In Memoriam: Edwin Bock
Bock, professor emeritus of political science and public administration and international affairs, taught at Maxwell for more than 30 years. He died on July 28, 2025, in Syracuse. He was 103.
See related: In Memoriam
PhD Candidates’ Work Recognized by American Political Science Association
Jingding Wang, Hannah Radner and Nicholas D’Amico were honored in recognition of their research on citizenship, government and politics.
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
How Commerce Became Legal: Merchants and Market Governance in Nineteenth-Century Egypt
Omar Cheta, assistant professor of history, has written How Commerce Became Legal: Merchants and Market Governance in Nineteenth-Century Egypt (Stanford University Press, 2025). The book explores Egypt’s adoption of a new infrastructure of commercial laws and institutions following the country’s opening to private capital in the 1840s.
See related: Economic Policy, Labor, Middle East & North Africa, Trade
Failure. Russia Under Putin
Brian Taylor, professor of political science, contributed a chapter to the recently published book Failure. Russia Under Putin (Bloomsbury, 2025). He is one of multiple authors who share their views on Russia’s failures under the leadership of Vladimir Putin.
See related: International Affairs, Russia, United States
How Maxwell Alum Chris Meek Honors the Victims and Survivors of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
Inspired by the bravery of the first responders, Meek dedicated his life to giving back to our soldiers and to preserving the memory of those who died that day. He launched the 9/11 Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to educate, commemorate and inspire action by telling the stories of the survivors, first responders and the families of those lost.
See related: Alumni Experience
Maxwell Partners With VA Medical Center, Instacart to Bring Healthy Food to Local Veterans
With a grant-funded study, Colleen Heflin and the Maxwell X Lab are hoping to determine whether greater access to nutritious food leads to health improvements over time.
See related: Food Security, Grant Awards, Health Policy, Longevity, New York State, Nutrition, Student Experience
Bosnian Fluxes, Belonging, Caring, and Reckoning in a Post-Cold War Semiperiphery
Azra Hromadžić, professor and undergraduate director for anthropology, has contributed to a recently published book, Bosnian Fluxes: Belonging, Caring, and Reckoning in a Post-Cold War Semiperiphery (Routledge, 2025).
See related: Europe
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
Baobao Zhang Awarded NSF CAREER Grant to Study Generative AI in the Workplace
$567,491 from the National Science Foundation will support groundbreaking work on how generative AI is reshaping productivity, satisfaction and skill development.
See related: Autonomous Systems, Awards & Honors, Labor, United States
New CCE Office and Programming Aims to Fuel Engagement for More Students
This fall, the Maxwell School is opening a new Civic and Community Engagement (CCE) Office that will enhance and expand access to experiential learning across the school. In addition to classes and community involvement opportunities, the office will oversee a new CCE minor.
See related: School History, Student Experience
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
Maxwell Welcomes International Professionals for Program Aimed at Combating Drug Trafficking
The school’s Executive Education program and Public Health Department will co-host a Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship Program.
See related: Crime & Violence, Defense & Security, Global Governance, Government, Law, School History
In Memoriam: Frederick D. Marquardt
Marquardt taught in the Maxwell History Department until his retirement, when he was granted emeritus status. He was an expert on German social history with a special interest in the history of German workers and catechisms, the texts that were used to instruct young Catholics in church doctrine. He passed away on July 10 at the age of 85.
See related: In Memoriam
Forging New Paths: Central Asian Student Embodies Maxwell’s Expanding Global Reach
The new and expanded MOUs with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will pave the way for more students and scholars to build skills and develop their home nations.
See related: Central Asia, International Affairs, School History, Student Experience
New $1M Gift to Build Bridges and Create Global Map to Enhance Democracies
See related: Giving
The Last Door: A History of Torture in Mexico's War against Subversives
Gladys McCormick, associate dean and professor of history, has written a new book, The Last Door: A History of Torture in Mexico's War against Subversives (University of California Press, 2025). The book explores how the Mexican government increasingly used torture to suppress dissent as guerrilla movements spread across Mexico in the 1970s.
See related: Crime & Violence, Federal, International Affairs, Latin America & the Caribbean
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