Public Administration and International Affairs Department News, Media Commentary and Research
MPA Alumnus Is Changing Lives, One Home at a Time
Andrew Lunetta found his focus at the Maxwell School—now he’s a ‘CNN Hero’ building homes for people who need them most.
Barton Featured in NY Times Article on Liabilities Surrounding the Democratic Socialists of America
“There is some support for the claim that ideologues can more effectively mobilize the base and activate new voters, but they are also more effective at mobilizing opposition,” says Richard Barton, assistant teaching professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Government, Political Parties, U.S. Elections, United States
Maxwell Faculty Scholarship Takes the Spotlight on The Academic Minute
Five Syracuse faculty, including Maxwell professors Ryan Griffiths and Colleen Heflin, share findings on food policy, AI, architecture, political science and marine biology on the nationally broadcast program “The Academic Minute.”
See related: Aging, Food Security, Government, Political Parties, U.S. Health Policy, United States
Burman Talks to Newsweek About Trump’s Capital Gains Tax Proposal
“These are both terrible policy and politics,” says Leonard Burman, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs. The benefits of both would “disproportionately accrue to the wealthiest households,” given the existing distribution of assets in the U.S., he says.
See related: Economic Policy, Federal Government, Taxation, United States
In Memoriam: Louise Gartner Birkhead ’52 M.P.A.
When Louise Gartner Birkhead arrived at the Maxwell School in 1951 to begin a master of public administration degree, she was one of only two women in her class. The education and training she received shaped a career devoted to public service and a lifelong drive to open doors in government for the women who would follow her. Birkhead died July 13 at the age of 97.
See related: In Memoriam
Murrett Speaks With the Guardian, Newsweek About the USS Abraham Lincoln, Extended Navy Deployments
“Deployments of this length put a great deal of pressure on the ship and its crew, with long-term impact on personnel, sustainment of the ship and the turnaround cycle for future deployments,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Conflict, Defense & Security, Government, Mental Health, Middle East & North Africa, United States
The Glass Is Half Full: The Safety Net for Low-Income Women Around Childbirth
Co-authored by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, and Maxwell alumna Hyojeong Kim, the article was published in Demography.
See related: Economic Policy, Income, Labor, Parenting & Family, United States
Nonprofit Organization Management in China: Research and Practice
Jiahuan Lu, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, has co-edited a new research handbook, Nonprofit Organization Management in China: Research and Practice (Routledge, 2026). The volume examines nonprofit management in China through a comparative, organizational lens rather than the state-society framework common in earlier scholarship.
See related: China, Non-governmental Organizations
Maxwell School Announces Faculty Promotions for 2026-27
Four faculty members have received tenure in their promotion to associate professor, while one has been promoted to full professor and another to associate teaching professor.
See related: Promotions & Appointments
Murrett Speaks With CBS News About Reopening Strait of Hormuz, Potential for Military Strikes
“The Iranians have put several other conditions on reopening this [Strait of Hormuz] in addition to the traffic separation scheme that has been put together between Iran and Oman, which may or may not be easy to digest by the White House and other actors,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.
Maxwell School Announces Leadership Changes in Dean’s Office and Academic Programs
Bob Bifulco has joined the dean’s office leadership team and faculty have stepped into new roles guiding the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs and the Law, Society and Policy program.
See related: Promotions & Appointments
O'Keefe Quoted in New York Times Article on Space Debris Falling to Earth
“Humans have a lot of failure of imagination. We just can’t imagine that it will happen to us,” says University Professor Emeritus Sean O'Keefe. “All it’s got to do is show up in a major metropolitan area,” he adds.
See related: Government, Space Exploration
Murrett Speaks with Newsweek about President’s Talk of Massive Attack on Iran
Robert Murrett told Newsweek that President’s talk of "massive attack" on Iran likely means "a dramatically escalated air campaign." Murrett added, "I don't see any evidence of large deployments of ground forces, or indicators that any kind of significant ground activity would take place."
See related: Conflict, Defense & Security, International Affairs, Middle East & North Africa
Murrett Discusses Ukraine’s Drone Capabilities With DW News
Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, says he isn't terribly surprised by the long-range drone capabilities that Ukraine has been able to develop based on “the technology that Ukraine has brought to the battle so far and their ability to pivot very quickly and to do both short-range, medium-range and now long-range strikes over the vastness of the Russian land mass.”
See related: Conflict, Defense & Security, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
Murrett Discusses ‘New Phase’ in the US-Iran War With CBS News and Newsweek
“I think we're in a tit-for-tat right now, which it actually represents a new phase of the conflict between the United States and Iran. Certainly, we're on our fifth consecutive day of strikes, which seem to be getting more aggressive on both sides,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Conflict, Government, International Affairs, Middle East & North Africa, United States
Heflin Article Urging States to Measure Food Insecurity Published in Health Affairs Forefront
As they prepare to field the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2027, states can secure the important data necessary to guide policy and resource choices related to food security, writes Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.
Heflin Discusses SNAP Payment Errors in Newsweek Article
Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, says it is important to note that “since a large portion of these errors are outside the control of the agencies [because they have to work with the information that clients provide], it will be difficult to bring down these errors without needlessly burdening all SNAP recipients.”
See related: Economic Policy, Federal Government, Food Security, Nutrition, United States
How Does SNAP Access Prior to Pregnancy Affect Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes?
The article, co-authored Sarah Hamersma, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, and Ph.D. student Mitchell McFarlane, was published in The Milbank Quarterly.
See related: Food Security, Labor, Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition, U.S. Health Policy, United States
Lopoo Speaks to Stateline About Changes to the Title X Program to Promote Childbearing
Leonard Lopoo, professor of public administration and international affairs, says the federal government could help families achieve their family planning goals by expanding pregnancy prevention and infertility treatments at all income levels.
Excerpt From Lopoo’s New Book ‘Wanting Children’ Published in ARC Magazine
In the book, Leonard M. Lopoo, professor, chair and associate dean of public administration and international affairs, traces how America’s first reproductive policies were shaped by eugenicists focused on limiting births among lower-income and minority populations.
See related: Government, Parenting & Family, United States