Maxwell Class Notes

received the Max Crawford Medal, awarded by the Australian Academy of the Humanities, for her research on the role of media and technology in military conflicts. Boichak, a Ukrainian-born media scholar, was also recently named a 2025 Westpac Research Fellow, receiving funding for new research in digital security.

was named to Buffalo Business First’s 2024 Power 100 Business Leaders of Color for the third year in a row. He is a partner at the law firm Goldberg Segalla, and is also the founder and president of Bunkers in Baghdad, a nonprofit that collects and sends golf equipment to U.S. troops and veterans worldwide to aid in recreation and rehabilitation from injuries.

began a new position as the senior director of development for the Maxwell School. She previously served as chief development officer at the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse. With a background in sales and marketing, Shires held positions with Bell’s Brewery, Duvel Moortgat USA and Coca-Cola Enterprises.

is the president and executive director of The Concord Coalition and Concord Action. Based in Arlington, Va., the nonprofit organizations focus on educating citizens on fiscal debt and the economy. Bourdeaux served as a congressional representative for Georgia from 2021-23. 

released a new book, Not the Same River (Atmosphere Press, 2024). The book is a collection of fiction stories, centered around diverse characters and places. Polf previously served in the New York State Legislature and spent 35 years in the Columbia University–Presbyterian Hospital system.

recently co-authored “The European Union and the United States: Competition, Convergence and Crisis in the Global Arena” (Bloomsbury Press, 2024) with Michael Smith and Jost Morgenstern-Pomorski. Guay is an associate dean for international programs at Pennsylvania State University.

serves as the national president of the Irish American Unity Conference. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington, D.C., with chapters around the nation advocating for the unity of Ireland. Kissel’s position involves working with Congress, particularly the Friends of Ireland Caucus, and publishing articles and letters in various media outlets.

is a volunteer and president of the Queens B’nai B’rith House, a 190-unit apartment complex for seniors in Queens, N.Y. He previously worked as an attorney and title insurance executive for First American Title Insurance Company.

was recently promoted to vice president of government affairs for The Durst Organization, a commercial and residential real estate company in New York City. His previous positions include deputy chief of staff for Congressman Charles B. Rangel.