can be challenging and can be shared ethically,” Karcher says. “There are a lot of questions we’re actively working on and we love to be involved in conversations with others who are doing that work.”

Working with Karcher are Carole Palmer and Nic Weber, University of Washington collaborators and co-technical directors; Dessi Kirilova, senior curation specialist; Derek Robey, the 2023-25 postdoctoral fellow; and Christiane Pagé, data specialist for qualitative research. Three Maxwell School graduate students typically assist in the center. Thirty-five prominent U.S. universities are .

Karcher says QDR stores data from national and international researchers. Holdings have recently expanded to include more qualitative health data, which has been especially helpful for researchers since the COVID-19 pandemic. “That data helps researchers who are trying to figure out how people relate to medical science and assess questions such as not just what makes drugs work, but also what makes people want to get vaccines,” Karcher says.

Pictured from left to right: Sebastian Karcher, Dessi Kirilova and Christiane Pagé.

The repository assists researchers in many ways, Karcher says. “If you’re teaching and engaging in research, there’s likely something here in your area to work with and benefit from. If you are doing qualitative research yourself, more and more funders are expecting grantees to share the data they collect, so we can be a help. That isn’t always easy to do, and there are practical and ethical challenges, but we’re experienced and quite good at it. We are also available to read grant applications to offer data-related pointers.”

Karcher says the staff is excited about the types of data the QDR has received. “Some of the items getting the most use are transcripts of interviews, which are very hard to come by. Being able to get real, qualitative data for research reuse and for instruction is incredibly valuable. It’s important to researchers who are doing this work. We are also getting tons of views from classrooms. There are students in Amsterdam, in Cardiff and at other universities around the world who are learning from instructors who are using our repository to .”

Some data sets deposited in the QDR are:

• Two years’ worth of online collected by medical anthropologists during the COVID-19 pandemic containing 30,000 data points and 1,500 pieces of imagery, audio and video diaries, photos and Snapchat posts.
• Almost 2,000 human rights reports from , cataloging that took place from 1968 to 1998 in Northern Ireland.
• Campaign videos from Latin America elections strategies (“”).
• Notes from interviews with sex workers and program staff used by Corey Shdaimah, Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor of Social Justice at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, to assess alternative criminal justice models (“”).

says she was pleased to have such a reliable resource. “When researchers collect qualitative data, the people who share their stories know their information will be made use of. I felt very good about having a place to deposit data that I knew was secure and that would protect the confidentiality of my respondents. It’s also been important to have people from different disciplines see my work there. Some reached out and we’ve had conversations about the data that have been fruitful to me as a researcher.”

Senior Research Data Management Consultant of Duke University Libraries has referred researchers to the QDR and has worked with its staff for data management and sharing training. “One of the key outcomes for our researchers is easier compliance with funder and journal data sharing policies,” Lafferty-Hess says. “QDR has provided reviews of data management and sharing plans as a solution for those whose data may have some sensitivities. It has been an advocate for participants and a partner for researchers to build ethical approaches to data sharing,” she says.

, data services librarian, underscores the repository’s uniqueness. “The QDR is really quite useful and important because it’s one of the very, very few data repositories that specializes in qualitative data. Its uniqueness makes QDR invaluable. The people there are knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and respected all over the world.”

In the United States, unemployment rates skyrocketed, housing prices and stock portfolios plummeted, and the lives of millions were disrupted. More than 30 million individuals lost their jobs, and the rate of long-term unemployment doubled its historical high.

This past summer, , an assistant professor in the in the , received a (NIH) grant to conduct a two-year study on the effect of the Great Recession on older adults.

Specifically, the project aims to assess the combined impact of pre-recession and Great Recession precarity (uncertainty/insecurity) on employment and working conditions for older workers. In addition, the study is investigating how these economic factors–together with psychosocial working conditions–have differently influenced health biomarker trajectories and mortality outcomes by race, potentially shedding light on the disproportionately adverse outcomes observed among Black adults post-recession.

Miriam Mutambudzi

This study builds on Mutambudzi’s established research program, which views work as an important structural determinant of health. She will publish the findings of this NIH-funded study, and examples of her past publications can be found on her .

The impact of Mutambudzi’s research on the social determinants of health is felt throughout the campus as she is a Faculty Affiliate of the , the , and the in the .

This past fall, Mutambudzi was selected as the 2024-26 ��Faculty Fellow. In that role, Mutambudzi and Lender Student Fellows are exploring how Black adults who reside in historically redlined neighborhoods can experience a disadvantaged occupational life course and subsequent health consequences.

We reached out to Mutambudzi to learn more about her current research project.

Why is this research important to you?

This area of research highlights how structural inequities, particularly in the labor market, perpetuate health disparities. By examining the cumulative impact of work-related disadvantages, i.e., precarity and poor working conditions, I aim to show the pathways through which these factors exacerbate racial and gender-based health inequities��among older adults.

Understanding these mechanisms aligns with my broader commitment to addressing health inequities as structural issues rooted in systemic injustice.

What is the scope of your current study and how are you collecting your data?

The study focuses on older adults aged 50 and above. Data are drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 2006-2020, supplemented with HRS-linked Occupational Information Network Data (O*NET).

What are you looking for when you examine this data?

I am looking to better understand how pre-recession and Great Recession precarity independently and cumulatively affect health biomarker trajectories such as hbA1c, cholesterol, C-reactive protein and systolic blood pressure, as well as all-cause mortality. I am particularly interested in identifying racial and gender disparities in these effects and understanding how job strain and cumulative precarity interact to influence health outcomes.

How can your findings be used to help mitigate the impact of economic factors on older and Black adults?

The findings can be leveraged to inform policy interventions that address the structural barriers that perpetuate health disparities among older��vulnerable populations. For example, policies aimed at improving working conditions and strengthening social safety nets during economic downturns.

How does this research tie in with your role as the Lender Center for Social Justice Faculty Fellow and your project with Student Fellows?

Both projects underscore the long-term health consequences of structural racism and economic marginalization. Insights from this R03 can improve our understanding of how occupational inequities compound the challenges faced by residents of historically redlined neighborhoods (a R03 grant is an NIH-funded program that supports smaller-scale research projects over a two-year period).

Networking Locally

One important component of CareerReady is the advising office’s��, where A&S | Maxwell students visit companies to gain insight into a wide variety of industries and work cultures. The immersion program initially consisted of two yearly trips to New York City: The Winston Fisher Seminar, which started in 2007, and the Stocks and Finance Immersion, which started in 2015. Through these experiences, students discover how a liberal arts degree prepares them for success and forge valuable connections with industry leaders and ���ϲ����� alumni in the finance and business sectors.

Following the high level of engagement and interest in the New York City immersions, the advising office explored ways to involve more students and more industries. They began offering a series of local immersions, where students spend a day visiting various companies within a specific field based in Central New York. These immersions, which are planned by��, director of career advising for A&S | Maxwell, and��, director of employer-alumni relations for A&S | Maxwell, as well as many A&S | Maxwell advisors, offer students perspective on potential career paths and provide them with greater confidence in making decisions about their future because they can hear from actual practitioners about their path to achieving success.

Students listening to a presentation during the Stocks and Finance Immersion in Fall 2024.

In Fall 2024, A&S | Maxwell advising offered three programs in ���ϲ�����: Psychology Immersion (Oct. 18), Stocks & Finance Immersion (Nov. 8) and Pre-Law Immersion (Dec. 6). The reception from students has been resoundingly positive, as over 90% of students surveyed who took part in the local immersions said they gained valuable knowledge about career options through these experiences.

Helping Students Plan Their Future

Diana Bonilla-Prado, a first-generation college student majoring in political science in A&S | Maxwell and minoring in information management and technology in the iSchool, took part in the pre-law immersion and found it both motivating and empowering.

Diana Bonilla-Prado (left) and Sylla Diallo (right) in the lobby of One Lincoln Center in ���ϲ�����, where the law office of Bond, Schoeneck and King, one of the stops during the pre-law immersion, is located.

“This trip gave me insight on what I’d like to do, what my liberal arts degree can be used for, and has helped me plan for my future,” Bonilla-Prado says. “During one of our meetings, I met a woman of color who shared a similar ethnic background with me. Being able to make that connection was incredibly inspiring and resonated deeply with me.”

Sylla Diallo, a double major in African American studies in A&S and international relations in A&S | Maxwell, also attended the pre-law immersion. He said hearing from legal professionals and learning about their educational and career paths gave him a better understanding of the commitment and dedication it takes to be successful in that field.

“Visiting each law office, getting to know experienced leaders in the field and being a part of the environment that I’d like to work in was extremely valuable,” he says. “Through this immersion, I have affirmed that I would like to pursue delivering justice and fairness to members of my community.”

Connecting with Employers

These are exactly the results Aust and Wheeler were looking for when launching the initiative. Like the New York City-based immersion trips, the local immersions provide students with insight and access to employers and career opportunities. Local employers, in turn, benefit by connecting with talented SU students who may become future interns or employees. Alumni have also been eager to get involved, as it allows them to mentor current Orange students and stay connected with the University community and fellow alumni through networking events.

