Alumni News

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A Pledge to Transform Education

A gift by Ben ’84 and Marcia Baldanza ’86 inspires a joint initiative aimed at closing the achievement gap by diversifying teachers. 

November 8, 2021

See related: Giving, U.S. Education

Maxwell supports local government at ICMA conference

Student, faculty and alumni participation at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) conference in early October highlights the Maxwell School's continued and strengthened focus on training for and collaborating with state and local governments.
October 27, 2021

See related: State & Local

Couple’s Gift Seeks to Ease the Burden of First-Generation Students

Kenneth ’80 and Mindy Sosne ’81 have pledged $100,000 to establish an endowed scholarship at their alma mater. The Kenneth and Mindy Sosne Scholarship will be awarded to first-generation students at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. “We’ve made a path for ourselves, professionally and financially, and now we want to give back,” says Mindy. “We want to make others’ lives easier.”
October 22, 2021

See related: Giving

Public Housing Violence Research Earns Top Honor

Madeleine ‘Maddy’ Hamlin, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in geography at the Maxwell School, was one of 8 doctoral students to have been named an H.F. Guggenheim Emerging Scholar. The $25,000 award supports and recognizes promising graduate-student researchers in their final year of writing a doctoral dissertation.
October 20, 2021

See related: Awards & Honors, Crime & Violence, Housing, Student Experience

Alumna Amy Donahue Named Provost of US Coast Guard Academy

Donahue ’96 M.P.A./’00 Ph.D. (PA) serves as the principal adviser to the superintendent in all matters relating to the academic program and faculty.
September 29, 2021

See related: Awards & Honors, Veterans

In Memoriam: Joseph Strasser, ‘Forever an Important Figure in our History’

He was among the Maxwell School’s most generous benefactors.

September 27, 2021

See related: Giving, In Memoriam

Alumni Spotlight: Alex Lynch '16 Brings Maxwell Lessons to the NYPD

He credits his citizenship and civic engagement senior action plan with shaping the course of his professional career.
September 21, 2021

See related: Crime & Violence, New York City, Student Experience

MPA grad turned Excelsior Fellow: 'It’s an honor to work with the state'

Ari Epstein ’14 M.P.A. was accepted into New York’s two-year Excelsior Service Fellowship Program.
September 20, 2021

See related: New York State, State & Local

Lisa Gordon '90 MPA to be honored at Orange Circle Awards ceremony

Lisa Y. Gordon ’90 M.P.A., president and chief executive officer of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, is among the 2021 Orange Circle Award winners honored during Coming Back Together 2021.
September 2, 2021

See related: Awards & Honors

At Maxwell, NY’s 57th Governor Was ‘All Competence and Hard Work’

Kathy Hochul ’80 B.A. (PSc) is the first woman to hold the state’s highest office. 

August 28, 2021

See related: New York State, State & Local

Feeding the Next Generation

Catherine Bertini has guided many students to the World Food Programme, the United Nations organization honored with a Nobel Peace Prize. 
July 27, 2021

See related: Awards & Honors, Food Security, Student Experience, Study Abroad

Student Spotlight: Compassion for Community

Senior scholar Lia Chabot ’21 B.S. (Econ/CCE) combines academic interests with real-world experiences and activism in pursuing goals.
July 21, 2021

See related: Awards & Honors, Housing, Student Experience

A Call to be ‘Audacious and Bold’

Maxwell's advisory board has a vital role in guiding the School's efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion.
July 20, 2021

See related: Civil Rights, Race & Ethnicity

Gift Honors Professor, Seeks to Broaden Connections to Asia

Yang Ni ’95 and his wife, Xiaoqing Li ’96 have donated $150,000 to establish a scholarship fund in memory of Manfred Stanley, professor emeritus of sociology. They’ve also given $350,000 to Maxwell to establish the Yang Ni and   Xiaoqing Li Endowment Fund for U.S.-China/Asia Relations to encourage greater connections between Maxwell faculty and scholars in China and Asia. 
July 14, 2021

See related: China, Giving

Alumni Spotlight: Into the Fray

Carolyn Bourdeaux ’03 Joins Congress Days Before Capitol Riot
July 12, 2021

See related: Congress, Elections, Government, U.S. Elections

Alumna Oversees Students in NYS Assembly Where She Once Interned

Vanessa Salman ’17 B.A. (PSc) found her experience as an intern with the New York State legislature so powerful she returned for a full-time position after graduating from Maxwell.
June 23, 2021

See related: New York State, State & Local

Laurence promoted to professor of management at the University of Michigan

Gregory Laurence ’04 M.A.I.R. is now a professor of management at the University of Michigan-Flint School of Management. He has also been named director of graduate studies, Center of Japanese Studies, at Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus.
June 2, 2021

See related: Promotions & Appointments

Executive Education grad serves on panel merging mental health, addiction services

Lisa Hoeschele ’03 M.A. (PA) recently served on a committee guiding a merger of NY's Office of Mental Health and Office of Addiction Services and Supports.
May 17, 2021

See related: Addiction, Health Policy, Mental Health, State & Local, United States

Excelsior Fellowship leads to career with New York's Public Safety Office

Charlene Cordero '17 M.P.A./M.A.I.R. landed the job in September 2019 after two years as a New York Excelsior Fellow.
April 6, 2021

See related: Awards & Honors, New York State, Promotions & Appointments, State & Local, Student Experience

Maxwell alumni, student honored with 2021 American Society for Public Administration awards

Several Maxwell alumni and one current online EMPA student are among the award honorees.
March 11, 2021

See related: Awards & Honors, Student Experience

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