Alumni News

A new scholarship, funded by alumni Sarah Laditka '94 M.A./'95 Ph.D. and Jim Laditka '98 M.P.A./'02 Ph.D. (PA), provides scholarships for undergraduates in all the social sciences, with preference to first-generation college students and others from under-represented groups. "Our Maxwell educations opened many doors for us. We hope the students who are supported by this scholarship will have similar opportunities,” the Laditkas said in a joint statement.

“For more than 90 years, the way forward for our country has come from the prestigious Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and it has been embodied by Syracuse University professors," said civil rights lawyer Vernon E. Jordan Jr., in his Commencement Address at the Syracuse University All University Commencement.

SparkCharge executive Josh Aviv, who holds a BA in Economics from Maxwell, installed charging stations for electric vehicles on campus at two locations.

Through its Turns for Troops program, United Rentals will donate $50 to SoldierStrong, co-founded by Chris Meek '92 BA (PSc/Econ), for every lap Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Honda, completes during the 2017 season.

Steve Hagerty ’93 M.P.A., a businessman in Evanston, Illinois, was recently elected mayor of that city, running as a first-time candidate for public office. 

The annual statewide New York Business Plan Competition offers the largest prizes of any student business competition in the world—a total of $160,000 was awarded at this year’s competition.

Charles Willie '57 Ph.D. (soc), former chair of sociology, received the Chancellor’s Citation Lifetime Achievement Award at the One University Awards ceremony.

Prior to his current role with FEMA, from 2013-2017, Heighberger was deputy staff director for the House Homeland Security Committee. He has also held other roles at FEMA; during the George W. Bush Administration he served as deputy director for legislative affairs, and later as advisor to former administrator David Paulison and deputy administrator Harvey Johnson.

Salkin '97 M.P.A., senior vice president of city solutions at 100 Resilient Cities, talks about how the organization, pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation, helps urban leaders develop resilience strategies and share information across a diverse network of cities.

“It is amazing, of course, to see something I worked on for a year come to fruition. It is even more gratifying to know it is something that will help SU become more sustainable and subsequently make the world a little better!," says Elizabeth Hayes '16 B.A. (Geog/CCE). Her research for the Citizenship and Civic Engagement degree's senior Capstone Project provided the legwork for the SU Bookstore's reusable bag program.

Chris Meek '92 B.A. (PSc/Econ) is the co-founder and Chairman of SoldierStrong, an organization that provides state-of-the-art medical devices and scholarships to troops and returning veterans. 

Jack Manno G’03, professor of environmental studies at SUNY ESF and a faculty affiliate in Syracuse's Native American Studies program contends that, as a new political regime gets underway in the United States, the need for an effective governance system—one in step with climate change and the environment—is imperative.

"This ban leaves thousands of our wartime allies to fend for themselves against the very enemies we asked them to fight," writes Maxwell alumnus Matt Zeller, co-founder and CEO of No One Left Behind. "We are permanently harming the fabric of U.S. national security. Our credibility is forever tarnished if not eroded."

Camilla Campisi '05 M.A. (IR) was one of eight midcareer professionals recruited to the Empire State Fellowship, which aims to recruit private sector employees to join the next generation of state government leaders and policy makers.