“Local immersions allow us to make this all happen in close proximity to the University,” says Wheeler. “It strengthens ���ϲ�����’s connection with the local community and helps students find opportunities, such as internships, near campus.”

Calling All Students

For students interested in participating in an upcoming immersion, here’s a list of the Spring 2025 offerings, both in ���ϲ����� and elsewhere:

• Winston Fisher Seminar in New York City (March 9 – 14) – Applications closed

To sign up, visit the Handshake links above.

For your continuing coverage about the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and a look back from where we started, here are a few ���ϲ����� public health and geographical experts for consideration:

The impact of wastewater surveillance beyond COVID-19

David Larsen

David Larsen��is Chair of the Department of Public Health in ���ϲ�����’s Falk College. Larsen’s expertise includes global health, large data analysis and spatial statistics, and sanitation.

Not long after COVID-19 was named a global pandemic, Larsen assembled a team of researchers to begin developing the wastewater surveillance technology that would eventually become critical to New York State’s response to the disease. �ճ������tests for COVID in at least one wastewater treatment plant in all 62 of the state’s counties, covering a population of 15.4 million. �ճ������provides the most recent statistics regarding the network.*

Professor Larsen has spoken extensively with news outlets about COVID-19, including , , , and others.

*Information provided by ���ϲ����� U. News stories from August and Sept. 2024.

Vaccines and the enduring work of public health workers

Brittany Kmush

is an associate professor in the Department of Public Health at ���ϲ�����. Her areas of specialization include vaccines, infectious diseases, epidemiology, global health, and immunology and environmental exposures, particularly within the context of risks for infectious diseases.

Kmush has been interviewed by the media multiple times for stories about COVID-19 and anti-vaccination trends including by the , , and .

How COVID-19 will help us approach future health crises

Lisa Olson-Gugerty

is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Public Health at ���ϲ�����. She teaches undergraduate courses that focus on health promotion, health and disease, and healthcare administration. She is a family nurse practitioner and maintains an outside practice as an emergency healthcare provider at a regional community healthcare center.

She can speak to many public health topics on circulating viruses, illnesses and how to treat them. Previous interviews have been with , , (���ϲ�����) and many others.

Understanding environments where viruses spread from animals to humans

Robert Wilson

is an associate professor in the Geography and the Environment Department at ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School.

His research specialties include environmental history, environmental humanities and animals and society. He contributed to the book “” which explores how the intertwining lives of all animals has impacted the environment, politics, economies and global culture of the 21^st century.

How optimism and pessimism influence well-being

Jeewon Oh

is an assistant professor of psychology in ���ϲ�����’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Professor Oh led a team of researchers from ���ϲ����� and Michigan State University that explored the personal characteristics that help people handle prolonged stressors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The group delved into optimism and pessimism and how those mindsets influence well-being. Their findings appeared in the�� and you can read more in this ���ϲ����� news story.

���ϲ����� has additional experts that can speak to topics connected to the pandemic. For more information or to request an interview with any of these professors, contact:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications
M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

Maxwell is one of 12 schools of public service to join the initiative, called , as part of the Deans Summit, a collaborative network chaired by Dean David M. Van Slyke.

“The Volcker Alliance’s Deans Summit is committed to removing barriers and creating pathways to ensure that our veterans access higher education, especially if their goal is to continue their public service,” says Van Slyke.

���ϲ����� and the Maxwell School have clearly stated academic goals to serve veterans and their military connected families and ensure that their academic success leads to professional success, the dean says, adding, “We are grateful for their service and believe their experiences and commitment to public service enhances the classroom environment and strengthens our democratic institutions.”

Staff from each participating campus will recruit military-connected students into master’s degree programs and provide support and guidance to encourage retention and degree attainment. The initiative will also provide students with cross-campus fellowship experience for network building and professional development.

Maxwell is especially well-positioned for the partnership with its master of public administration program, which can be completed in one year and is top-ranked by peer institutions, as well as the myriad resources and opportunities provided by ���ϲ����� through its D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

What’s more, through its Executive Education programming and collaborations with organizations such as the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Maxwell is poised for another emphasis of the partnership: placement in local government internships and high-need jobs that deepen the military-to-civilian service pipeline.

Dan Nelson’04 M.P.A., director of accelerated learning and global engagement and head of Maxwell’s state and local initiative, says Service to Service aligns with efforts already underway to empower veterans and military personnel to pursue careers in local government in partnership with ICMA. “We are also proactively collaborating with various states to strengthen recruitment initiatives, ensuring that those who have served our country have excellent opportunities to contribute to their communities, he adds.

The is a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by former Federal Reserve Board chairman and revered economist Paul A. Volcker, who served on the Maxwell School Advisory Board from 2001 until his death in 2019.

Other Maxwell partnerships with the Volcker Alliance include the ���ϲ����� Next Generation Leadership Corps, nicknamed SU NextGen, which offers a two-course internship, special events and mentorship focused on civic engagement to undergraduates campuswide.

is a nonprofit created by veterans and military family members that works with government, tech and academia to launch research-backed initiatives and engage with the over 16 million veterans and their family members.

The Service to Service initiative aims to enroll an inaugural cohort of graduate students for Fall 2025. Interested individuals should complete .

–By Michael Kelly

���ϲ����� will honor eight distinguished members of the Orange community during the , which is being held on Friday, April 4, in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building (NVRC). All members of the community are invited to attend this complimentary program. Registration will open in February.

This annual event recognizes and celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of alumni and students who exemplify what it means to be Forever Orange.��The honorees were selected by the awards committee of the Board of Directors.��The committee will soon announce the 2025 Outstanding Future Alumni Award, which goes to a most deserving student.

The George Arents Award is ���ϲ�����’s highest alumni honor and recognizes individuals who have excelled in their fields.��This year’s honorees are Paul Greenberg ’65, P’03; Melanie Littlejohn G’97; and Judith “Judy” C. Mower ’66, G’73, G’80, Ph.D.’84.

Chelsea Ransom-Cooper ’15 will receive the Generation Orange Award, which recognizes graduates from the past decade for career success, community engagement and overall commitment to ���ϲ�����.

Jack Kreischer ’65 will receive the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award for his loyalty and service to ���ϲ����� over the past 50 years.

Jamieson R. Ritter ’19 will posthumously receive the Military/Veteran Alumni Award. Ritter passed away in the line of duty while serving as a police officer in Cleveland, Ohio. This award highlights his bravery and dedication to our country and community.

Kimberly Wolf Price L’03 will be awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for her commitment to ���ϲ����� as a volunteer.

The Outstanding Future Alumni Award honoree will be announced in February.

and plan to join us in April for the celebration.

Lamis Abdelaaty

The research team for the project titled “RefLex: Is International Refugee Law Effective?” includes principal investigator Cathryn Costello, a professor of global refugee and migration law at University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law, and fellow co-principal investigator Ashwini Vasanthakumar, an associate professor and Queen’s National Scholar in Legal and Political Philosophy at Queen’s University Law School in Canada. The research team will also include two post-doctoral researchers and two Ph.D. students.

The team will use statistical analysis, qualitative methods, case studies and conceptual analysis for their comparative study. They hope to create a new dataset—the Refugee Protection Index—to explore the effectiveness of international refugee law in terms of delivering protection for refugees, changing states’ behavior and motivating social, political or legal mobilizations by refugees themselves.

“Whether and how international refugee law can be effective are pressing questions for scholars of international refugee politics,” says Abdelaaty. “I am looking forward to collaborating with this stellar research team and to extending my previous work on refugee rights and policies through this project.”

The funding is a consolidator grant, which supports scientists and scholars with seven to 12 years of experience as they establish independent research teams. The European Research Council, a public body that funds scientific and technological research, awarded over $700 million to 328 researchers across Europe under the European Union’s Horizon Europe program.

“This project will answer important questions about what types of laws can protect some of the most vulnerable people—refugees,” says Shana Kushner Gadarian, associate dean for research and professor of political science. “During a time of significant change to the international community, Professor Abdelaaty is helping to illuminate where refugees are safe, integrated and adding to their new home countries.”

Previously, Abdelaaty has received support from the Gerda Henkel Foundation for her second book project, “Refugees in Crisis,” which analyzes the designation of situations as “refugee crises.” Her first book, “Discrimination and Delegation: Explaining State Responses to Refugees” (Oxford University Press, 2021), received the Distinguished Book Award from the International Studies Association’s Ethnicity, Nationalism and Migration Studies section and the Best Book Award from the American Political Science Association’s Migration and Citizenship section.

At the Maxwell School, Abdelaaty is a senior research associate at the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration and the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs. She teaches courses on refugees in international politics, humanitarian action in world politics, international law and human rights.

Story by Michael Kelly

Hamid Ekbia

��is director of the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute at ���ϲ����� and founding director of the��. He took time to answer a few questions about the current state of AI regulation.

Q: How do government regulations shape AI development?

A: The federal government has a decisive role in creating the environment in which different players in the AI space operate.�� This could happen through regulation or in the absence of regulation. In the past, when the federal government was inclined to regulate technology through executive orders (and this included both the first Trump and Biden administrations), companies indicated interest in getting some measure of guidance from the government in establishing guardrails around AI technology in the hope of establishing an even playing field of transparent and ethical AI.

