Public Administration and International Affairs Department News, Media Commentary and Research
Heflin Weighs In on Trump Admin’s Cancellation of Annual Hunger Survey in Wall Street Journal Piece
“Not having this measure for 2025 is particularly troubling given the current rise in inflation and deterioration of labor market conditions, two conditions known to increase food insecurity,” ” says Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Federal Government, Food Security, United States
In Memoriam: George Marotta
Marotta ’50 B.A. (PSc)/’51 M.P.A. is considered an architect of the Peace Corps, established by the U.S. government in 1961 to assist developing countries by providing skilled workers in fields such as education, health, entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment and community development. He died July 26 at the age of 98 in Palo Alto, California.
See related: In Memoriam
Brynt Parmeter Joins Maxwell as Phanstiel Chair in Leadership
The decorated U.S. Army veteran and former Department of Defense executive brings deep expertise in leadership, workforce transformation and innovation.
See related: Promotions & Appointments
Budget Tradeoffs Shape Food Insecurity Among U.S. Older Adults
See related: United States
Policy Recommendations to Reduce Old Age Food Insecurity in the United States
The current policy responses to old age food insecurity are complex, costly, and not nearly effective enough. Based on the book, Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adults Food Insecurity, this brief summarizes five policy recommendations to improve food insecurity among U.S. older adults.
See related: United States
Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity
Written by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, and University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer, the book examines the issue of food insecurity among older adults in the United States.
See related: Aging, Food Security, Nutrition, U.S. Health Policy, United States
Student Veteran Anthony Ruscitto Honored as a Tillman Scholar
Ruscitto ’23 M.P.A. is a two-time Syracuse graduate and a rising second-year law student in the College of Law. When he graduates, he plans to provide legal aid to his fellow veterans. Ruscitto’s passion for service and helping veterans is one of the reasons he was recently recognized as a 2025 Tillman Scholar by the Pat Tillman Foundation.
See related: Academic Scholarships, Alumni Experience
Which Public Values are Most Important?
The study, co-authored by Minjung Kim, assistant professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in the American Review of Public Administration.
See related: Government, United States
Maxwell School Announces Faculty Promotions for 2025-26
See related: Promotions & Appointments
Heartfelt Gift Recognizes Accomplished Alumna and Three Generations of Orange
William Pelton and Mary Jane Massie have created the Barringer Pelton Public Service Graduate Scholarship to honor their niece, Jody Barringer ’08 M.P.A., and support future public servants.
See related: Academic Scholarships, Alumni Experience, Giving, Student Experience
New $1M Gift to Build Bridges and Create Global Map to Enhance Democracies
See related: Giving
Evaluating Conflict, Interest Advancement, and Representation in Collaborative Governance
"Evaluating Conflict, Interest Advancement, and Representation in Collaborative Governance," co-authored by CPDG Faculty Affiliate Graham Ambrose, Siwei Li, Ali Mohamed Ali Salman Yusuf, and CPDG Director Saba Siddiki, was published in Public Administration on July 31, 2025.
See related: Government, Research Methods
Renowned Health Economist Joins Maxwell as Moynihan Chair
John Cawley specializes in the economics of risky health behaviors and has been widely published in journals and covered by the media.
See related: Giving, Longevity, Nutrition, Promotions & Appointments, School History, Taxation, U.S. Health Policy
Trends in Breast Cancer Screening between Medicare Beneficiaries with and without Food Insecurity
Published in AJPM Focus, the study was co-authored by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Food Security, United States
In Memoriam: Patricia Ingraham
Patricia Wallace Ingraham, a longtime Maxwell School faculty member who, among many accomplishments, was founding director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and the first woman to be named a distinguished professor. Ingraham passed away on June 22, 2025. She was 82.
See related: In Memoriam
Williams Quoted in Los Angeles Times Article on the Challenges Trumps Faces in Gaza and Ukraine
Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, says that Trump has advocated for a ceasefire in Ukraine “at the expense of other strategic priorities such as stability in Europe and punishment of Russia through increased aid to Ukraine.”
Banks Talks With CNN About Trump Taking Over DC Police and Deploying National Guard
“They have to respect the constitutional rights of the people so they can’t intimidate, they can’t search and seize without a reasonable suspicion of criminal wrongdoing,” says William Banks, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs, about federal takeover of law enforcement in Washington, D.C.
See related: Conflict, Federal Government, U.S. National Security, Washington, D.C.
Nell Bartkowiak Named Maxwell School’s Assistant Dean of Online Programs
Bartkowiak will lead existing online graduate programs and take charge of the school’s long-term plan to expand remote offerings.
See related: Promotions & Appointments
Murrett Talks to Newsweek About Trump’s 50-Day Ceasefire Deadline for Russia
Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, says that since Trump's announcement, there is scant evidence that Putin and the Kremlin had modified their maximalist demands—for Ukrainian territory, disarmament and an absence of security guarantees.
See related: Conflict, Defense & Security, Federal Government, International Affairs, Russia, Tariffs, Ukraine, United States
Barton Discusses Gerrymandering, Uncompetitive Elections With GD Politics and Washington Post
“In theory, what we want is the election that really decides who is going to serve in government to be one that was a higher-turnout election where campaigns, candidates, platforms, policies made some sort of difference in the outcome,” says Assistant Teaching Professor Richard Barton. “But most of those general elections are just not competitive, and they’re not consequential.”
See related: Congress, Political Parties, State & Local Government, U.S. Elections, United States