Public Administration and International Affairs Department News, Media Commentary and Research
O’Keefe and Lambright Weigh In on Trump’s Pick to Lead NASA in The Observer and Scientific American
“The job is a leadership role, where your task is to motivate people from wide-ranging, different disciplines to come together to define the problem as the same and then go about trying to solve it through multiple avenues. Everything I’ve heard about him certainly suggests that he’s got a lot of talent and capability to make him the ideal person,” says University Professor Emeritus Sean O'Keefe.
See related: Federal Government, Space Exploration, United States
Is AI Replacing Human Mental Health Professionals?
See related: United States
Can Schools Sustain the Rising Cost of Retiree Health Care?
See related: United States
Murrett Speaks With CBS News About Russia's Position on the Peace Proposal With Ukraine
See related: Conflict, Government, International Affairs, International Agreements, Russia, Ukraine
Public Health: A Vital Addition to Maxwell
The department’s transition from Falk College fuels collaboration across disciplines, strengthens research centers, and establishes a hub for population and public health sciences.
See related: School History, Student Experience
Jiahuan Lu Weighs In on Challenges facing US-Based Charities in WalletHub Article
“As government—especially federal—support recedes, competition for philanthropic dollars and other revenue sources is likely to intensify significantly,” says Jiahuan Lu, associate professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Economic Policy, Government, United States
Maxwell Experts Unpack the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
A recent State of Democracy lecture offered varying perspectives from Maxwell faculty members Brynt Parmeter, Leonard Burman and Colleen Heflin in a discussion led by Chris Faricy, director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute.
See related: Congress, Federal Government, Government, Student Experience, United States
Celebrating Hometown Heroes
From graduate school classmates to leaders in veteran advocacy, Tom Caruso and Josh Keefe are recognized for their dedication to veterans and their lasting impact on Syracuse University.
See related: Alumni Experience, Student Experience, Veterans
Heflin Discusses SNAP Funding With ABC News, Newsweek, PolitiFact and USA Today
“The stress that families are facing throughout the country is tremendous, not knowing how they’re going to feed their families,” says Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Federal Government, Food Security, Nutrition, United States
Understanding Factors Associated with 911 and 988 Use in Mental Health Crises
Co-authored by Public Administration and International Affairs professors Michiko Ueda-Ballmer and Colleen Heflin, the study was published in Community Mental Health Journal.
See related: Mental Health, United States
Suicide Deaths Among Informal Caregivers in an Aging Society
The study, authored by Michiko Ueda-Ballmer, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in Public Health.
See related: Aging, Child & Elder Care, East Asia, Longevity
Murrett Talks to CBS News About Trump’s Order to Resume US Nuclear Weapons Testing
“There's no question there would be some value to having to have some testing of our weapons, especially some of the new developments we've had recently. But it's how you do that and how extensive the testing is something that's open to question,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Federal Government, International Affairs, U.S. National Security, United States
Why Aren’t More People Calling 988 for Mental Health Crises?
See related: United States
Heflin Speaks With Newsweek About the Impact of Delayed SNAP Benefits
“22.4 million households across America will be disrupted if the benefits are not disbursed on time. And the total impact of the delay in SNAP benefits will ripple throughout the local economy,” says Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Federal Government, Food Security, State & Local Government, United States
New AI Policy Minor to Grapple with Analytical, Practical and Ethical Questions
Taught by a team of faculty experts, the minor is offered to undergraduates from across the University starting this academic year.
See related: Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy, Ethics, Government, School History, Student Experience, United States
Heflin Discusses Data on Food Insecurity Status, Cuts to SNAP With The Hill, Grist and Marketplace
“Monitoring the nation’s food security status is important in its own right and also because food insecurity is associated with a variety of negative health outcomes,” says Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Federal Government, Food Security, United States
Understanding International Security: Theory and Practice
Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, has co-authored a new book, Understanding International Security: Theory and Practice (Cambridge University Press, 2025). The book explores the meanings and debates around international security, with chapters addressing war, terrorism, violence, cyber security, health and more.
See related: Global Governance, Government, International Affairs, NATO
Williams Piece on the Strategic Insights from a China–Taiwan Wargame Published in War on the Rocks
“The invasion scenarios that dominate U.S. military planning—involving massive amphibious assaults on Taiwan and preemptive strikes on American bases—may fundamentally misread Beijing’s calculus,” writes Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: China, Conflict, East Asia, Government, International Affairs
APPAM Policy Camp Draws Aspiring Public Servants to Learn More About Public Affairs
Undergraduates and recent alumni interested in public service spent a day at the Maxwell School attending sessions, discussing policymaking processes and growing their network.
See related: Alumni Experience, Student Experience
Community-Based Food Program Limits in Reducing Older Adult Food Insecurity
See related: United States