The rescinding of Biden’s executive order is going to unravel the minimal steps taken to regulate AI in the U.S., dampening the momentum that was being built in places such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and putting us behind others, especially the European Union, in this space. This will exacerbate current gaps in regulation even further, putting control in the hands of a small number of big corporations who have shown the ineffectiveness of self-regulation again and again.

The change of direction by Meta is a good example of this. In his testimony to the Senate in September 2023, Mark Zuckerberg, among other executives, endorsed AI regulation. In the last few weeks, in anticipation of the changing administration, Facebook changed course, replacing the internal mechanism for fact-checking, leaving the door open for the spread of even more misinformation to the society. This is just the beginning of a decline in transparency and accountability, the deeper impacts of which we will see down the road.

Practices such as patent shelving clearly show that companies cannot be trusted to prioritize innovation on their own; a regulated environment is much more conducive to innovation than an unregulated market.

Hamid Ekbia, Autonomous Systems Policy Institute Director

Q: Could rescinding the order help spark innovation, as some companies have argued?

A: The idea that less regulation leads to more innovation is a myth propagated by major corporations who currently have a monopolistic position in the AI space. History has shown that these corporations use their position not to expand innovation but to dampen and suppress it in all kinds of ways.

A primary example of this is patent shelving, where big corporations buy out innovations by small players or startups, not to implement the innovation but to protect their own monopolistic position in the market. There are numerous examples of this — for instance, when Google bought Motorola Mobility in 2012 just to shelve a large portion of the 17,000 patents that were included in the purchase.

Practices such as patent shelving clearly show that companies cannot be trusted to prioritize innovation on their own; a regulated environment is much more conducive to innovation than an unregulated market.��

Q: The European Union has imposed stricter regulations on AI than the U.S. What might that mean for the companies behind this technology?

A: The key issue is the regulatory gap that corporations have to navigate between the U.S. and the E.U. Big corporations will each find a way of dealing with this gap by complying differently with different requirements in the two contexts. But whatever they do, the American public will get the shorter end of the bargain in terms of the safety, privacy, trustworthiness, and perhaps even financial cost of technology.

To request interviews or get more information:

Chris Munoz
Media Relations Specialist
cjmunoz@syr.edu

The 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee is proud to announce the 2025 Unsung Hero Award winners: Andrea-Rose Oates ’26, James K. Duah-Agyeman G’99, Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE), Laurence Segal and Jamie Jackson (posthumously).

The Unsung Hero Award is given to community members, students, faculty and staff who have made a positive impact on the lives of others but are not widely recognized for their contributions. The awards were created to honor Dr. King’s vision of creating positive change in a troubled world.

The award winners will be recognized at the 40th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 26, featuring keynote speaker Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College. Tickets for the celebration are available��.

The Unsung Heroes are:

Andrea-Rose Oates ’26 (���ϲ����� student)

Oates, a public relations major in the and policy studies major in the and , has dedicated her life to community service, leadership and social justice. She is the president and founder of “Girlz Rize,” a nonprofit initiative focused on fighting for girls’ education opportunities.

Through her work last summer with NBCUniversal, Oates amplified underrepresented voices by highlighting community challenges and successes. Her summer internships with Comcast and Hilco Redevelopment Partners demonstrated her ability to translate corporate resources into meaningful community outreach.

Oates’ leadership roles at ���ϲ����� have included serving as president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Iota Upsilon chapter; co-secretary for the Black Student Union; events chair for the Women in Communications Club; a member of the Newhouse Student Representative Committee and an account associate for Hill Communications. She is dedicated to fostering inclusive, collaborative spaces that inspire academic and social growth and sustainable, generational change.

“Andrea-Rose doesn’t merely identify problems; she acts, empowering others to take part in solutions,” says nominator Diya Gupta. “Her actions reflect Dr. King’s enduring call to serve others and create a world where equity and justice prevail.”

James Duah-Agyeman G’99 (���ϲ����� Faculty/Staff)

Duah-Agyeman, former director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and special advisor to the Men of Color Initiative, has a 38-year record of achievement at ���ϲ�����—as a graduate student, teacher, academic counselor, administrator and leader.

“There are many who talk the talk of service, inclusion and integrity, but in the context of engagement with the world, Dr. D has walked the walk again and again,” says nominator Barry L. Wells. “In the process, he has set a powerful example for students, faculty, staff, and community members in how one person can make a significant difference in the development and expansion of a community that values service and inclusion.”

Duah-Agyeman most recently led Multicultural Affairs in developing programs to advance inclusion on the SU campus by creating best-in-class programs like the WellsLink Leadership Program; Dimensions, a peer mentoring program for women of color; and the Men of Color Initiative. He was instrumental in piloting and introducing the Conversations About Race and Ethnicity (C.A.R.E.) intergroup dialogue programs on campus. He also advocated for inclusion through his community work with Interfaith Works of Central New York and the Ghana Society of CNY.

Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE) (Youth Community Organization)

��The Student Coalition on Race and Equity (SCORE) was launched in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd. SCORE harnesses the talent and leadership skills of high school students across Onondaga County to combat oppression and foster equity. It empowers youth, known as SCORE leaders, to educate adults on topics related to race and equity, sharing insights from their unique perspectives as young people.

After completing five weeks of training in equity-based topics and being equipped with the skills necessary to facilitate interactive workshops, SCORE Leaders take on the role of educators, leading workshop sessions for community stakeholders each August. SCORE has provided workshops on implicit bias and Black history to almost 3,000 community members.

“SCORE is a powerful program that not only centers and draws from the creativity and expertise of youth, but it also engages youth in meaningfully powerful professional experience,” says nominator Jenny Dombroske. “Our community is fortunate to have this access to the insights of youth and the opportunity to learn some of the hardest lessons from them, so that we may contribute to the future that they want for themselves.”

Laurence Segal (Community Member)

Segal quietly fights every single day for cancer patients, the homeless, the downtrodden and people the rest of society cast aside, says his brother and nominator, Andrew Segal.

Laurence has been known to stop his car and help stranded motorists, using his own AAA card to help them. Through his organization, , he has returned millions of bottles and cans for cancer patients and research and pulled millions of pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of CNY. He hosts multiple every month that impact thousands of people, and he constantly strives to make the world a better place.

This summer, Segal cleaned up trash on city streets and passed out hot meals, cold drinks, sanitizers, masks and first aid kits to people experiencing homelessness. He has spent countless hours with cancer patients holding their hands while they go through chemotherapy, radiation and long hospital stays.

“He makes a difference constantly, but just chooses to keep it silent,” Andrew Segal says. “He is the gem of our family, and a gem in CNY.”

Jamie Jackson (Special Posthumous Recognition)

Jackson, a longtime employee with ���ϲ�����’s Parking and Transportation Services, was in a unique position to connect with almost every person on campus for over 20 years. He was assigned to the Quad lot outside Hendricks Chapel, where he offered assistance to campus visitors and befriended many members of the campus community. Jackson passed away unexpectedly in September 2024.

He was a graduate of Onondaga Community College and a U.S. Navy and U.S. Army veteran. In his obituary, he was remembered as a “wonderful son, beloved husband, fantastic father, a devoted veteran, terrific brother, great friend, kind uncle, good outdoorsman, strong record keeper and avid sports fan.”

Dara Harper, communications director at Hendricks Chapel, got to know Jackson well.

“In my opinion, Jamie’s role on campus was utterly unsung. He, a veteran, a dad, a confidante, a judge, a quiet and constant friend, touched every person on campus,” she says. “To tell you that he was the parking attendant limits his story to a singular piece of who he was. And for many of us, he is still just right outside.”

Jackson’s loss is felt every day on the University campus. “Jamie embodied the kindness, fortitude and patience that we all should strive for in this world,” says Harper. “He was a GOOD man, which is just the simplest way of saying that he was a hero.”

Audie Klotz

Founded in 1959, the ISA is comprised of more than 7,000 members around the world, including academics, practitioners, policy experts, private sector workers and independent researchers. A hub for the exchange of ideas, networking and programmatic initiatives, its conferences, virtual programs and sponsored journals (published by Oxford University Press) encompass a range of topics that foster the development of new ideas, relationships and skillsets.

Klotz will serve a three-year term—as president-elect, president and past-president—starting at the annual convention in March 2025. She previously served a two-year term as a vice president-elect and vice president (2016-2018), among other roles within the association.

Shana Kushner Gadarian, associate dean for research and professor of political science, praised Klotz for her selection and says she is highly qualified to lead the prestigious organization.

“Over the course of her career, Professor Klotz has developed a body of scholarship that is well-known and widely cited and that has influenced several distinct areas of research in political science and international studies,” Gadarian says, adding that the position will be mutually beneficial, as it will “create opportunities for Maxwell faculty and students to more deeply engage with critical international issues of our time.”

A specialist on global migration and international norms, Klotz has received awards and accolades for her scholarship and teaching, including the 2023 Wasserstrom Prize from ���ϲ�����, the 2020 Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Organization Section of ISA, and the 2018 Distinguished Scholar Award from the Ethnicity, Nationalism and Migration Studies Section of ISA.

Klotz is the author of “Migration and National Identity in South Africa, 1860-2010” (Cambridge University Press, 2013), and Cornell University Press will publish a second edition of her book, “Norms in International Relations: The Struggle against Apartheid,” later this year. Her research has been supported with a Fulbright fellowship and by several funders including the National Science Foundation, the Social Science Research Council and the MacArthur Foundation.

This story was written by Mikayla Melo

The liberal arts offerings through the (A&S) and the have always equipped students with the critical and creative thinking skills needed throughout their lifetimes.

Today, thanks to an important revision of the foundational (LAC), the two schools will offer a reimagined, robust and contemporary curriculum that will prepare students for adaptability and success in a constantly evolving world. The new LAC, slated to be implemented in the Fall 2025 semester, will apply only to those students matriculating beginning in the fall of 2025.

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School will offer a reimagined, robust and contemporary curriculum that will prepare students for adaptability and success in a constantly evolving world.

The class was selected after a rigorous application and review process. Scholars were chosen based on their leadership growth potential and the strength of their personal leadership projects aimed at addressing a critical challenge or need in a community, profession or organization.

Ray Toenniessen

“I am honored to be selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar,” Toenniessen says. “This is a tremendous opportunity to learn from outstanding leaders across different sectors, exchange fresh ideas and collaborate on solutions to some of our country’s most pressing challenges. I’m eager to bring the knowledge and network gained through this program back to our work here at the D’Aniello IVMF, where we can continue driving meaningful impact for our nation’s service members, veterans and their families.”

Toenniessen, who served four years as a commissioned officer in the Army, leads more than 100 employees at the D’Aniello IVMF, both on campus and across the nation. He advances the Institute’s 16 national training programs and community services, its research and evaluation capabilities, its coalition for veteran-owned businesses and employers, the alumni and engagement network and the D’Aniello Institute’s policy work in Washington D.C.

Toenniessen’s work with the IVMF began upon his return to his alma mater in 2010 after transitioning out of the military, and he became the first national program manager of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans. In his time with the IVMF, he has been instrumental in the development and growth of the organization’s programs and services, which have impacted more than 230,000 service members, veterans and military family members.

“���ϲ����� and the D’Aniello IVMF are proud of Ray Toenniessen’s selection as a 2025 Presidential Leadership Scholar,” says , vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and the executive director of the IVMF.��“Throughout his career, Ray has consistently advanced the interests of veterans and military families. We look forward to Ray’s continued leadership and significant contributions that only will be enhanced by his PLS experience.”

Throughout the program, Toenniessen and the other scholars will travel to each participating presidential center to learn from former presidents, key former administration officials, business and civic leaders and leading academics. They will study and put into practice varying approaches to leadership and exchange ideas to help strengthen their impact.

Scholars have consistently reported remarkable growth in skills, responsibilities and opportunities for impact since the program began in 2015, including 96% of scholars reporting an improvement in how confidently they can lead social change, and 97% reporting they are inspired to accomplish more since beginning the program.

The 2025 program will begin on Jan. 29.

A ���ϲ����� senior and an alumna were recently chosen for prestigious graduate fellowships that prepare students for careers in the Foreign Service.

Linda Baguma ’25, an international relations and political science major in the and , has been named a 2025 Rangel Fellow. Alexandria Johnson ’24, an international relations graduate from the Maxwell School and College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected as a 2025 Pickering Fellow.

The Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State where they can help formulate, represent and implement U.S. foreign policy. The Rangel Program supports fellows through two years of graduate study, domestic and overseas internships, mentoring and professional development activities.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship awards recipients two years of financial support, mentoring and professional development to prepare them for a career in the Foreign Service. Fellows will also complete a domestic internship at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and an overseas internship at a U.S. embassy.

Linda Baguma

Baguma, a 2024-25 Remembrance Scholar, participated in a Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA) at Carnegie Mellon University over the summer. Her interest in the Foreign Service started with her desire to build stronger relationships between the U.S. and Africa, especially in diplomacy and international security.

Baguma was born in Africa and raised in the United States and feels a strong connection to both places. “Growing up in a refugee camp and then resettling in the U.S. gave me a unique perspective on the importance of diplomacy in building stronger global relationships,” Baguma says. “It helped me understand how important it is to foster cooperation and support across nations and communities to create positive change in the world.”

In addition to her PPIA experience, Baguma spent the Fall 2024 semester studying in South Africa. “Studying abroad allowed me to see how international relations works in a country with a very different history and set of challenges. I learned about South Africa’s policies and how they impact local communities. This experience has made me even more excited about pursuing a career in the Foreign Service, particularly focused on improving U.S.-Africa relations,” she says.

“The Rangel Fellowship will give me the resources, mentorship and hands-on experience to deepen my knowledge of foreign service and diplomacy. It will provide me with training, internships and access to a network of professionals, all of which will help me develop the skills I need to navigate U.S. foreign policy,” Baguma says. “The chance to work in the U.S. Foreign Service will allow me to directly address global issues and contribute to solutions that benefit people around the world. With the Rangel Fellowship, I believe I will be in a stronger position to pursue my goal of working in international affairs, peace and security for Americans and the rest of the world.”

Alexandria��Johnson

Johnson’s interest in the Foreign Service was sparked in high school in Cleveland, Ohio. “I had the privilege to hear from a retired ambassador through the global studies program, which changed my perspective,” Johnson says. “The conversation helped me understand that there are more opportunities beyond my immediate community and it led me to research and learn more about U.S. foreign affairs and the Foreign Service.”

In the summer of 2022, Johnson interned at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, acting as a liaison between visiting professionals and professionals in her local community. “I learned a lot more about international relations and diplomacy, multilateral issues such as human rights and rule of law, my own city, and ultimately about myself. It was a challenging experience that I will never forget,” Johnson says.

In the spring of 2023, Johnson studied abroad in Strasbourg, France, where she interned with the Arab Center for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Education. She was also a 2023 Rangel Scholar, which funded a short-term summer program that gave her a comprehensive introduction to professions in U.S. foreign affairs. “I was surrounded by a cohort of 14 like-minded peers and I loved my experience. It inspired me to contribute my perspective as a Black woman from the Midwest to the field of diplomacy,” Johnson says. “The Rangel Summer Enrichment Program ultimately affirmed my commitment to pursuing a career in the Foreign Service to bridge global divides and advocate for inclusive and impactful diplomacy.”

“All of these experiences have taught me about diplomacy in different ways and have allowed me to make an impact. They all speak to a commitment to service in the field, which I will continue to strive for,” Johnson says.

Johnson currently works with the Truman Center for National Policy, a national security think tank in Washington, D.C. There, she focuses on subnational diplomacy and democracy building.

“The Pickering Fellowship will help me to attain my goal of public service. When I reflected on what I wanted out of a career, it had to be public service first and foremost. Coupled with my passion for foreign affairs, it is a perfect fit,” she says. “I hope to make positive change and to bring more awareness to what Foreign Service Officers do.”

Baguma and Johnson worked closely with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) on their applications and to prepare for their fellowship interviews. Students interested in learning more about the Pickering Fellowship and the Rangel Fellowship should contact CFSA.

Robert Wilson

is an associate professor in the Geography and the Environment Department at ���ϲ�����. His expertise area includes how animals interact with society and humans.

He is available for interview and his comments below can be quoted directly.

Professor Wilson says:

“This month, a man in Louisiana died from bird flu (H5N1), which he probably got from exposure to wild birds or chickens in his backyard. And in recent months dairy workers have been sickened by the virus. While H5N1 is not yet spreading from person to person, the continued transmission of the virus from animals to people is very worrisome.

“The U.S. raises billions of animals a year, and the virus has travelled quickly among the nation’s chickens, pigs, and dairy cows. In the U.S., each year we raise and slaughter nine billion broiler chickens—the sort of chickens that people eat. At any one time, hundreds of millions of hens are laying eggs. H5N1 has infected many of these birds, leading egg and poultry producers to cull the chickens in an attempt to limit the virus spread. Even so, other domestic animals, such as pigs and dairy cows, are now infected as well.

“Many of these animals are raised in factory-like conditions where they are stuffed close together. In such cramped quarters, viruses can spread easily among the animals and increase the chance of a zoonotic spillover of H5N1 from animals to humans.

“Animal right activists have highlighted the terrible living conditions endured by chickens, pigs, and cows raised under industrial agriculture. But the way we treat these animals places us all at risk. We have, in effect, created incubators for the birth of new, more virulent pathogens while detaining animals in spaces that make virus outbreaks nearly inevitable.

“To protect ourselves, we need to alter the way we raise animals in our modern food system.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |
news.syr.edu |

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The 53-minute film, “Raise the Roof: Building Tenant Power in ���ϲ�����,” depicts the formation and activism of the ���ϲ����� Tenants Union (STU), a grassroots organization that advocates for tenants’ rights and legislative change. Purser, associate professor of sociology, partnered with the STU on the project in collaboration with Franklin Thompson of August Fifth Productions, who served as director of photography and producer.

“The film seeks to reveal how, due to the imbalance of power with their landlords, tenants can make few changes as individuals, sometimes face retaliation for reporting code violations, and often wind up stuck due to the cost of relocation and rent,” says Purser. “We wanted to show how tenants organizing collectively can challenge the uneven power imbalance with landlords.”

The film is a culmination of a through the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders (IRL) program sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The IRL program supports action-oriented scholarship undertaken in collaboration with community partners and focuses on equity and health research.

In addition to Purser, the research team included Jamila Michener, professor of government and public policy at Cornell University, and Palmer Harvey, an organizer with STU. The team conducted focus groups throughout the City of ���ϲ����� to better understand tenants’ experiences and introduce them to tenant organizing as a strategy to improve community health. The project was designed to help build STU’s membership base, and data from the focus groups was incorporated into the documentary.

“This is a great example of using social science research to have a real-world impact in our local community,” says Shana Kushner Gadarian, associate dean for research and Merle Goldberg Fabian Professor of Excellence in Citizenship and Critical Thinking. “Professor Purser’s work on tenants’ experiences in ���ϲ����� and how they are working together to advocate for policy change can be a valuable resource for other communities facing challenges with power imbalances between renters and landlords and inadequate housing.”

Filming began in October 2023 in numerous locations across the City of ���ϲ�����, including tenants’

Gretchen Purser, associate professor of sociology, is shown during filming with producer and photography director Franklin Thompson of August Fifth Productions.

homes, at union meetings, in offices and at public protests and rallies. Union organizers and tenants are interviewed in the film, along with city officials and Michener.

The tenants shared their experiences with mold, infestation, large rent increases, lead poisoning, structural and plumbing issues, caved-in ceilings and broken furnaces as well as eviction, sexual harassment and predatory rental arrangements.

Purser says the collective organizing aims to achieve tangible improvements in housing conditions for poor and predominantly Black families in the ���ϲ����� community.

Participants in the film offered various proposals to improve conditions for tenants. For example, Good Cause Eviction legislation would cap rent increases and limit evictions to cases of non-payment or lease violation, prohibiting the kinds of retaliatory evictions that Purser and her colleagues documented throughout their research.

Speakers at the screening at Salt City Market also presented ideas, including an updated rental registry and code enforcement system that would mandate lead inspection, charge additional fees for landlords renting unregistered properties, revoke registry for code violators and allocate funds from penal fees to repair damages. City Auditor Alexander Marion, who participated with organizers in a question-and-answer session, said the eventual goal is to use money from violations, fines, registrations and inspections to better fund code enforcement.

Jocelyn Richards, an STU organizer, hopes the documentary inspires viewers and sparks curiosity about tenant organizing.

“This documentary reveals that nearly every tenant in ���ϲ����� is encountering or has encountered similar issues: we’re not alone,” says Richards. “And it’s normal to be fearful of taking action as an individual, but when we come together, we have both more power and more protection from retaliation.”

Film organizers are planning additional screenings in 2025, starting with a showing at the Maxwell School. Members of the University community are invited to join a at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Dr. Paul and Natalie Strasser Legacy Room. Still other viewing opportunities are planned for New York City and Ithaca, New York. The documentary will eventually be publicly available online and accessible on the STU website.

Purser is director of the Law, Society and Policy Integrated Learning Major, research co-director on Advocacy and Activism at the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration, and a senior research associate at the Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry. Her research and teaching focuses on the housing struggles of the urban poor, work and labor market transformation, and the policies and practices of poverty management in the U.S. She has written numerous op-eds and public-facing articles on criminal justice reform, inequality and precarious work in the U.S.

Story by Michael Kelly

Professor Geuorguiev writes: “While this rumored proposal remains entirely speculative, the possibility should not be dismissed outright. President-elect Trump has indicated a desire for a political resolution to the TikTok dispute, and Elon Musk is uniquely positioned to facilitate such an outcome. His significant financial resources, established business ties in China through Tesla, and prominence in the social media industry via X make him a potential candidate for brokering a deal acceptable to multiple stakeholders. Additionally, Musk’s recognition and favorability in China could render the arrangement more appealing to Beijing. However, such a move would inevitably raise serious concerns among the American public and the U.S. national security establishment. Musk’s growing web of business and political influence, especially as he gains prominence in the incoming Trump administration, could create significant conflicts of interest that warrant close scrutiny.”

Josh Fine

The inaugural class of IDJC fellows for the Spring 2025 semester includes investigative reporter and producer Josh Fine and former U.S. Public Delegate to the United Nations Andrew Weinstein.

“We are thrilled to announce this new program and to have Josh Fine and Andrew Weinstein as our inaugural fellows,” says Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the IDJC and professor of practice of magazine, news and digital journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. “This fellows program is designed to give thought leaders in the fields of journalism and public affairs an opportunity to delve more deeply into subjects that matter to all of us.”

The program provides workspace for fellows at IDJC headquarters in Washington, D.C., as well as access to University scholars and resources, and a stipend for their travel and projects. The fellows will convene events or pursue projects while developing nonpartisan thought leadership in issue areas that align with the IDJC’s mission to explore the challenges to—and connections between—democratic governance and journalism.

Fine, whose award-winning sports journalism has examined the International Olympic Committee, FIFA and the NFL, plans to use his time as a fellow to explore better ways to fund investigative sports journalism, with a focus on the challenges that go beyond the scoreboard and directly impact communities, including the public financing of stadiums, the health impact of certain high school programs and the profit behind youth sports.

“I’m delighted to be one of IDJC’s inaugural fellows,” says Fine. “As the journalism industry changes, it’s critical that accountability-based sports journalism endures. I’m grateful to have the support of ���ϲ����� to explore new ways to sustain this crucial work.”

Andrew Weinstein

Weinstein, who in addition to his role as public delegate, previously served on the board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and as a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities during the Obama administration, will work to develop nonpartisan public dialogues and workshops aimed at addressing the rise in antisemitism, religion-based hatred and intolerance, and bridging divides between the American Jewish and Palestinian communities.

“I look forward to expanding on my work at the United Nations and am proud to do so in affiliation with such a prestigious academic institution. It’s an honor to help launch the Visiting Fellows program at the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship,” says Weinstein.

The launch of the IDJC Visiting Fellows program is made possible by a gift from Gary Greenberg ’72. For information on how to support or engage with the visiting fellows program, please email democracy@syr.edu.

The inaugural event, “Life Together: A Community Conversation for Election Season and Beyond,” was held on campus on Oct. 22. Hundreds of University community members, including students, staff and faculty representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives, engaged in facilitated dialogue on important issues related to democracy, civic engagement, economic opportunity and the political climate. The event featured a moderated discussion among experts, followed by small group conversations led by trained facilitators who also were members of the campus community.

University community members engage in conversation during the October 2024 Life Together event (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

The Life Together initiative is led by Gretchen Ritter, vice president for civic engagement and education; Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the ; and Tina Nabatchi, director of the Maxwell School’s (PARCC).

This next phase of the Life Together initiative includes several events planned for the Spring 2025 semester:

• Life Together Leadership Fellows: Ritter, in collaboration with PARCC, will lead a four-part training session for students, faculty and staff interested in developing the civic skills needed to promote democratic engagement in a diverse community. There will be four, two-hour required training sessions that focus on active listening, critical reasoning, inclusive advocacy and advancing the common good. for the Life Together Leadership Fellows program and are due by Jan. 31.
• “Civic Stories” Digital Storytelling Project: The project will collect and share personal and community-driven stories in the form of short video and audio recordings and reflective writing. “Civic Stories” aims to deepen our understanding and practice of civic engagement by humanizing complex issues, promoting empathy and connection, amplifying voices from marginalized communities, challenging assumptions and stereotypes, encouraging reflective dialogue, highlighting shared goals and collective action, and building civic identity and agency.
• Life Together Online Community Conversations Modules: Building on the fall’s facilitated community conversation, and in collaboration with PARCC and the College of Professional Studies, online modules will be developed that can be used to facilitate community conversations for members of the ���ϲ����� community who are not in residence in ���ϲ�����. The modules can also be used by instructors in various settings, such as part of the First Year Seminar curriculum for non-residential first-year students.
• Life Together Lecture Series: The series will bring speakers to campus who will deepen campus conversation and understanding around the initiative’s four critical civic engagement skills. Four colloquiums are expected to be offered in the spring.

��Further details on how the University community can participate will be shared early in the spring semester.

The Economist described “Venice: The Remarkable History of the Lagoon City” (Oxford University Press, 2024) as “a sparkling account of Venice’s past and future” and said it “will become the history of choice for readers who want to better understand the lagoon city.”

In the book, Romano provides a comprehensive account of the political, economic, cultural, ecological, military and art history of Venice from the city’s origins to the present. Drawing from a wealth of archival material, he traces Venetian history across a long range, from the Ice Age emergence of the lagoon, its first permanent settlements and the rise of Venice’s maritime and commercial empire to industrialization, 20th-century fascism and contemporary tourism. In addition to covering elites like merchants and doges, the book offers portraits of Venetian commoners, drawing from documents such as diaries and last wills and testaments.

Emeritus Professor Dennis Romano

In an April��, The Economist wrote, “The result is a triumph.” It continued, “This is contemporary historical writing of the highest quality: clear, entertaining and yet academically rigorous.”

Romano has published eight books and over 20 articles on medieval Italy and Venetian history, politics, culture, art and kinship. He has received numerous grant awards spanning five decades from institutions such as the Guggenheim Foundation, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the National Gallery of Art and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Romano’s academic work explores medieval and Renaissance Italy, early modern Europe, and Venice’s social and cultural history.

Story by Mikayla Melo

Two ���ϲ����� faculty experts weigh in on the historic natural disaster impacting California this week. Their comments below can be quoted directly. They are also available for interviews.

***

Fires burning now cannot be dismissed as anomalous events

Jacob Bendix

is professor emeritus in the Geography and the Environment Department in ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School. His research areas include impacts of disturbance (principally fire and floods) on plant communities and media coverage of the environment. He has spoken extensively with journalists about the , and the .

Currently, he is available to answer questions via email.

Bendix says:

“The fires currently devastating multiple neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area serve to remind us of the impact of climate change. The fires are driven by the infamous downslope Santa Ana winds that become hotter and drier as they descend, creating particularly incendiary conditions. These winds are strongest in the winter, but historically by winter there was enough rain to soak fuels and limit wildfires. Thus, Santa Ana-driven fires were usually concentrated in the fall, when the winds had begun but fuels were still dry.

“This is where climate change comes in. It is already January, but Southern California remains dry, gripped by drought and high temperatures. Both drought and heat are known to be more likely in the context of human-caused climate change, so the fires burning now cannot be dismissed as anomalous events. We must recognize that such fires are likely to become more common in the future. The news stories each time will fade after a few days or weeks, but the impacts in terms of lost homes and workplaces will last far longer for local residents, and virtually everyone in the region is likely to face escalating insurance costs, or difficulty obtaining insurance at all.”

This is the ‘new reality’ for Southern California communities

Tripti Bhattacharya

is an associate professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department in ���ϲ�����’s College of Arts and Sciences. Her work focuses on understanding the sensitivity of regional rainfall to global climate change.

She is available for interviews by phone, web video conferencing or email.

Bhattacharya says:

“It’s really devastating to see what is unfolding.

“It is a combination of several factors: one is drought, as Southern California has seen very little precipitation this winter, resulting in extremely dry vegetation and soils. On top of that, recent days have seen gusts of dry wind, typically known as ‘Santa Ana’ winds. These gusts have the ability to cause fire to propagate quickly.

“We cannot attribute a single event to human-caused climate change per se, but we do know from peer-reviewed scientific literature that the length of the fire season is increasing. Moreover, state of the art models analyzed in peer reviewed studies have shown that climate change is responsible overall for higher temperatures and drier vegetation, amplifying forest fire activity.

“This is the new reality communities in places like Southern California are facing.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

���ϲ�����

Ghael Fobes ’22, an alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, has been named a 2025 Marshall Scholar.

The Marshall Scholarship program was created by an Act of British Parliament in 1953 as a living memorial to former U.S. Secretary of State Gen. George C. Marshall and American assistance provided following World War II. The scholarship allows up to three years of fully funded graduate study in any academic topic at any university in the United Kingdom. Fobes is one of 36 students selected from around the country and is ���ϲ�����’s seventh Marshall Scholar.

“Marshall Scholars continue to represent the very best of American society, dedicating their time and effort to address some of the great challenges of our time, from cyber security and artificial intelligence to advancing our knowledge of the universe,” says Dame Karen Pierce, British ambassador to the U.S. “The Marshall Scholarship remains an integral part of the U.K.-U.S. relationship, established through British gratitude to General Marshall at the end of WWII. We are delighted to welcome such a diverse and talented group of students to the U.K. next year as they continue their studies at some of the U.K.’s top academic institutions.”

Fobes plans to pursue two master’s degrees—in data and artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and in future governance—at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He began producing for NBC News as an intern in college and is currently an associate White House producer for NBC News in Washington, D.C. In his position, he has a firsthand perspective on the role that AI is playing in journalism today.

“I think the effects right now are pretty wide-ranging and pose some great opportunities and challenges,” Fobes says. “For example, we’ve been using artificial intelligence tools at NBC News to make transcription more efficient and effective. We also use them to help verify the provenance of social media content. As for challenges, I think anybody using social media has seen a flood in content created with generative AI. That presents significant obstacles to journalists’ ability to quickly determine the veracity��of content.”

Building upon his Marshall experience, Fobes hopes to return to NBC News ready to lead an innovation office embedded in the network’s newsgathering operation. “My goal is to develop ethical workflows that enhance our ability to gather and present news, focusing specifically on expanding efforts to combat digital misinformation,” he says.

As an undergraduate, Fobes majored in broadcast and digital journalism in the Newhouse School and minored in political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences. He was a ���ϲ����� Scholar and Commencement class speaker in 2022, and says he continues to carry his ���ϲ����� experience with him.

“My coursework and the faculty at Newhouse and Maxwell deepened my technical knowledge of broadcasting, sharpened my storytelling skills, and broadened my understanding of domestic and international politics,” he says.��“While a lot��of the learning behind my broadcast degree allowed me to hone my use of a camera, what was truly enriching was learning from Professor Les Rose about the subtleties��of interviewing and story development. It is not just about what catches someone’s eye, but is also about finding ways of introducing your audience to new people, places and perspectives.”

Fobes says his academic experience prepared him for working at NBC News. “It gives me a great foundation for approaching my Marshall Scholarship proposal for developing ethical newsgathering workflows with AI,” he says.

“I am especially grateful to ���ϲ����� for its focus on preparing students with professional development and networking opportunities, and for its satellite campuses in New York City and Washington, D.C,” he says. “Specifically, I’m thankful for Professor Cheryl Brody Franklin’s mentorship through the Newhouse NYC program and Professor Charlotte Grimes, who led the Robin Toner Program in Political Reporting, which I was a part of for four years. They opened the door that allowed me to intern at NBC News throughout my time at SU.”

Fobes��also worked for the Daily Orange. He led the newspaper’s audio department, expanding its footprint as the founder, editor and host of “The Daily Orange” podcast.��“I am grateful to the Daily Orange for giving me the creative space and resources to launch our weekly podcast. Leading the podcast taught me how to pitch and integrate new technologies into the operations of a storied newspaper,” he says.

Fobes worked with the University’s Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) on his Marshall application.

“Ghael’s extraordinary record of service and leadership in his field—and his preparation for and commitment to graduate study in artificial intelligence ethics—made him an outstanding candidate for the Marshall Scholarship,” says Jolynn Parker, director of the CFSA.��“We are thrilled this award will help him achieve his goals.”

Fobes is grateful to Parker and CFSA. “I would not have known about, pursued or completed the application, much less gotten the award, without Jolynn’s encouragement and guidance,” he says. “I am also grateful for the professors who took the time to conduct mock interviews with me.”

Students interested in applying for national scholarships that require University endorsement, such as the Marshall Scholarship, should complete an “intent to apply” form with Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising by the end of June 2025 and plan to work with��.

The fellowship will support three months of field research in 2025 for a multi-year research project, “Civil Society Thrives in the Kafana: Locally Led Development and Grassroots Civic Engagement in Serbia.”

Catherine Herrold

Herrold will explore how Serbian civil society actors understand, implement and measure the effectiveness of initiatives such as sustainable agriculture, cultural festivals and community development programs by grassroots groups and philanthropic entities outside of professional non-governmental organizations.

The project builds on past research and collaborations with scholars at the University of Belgrade and contacts in Serbian civil society and international aid agencies. Herrold intends to produce a book, academic journal articles and policy briefs and hopes to build public engagement through opinion pieces and podcasts as well as course content.

“Professor Herrold’s research can help better explain how to build and maintain a dynamic society through the participation of everyday people at the grassroots,” says , associate dean for research and Merle Goldberg Fabian Professor of Excellence in Citizenship and Critical Thinking. “She epitomizes Maxwell’s commitment to engaging on pressing issues of democracy around the world and bringing those lessons back to campus.”

The Fulbright-Hays Program awards grants to U.S. teachers, administrators, pre-doctoral students and postdoctoral faculty as well as to institutions and organizations for overseas research and training that focus on non-Western foreign languages and area studies. The program is funded by a congressional appropriation to the U.S. Department of Education.

Maxwell School Associate Professor Catherine Herrold will spend three months in Serbia as she continues her research on civil society and grassroots development initiatives.

Herrold received a U.S. State Department Fulbright Scholar award for her 2023 research on citizen-led development initiatives in Serbia as well as the 2023 University of Maryland Do Good Institute and Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Global Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Award.

She spent five years doing similar research in Egypt and Palestine for her book, “Delta Democracy: Pathways to Incremental Civic Revolution in Egypt and Beyond” (Oxford University Press, 2020), which was awarded ARNOVA’s Virginia A. Hodgkinson Research Book Prize.

Herrold is a senior research associate for the Middle Eastern Studies Program and the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration and an associate professor by courtesy appointment in the political science department. Her research focuses on global civil society, international development, democracy promotion, nonprofit management, and collaborative and participatory governance.

Story by Michael Kelly

The East Side Gallery, one of the last remaining pieces of the original Berlin Wall, stretches for 1.3 km along Muhlenstrasse.

Although the wall’s physical presence is diminished, the “fall” of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989, remains a significant moment in history.

Lauren Woodard, assistant professor of anthropology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, says the event was just one of several across communist Eastern Europe that showed how solidarity among people could foster resistance and bring change.

“After growing resistance across the region, especially in neighboring Poland, East Germans had mobilized throughout the summer and fall of 1989 to visit West Germany,” says Woodard, who is also a senior research associate in the Center for European Studies within the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs. “There was a lot of confusion about crossing the border in this moment, amid growing protest and political transformations in the region (Solidarity’s successful movement in neighboring Poland and amid Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika in the Soviet Union).”

On Nov. 9, 1989, during a press conference, an East German official inadvertently said that a new policy allowing travel outside of East Germany could happen immediately without restrictions, when in fact the policy was going to be implemented the following day with prerequisites. Tens of thousands of people went to the wall, to various checkpoints, and eventually one opened, where West Germans and East Germans celebrated together.

Lauren Woodard

While the wall didn’t actually “fall” that day, the figurative collapse was symbolic of that period when the populations of Eastern Europe struggled out from the grip of communism.

“This is a starting point in my class [Transformations of Eastern Europe] to understand this moment as one of euphoria and celebration, the idea of the end of the Cold War, and the success of collective action, but one that was also deeply destabilizing for many people, as their economies crashed and they navigated profound social, economic and political transformations throughout the 1990s,” Woodard says.

In the following Q&A, Woodard shares her insights on the fall of the Berlin Wall. For any media who wish to schedule an interview with Woodard, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Why was that moment when the Berlin Wall was breached such a visceral moment for people all over the world?

People responded to the “fall” of the Berlin Wall as a moment of victory, that demonstrated how resistance could be achieved through cooperation, as demonstrated earlier that year by the Solidarity Movement in Poland, demonstrations in Hungary and the Singing Revolution, in which nearly two million people held hands across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, calling for their independence from the Soviet Union. The “fall” of the Berlin Wall symbolized how people could work together and form coalitions to resist, providing hope to everyone for change.

How did the lives of citizens in those countries behind the Iron Curtain change once the wall came down?

The answer to this question varies based on location. I will speak from my own experiences conducting research in Russia and Kazakhstan, two former Soviet countries. While many people experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union as euphoric—this sense of resistance and political collaboration across Cold War boundaries, experienced at the same time as romantic ideas of globalization and the decline of nation-states—the 1990s were a period of profound political, economic and social transformations that were deeply destabilizing. “Shock” therapy, meant to transition former communist countries to democracy and a global market economy, led to profound disenfranchisement and inequality.

As an American college student in 2010, studying abroad in Russia for the first time, I did not expect my host family and my friends to speak nostalgically of the Soviet Union and to genuinely support Vladimir Putin. They described great hardship of the 1990s—long lines, financial and political uncertainty, which factored into parents’ decisions whether to start a family.

A marker of the remains of Berlin Wall

They were also deeply disappointed with the West. They had believed that with the end of the Cold War, there would no longer be a divide between East and West, that there would be no need for NATO, and that the European Union’s (EU) expansion might include them too, since they were Russian and, therefore, European.

When NATO and the EU expanded to include Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, but not Russia, Ukraine or Georgia, for example, they felt isolated and othered. Meanwhile, they associated stability with Vladimir Putin’s presidency, even if it came at the cost of challenges to free speech.

Although the Cold War may have ended in 1989 and 1991, divisions reemerged in new ways in the 1990s that crystallized in the 2000s, leading to today’s present situation, in which Russia has isolated itself globally once again, while attacking its neighbor, Ukraine, as part of a larger project of Russian imperialism, that is markedly different from the Soviet project of communism. This is the subject of my book project—how people navigate these profound changes on an everyday level.

What have been the long-lasting impacts for Eastern Europe and all of Europe?

I think what gets lost is the impact of the end of communism for Western Europe and the United States. Without the Soviet Union as the U.S.’s foil, the U.S. floundered throughout the 1990s to identify who we were as a country and what we stood for. I think this is partially why we latched onto the idea of “global terrorism,” as an alternative to construct ourselves against, with serious implications.

With the Iraq War, we lost serious credibility as a global leader that will take decades to recover from. It is here that we see the reemergence of Russia as an illiberal alternative, aligned with China, Iran and other actors to challenge American hegemony.

What was the Battle of the Bulge?
‘The Battle of the Bulge’ is the name given in the English-speaking world to the last great German offensive in western Europe in World War II, which took place from December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945. The Germans launched a surprise attack on the American front line in the forested Ardennes region of Belgium. Their aim was to break through the line, reach the English Channel coast at the important port of Antwerp, and split the Americans from the British and Canadian forces to their north. Hitler hoped that such a devastating blow would cause friction between the western Allies and persuade them to make peace on terms favorable to the Third Reich (allowing him to then concentrate his remaining military forces against the Soviets in the east).

Thanks to total strategic surprise, bad weather which kept the Allied air forces grounded, and the use of Germany’s last heavy tank units, the offensive was initially very successful and caused the ‘bulge’ in the front line which gives the battle its name. But unexpectedly stubborn resistance in key locations like the crossroads town of Bastogne, and a fast and effective Allied response once the initial shock had worn off, prevented the Germans from breaking through as they had hoped. By Christmas Day, the advance had halted, the skies had cleared, and the American ground forces, aided by devastating Allied air power, were pushing back against Hitler’s tanks, which had anyway mostly run short of gasoline. The German gamble had failed, and they were never again in a position to launch a major attack in the west. The war ended five months later with Hitler’s suicide and Germany’s total defeat.

Why is the Battle of the Bulge important?
‘The Bulge’ was one of the biggest battles of the war and the largest and bloodiest single engagement fought by the United States between Pearl Harbor and V-J Day. The Germans employed 410,000 troops and over 1,400 tanks, including the infamous 70-ton ‘King Tiger’ with its massive 88-mm gun and almost impenetrably thick armor. Almost 700,000 Allied troops took part in the battle, most of them American, and over 8,600 soldiers and airmen were killed in action. It was the last occasion in the war in which the western Allies could have suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Germans, and if this had happened it might have forced Roosevelt and Churchill to consider negotiating with Hitler to end the fighting with less than unconditional German surrender. As it was, the German Army and Air Force was so badly mauled in the Battle of the Bulge that it probably ended up hastening the war’s end, because they were in no position to defend their homeland once the Allies began advancing again in 1945.

How did the battle influence Allied strategy and relationships?
Hitler’s intention was, among other things, to cause friction between the western Allies, and it’s true that the crisis in the Ardennes did at least temporarily intensify disagreements between the British and American high commands which had existed for months. It was an open secret by December 1944 that the supreme Allied commander-in-chief, US general Dwight D. Eisenhower, did not get along well with the senior British commander in Europe, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. ‘Monty’ did not have a high opinion of ‘Ike,’ nor any of the other American generals he was serving alongside, and after his own Anglo-Canadian forces advanced to support the Americans in Belgium, he gave a press conference which tactlessly suggested that he had rescued ‘the Yanks’ from their own ineptitude. Eisenhower was tempted to sack Montgomery for this tactless insubordination, and it was only thanks to the intervention of cooler heads that a major breakdown in the Allied high command was avoided. Eventually, Monty himself realized he had overstepped the line, and he personally apologized to Eisenhower.

What leadership lessons remain relevant today?
The Battle of the Bulge was ultimately a victory for the Allies, but it also represented a major intelligence failure. The Germans had been able to achieve total strategic surprise despite the ability of the British and Americans to read many of their top-secret communications. The evidence was there for those who wanted to see it that the Germans might be planning something. But a combination of hubris and bad luck (the poor weather preventing proper aerial reconnaissance of the enemy front line) meant the Allies had no idea a crisis was imminent in December 1944. The Bulge reminds us that even the best intelligence sources are useless if the people receiving them have built up a false impression in their minds about what is occurring.

The Bulge also shows how important it is to respond to a crisis with a cool head, flexibility, and creativity. In the first few days following the German attack all was chaos and panic on the Allied side, and it appeared as though Hitler’s troops would be able to break through the Allied line completely. But in fact, the confusion was temporary and once the American commanders had a better appreciation of what was happening, they could see that the advantage still lay with their own side – the bad weather grounding the Allied air forces would not last forever, and the Germans were critically short of the gasoline their tanks would need to get to Antwerp. By remaining calm in the midst of seeming defeat they were able to reestablish control of the battlefield and ultimately deliver a critical blow to the enemy.

Another little-remembered detail about the Bulge is the key role played by African American soldiers in the racially segregated US Army. Black GIs were normally forbidden to serve in front-line combat units in 1944 and relegated to unglamorous support tasks. But African American drivers in the ‘Red Ball Express’ truck convoy system kept Allied forces supplied with the ammunition and food they needed to fight; and Eisenhower even decided to temporarily suspend segregation and allow Black soldiers to fight alongside their white comrades. Over 2,000 African American GIs volunteered to go to the front and 708 of them were killed in action. This incident helped to establish the groundwork for the complete desegregation of the US military after the war.

The report finds President Joe Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaigns together outspent now President-elect Donald Trump on Facebook and Instagram by about 6-to-1 ($140 million to $24 million) between Sept. 1, 2023, and the Nov. 5, 2024, election. Meta owns the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.����

The fourth quarterly report from ���ϲ�����’s  (IDJC) also identifies more than $6 million in negative ads from groups backed by Elon Musk that accept unlimited sums from anonymous donors, a source of financing known as “dark money.” The ads, which undercut Harris, aired during the closing weeks of the campaign.����

The world’s richest man, Musk is CEO of Tesla and owns social media platform X. He has emerged as a close advisor to Trump.����

• The report looks at spending on Meta Platforms related to Musk-backed Progress 2028, Building America’s Future PAC, Future Coalition and FC PACs, Duty to America, Fair��Election Fund, RBG PAC and America PAC.��

• In addition to messaging about the economy and illegal immigration, the ads aim to erode support for Democrats among Black Americans who smoke menthol cigarettes;, and send conflicting, targeted messages about the Israel-Hamas war. For instance, in Michigan, ads played up Harris’ support for Israel to erode Arab and Muslim voters’ support for the vice president; while in Pennsylvania, ads emphasized Harris’ sympathy for Palestinians to turn off Jewish voters.��

��The ElectionGraph report provides a powerful—though only partial—measure of the volume of election-related messaging on social media, whether ads originated from the candidates’ own campaigns or the vast web of outside groups that range from truthful and transparent, to murky and conspiracy-minded, and everything in between.����

This is the final installment in a yearlong research project that seeks to identify misinformation trends in the U.S. presidential election. The project is supported by a grant and the use of analytics software from , the world’s leading graph database and analytics company.��

The ElectionGraph team’s efforts include pinpointing origins of messages and tracing misinformation by collecting and algorithmically classifying ads run on Facebook and Instagram. ElectionGraph also has developed a publicly accessible dashboard to explore its findings.��

“In the closing days of the election, shady groups with unclear motives ran duplicitous ads meant to manipulate the public’s understanding of candidate Harris’ policies,” says Jennifer Stromer-Galley, a professor in the School of Information Studies at ���ϲ����� and ElectionGraph’s lead researcher. “The fragmented information environment combined with weak regulation around campaign finance and disclosures on digital ads leaves the public vulnerable to actors who will say anything to try and win elections.”��

While Meta allows approved organizations to access ad data, such data is not required to be made available—and is not similarly trackable—on TikTok, Google, YouTube or Snapchat. The findings nevertheless provide a framework to visualize the fire hose of information and misinformation targeting voters from groups with a jumble of motives, ties and trustworthiness ahead of the 2024 election.��

Graph databases have emerged as a formidable ally in unmasking coordinated misinformation campaigns this election cycle, says Jim Webber, chief scientist at Neo4j. ��

“Using Neo4j, IDJC ElectionGraph researchers have illuminated vast networks of accounts acting in unison to amplify false narratives, even when those accounts tried to maintain a veneer of independence,” Webber says. “They were able to quickly see the forest through the trees and map out an intricate structure of this problematic content, which had the potential to deceive voters.”��

The Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship is a joint University initiative of the  and the .��

“Election ads on social media in the closing weeks of the campaign can be particularly influential, but also difficult in terms of voters’ ability to see whose money and influence is behind them, given lag times in reporting requirements,”says IDJC Kramer Director , a journalist and professor of practice at the Newhouse School.  ��

From Schumer’s official remarks, “I come to the floor today to congratulate ���ϲ�����’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs on its 100th anniversary. One hundred years. A remarkable milestone. A remarkable legacy. A remarkable school.”

Sen. Charles Schumer, right, presents Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke with a copy of the remarks from the official congressional record commemorating Maxwell’s centennial.

Founded in 1924 by George Holmes Maxwell, the Maxwell School today is the top-ranked school for public affairs, according to U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, offering graduate and professional programs in public administration and international affairs, and undergraduate and graduate degrees across the social sciences, including signature interdisciplinary undergraduate programs in citizenship and civic engagement; environment, sustainability and policy; and law, society and policy. It is also home to 15 interdisciplinary research centers focused on topical areas within public affairs.

Schumer continued in his remarks, “The school’s more than 38,500 graduates are living and working across the globe, helping to inform public policy—including key legislation that has come before us here, helping to forge compromise amid divide, bringing aid to those in need and defending democracy.”

Schumer also shared that Maxwell alumni have gone on to become ambassadors, legislators, journalists and economists, with many notable names including former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala G’70, H’87; New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul ’80; ���ϲ����� Mayor Ben Walsh G’05; and former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing ’66, H’06.

“Though it is based in ���ϲ�����, it has a strong presence here in the nation’s capital, offering programs, internship opportunities and world class instruction through a partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies,” Schumer continued. “The Maxwell School’s work supports the foundations and institutions of democracy itself, here and across the globe. This is vital at this time in our world’s history.”

As a guest of Schumer, Van Slyke also toured the Capitol and was able to sit in the gallery as the Senate voted on other matters.

“It was an honor to meet with the senator, and we are thankful that he recognized the Maxwell School’s contribution to our great nation over the past 100 years,” Van Slyke said. “That tribute will be in the official Congressional Record for the next 100 years and beyond. We are delighted to have such a strong supporter of the Maxwell School and ���ϲ����� in Senator Schumer.”

Schumer’s official floor remarks concluded, “I congratulate ���ϲ�����, the Maxwell School, Chancellor Kent Syverud, Maxwell Dean David Van Slyke, and the school’s faculty, students, staff and alumni for everything they do to leave the world better than they found it.”

Born and raised in Argentina, Olivier came to the U.S. for the first time in 2012, when he entered graduate school at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He began the process of applying for U.S. citizenship in 2020.

New U.S. citizens take the pledge of allegiance in the Paul and Natalie Strasser Legacy Room.

At the close of his USCIS interview and exam, Olivier learned that his application for citizenship was approved—and that his naturalization ceremony would be held at the Maxwell School,�� just a couple floors away from his office in Eggers Hall.

The news that the ceremony would be at his workplace came as a surprise, Olivier says, adding, “But it also means a lot, because even though I’ve been here only for a year and a half, I have a deep appreciation for the school and the department. And, it feels right to have my citizenship ceremony at a school of citizenship.”

The recent event marked the first time in Maxwell’s 100-year history that a naturalization ceremony has taken place at the school. Most such proceedings take place in court, but occasionally USCIS sets up events at other locations in the community, and in late summer the ���ϲ����� office reached out to the Maxwell School about hosting the ceremony.

Tomás Olivier, assistant professor of public administration and international affairs, came to the U.S. for the first time in 2012, when he entered graduate school.

Gladys McCormick, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, was one of the event’s coordinators. A native of Costa Rica who became a U.S. citizen 20 years ago, McCormick immediately felt the appropriateness of this occasion—especially in the Maxwell School’s centennial year, which through its Tenth Decade Project has seen a wave of new initiatives relating to citizenship. In the last few years McCormick has also spearheaded the project “A Conversation with George Washington,” which exhibits portraits of citizen activists in the foyer of Maxwell Hall, beside the Washington statue and the inscription of the Athenian Oath.

“For me, the naturalization ceremony ties back into the Athenian Oath,” McCormick says. “There’s a sense of, we have made the U.S. our home, and we are committed to making this country better than it was. That element of choice really underscores the importance of having a ceremony like this.”

On the morning of the ceremony, sunlight streamed into the Paul and Natalie Strasser Legacy Room as it filled with 41 new citizens who’d come from 26 countries and six continents, along with an array of their family members and friends. Olivier was joined by his wife, Claire Perrott, their four-month-old daughter, Sofía, and several of his Maxwell students who came to celebrate the milestone.

The Maxwell connections ran deep throughout the ceremony. The presiding judge, Patrick Radel, commented on the school’s legacy of citizenship education and shared that he has two sons currently at ���ϲ�����, one of whom, Luke Radel ’26, is a Maxwell political science major. Christina Cleason, an administrator in the history department, sang the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.” Adol Mayen, appointed by ���ϲ����� Mayor Ben Walsh ’05 M.P.A. as the city’s immigrant and refugee affairs coordinator, spoke movingly of how her mother’s job with ���ϲ�����’s cleaning staff opened the door for Mayen to attend college and ultimately serve ���ϲ�����’s immigrant communities.

Tomás Olivier, assistant professor of public administration and international affairs, is shown with his daughter, Sofía, and presiding judge Patrick Radel.

The event’s guest speaker was political scientist Baobao Zhang, who is originally from China and became a naturalized citizen in February. “We want to recognize the incredible journey that you and your loved ones have been on to get here today,” Zhang said. “You are not alone on this journey. You are here among many—as you can see from the many naturalized citizens among the Maxwell faculty and staff.”

With those words, numerous members of the audience who’d been through the process themselves rose from their seats.

Along with Judge Radel, Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke congratulated the 41 new citizens as they came to the podium to receive their certificates. “At the Maxwell School, we take the notion of citizenship very seriously,” Van Slyke said in his comments. “It’s in our name and is the core focus of teaching, research and public impact mission.”

Van Slyke said that citizenship can become something of an abstract concept amid such dissection.

“We should never forget how real it is,” he said. “Citizenship is more than a concept; it is a very real, legal status that confers privileges and responsibilities. It is a license to be a full and participating member of the community in which you live and of our great nation. And it is a goal that is well earned.”