Centers, Institutes, and Initiatives

Centers, Institutes, and Multidisciplinary Research Initiatives

Maxwell’s unique strength derives from its multidisciplinary approach to the study of contemporary policy issues. Within the school’s research units, you will find faculty scholars and practitioners with expertise across the full spectrum of social sciences and public affairs specialties analyzing and problem solving alongside our students.

From aging, population, and public health, to the environment, conflict resolution, and the governance of autonomous systems, Maxwell faculty and students engage in the sort of silo-busting work that is essential to developing solutions and educating tomorrow’s effective leaders.

Aging Studies Institute

Promoting aging-related research, training, and outreach. Co-sponsored with SU’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

Autonomous Systems Policy Institute

Advancing knowledge and teaching in the field of autonomous systems by exploring new frontiers in policy, law and governance of these fast-expanding technologies.

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

Serving a better understanding of contemporary challenges in democratic governance — particularly, the idea of citizenship, its evolution, and the conditions under which it thrives.

Center for Environmental Policy and Administration

Exploring environmental issues from an integrated perspective that considers technical, social, and humanistic aspects.

Center for Policy Research

A home for domestic policy concerns — among them health studies, econometrics, public education, public finance, social welfare, poverty and income security, and urban and regional studies.

Institute for the Study of the Judiciary, Politics, and the Media

Assessing the ways in which judicial independence is established and maintained. Co-sponsored with SU’s College of Law and with the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion

Dedicated to creating public health programs that are motivating, sustainable, and effective replicated in community and national prevention programs.

Maxwell X Lab

Leveraging behavioral science and randomized controlled trials in partnerships with the public and nonprofit sector to build evidence for what works.

Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs

Facilitating research on issues raised by an increasingly interdependent world and studies challenges to the quality of governance worldwide.

Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration

Dedicated to the enhancement of knowledge about social conflicts and to collaborative governance and collaborative problem solving.

Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law

Educating and inspiring the next generation of national security thought leaders and practitioners, through interdisciplinary research, teaching, public service, and policy analysis. Co-sponsored with the SU College of Law.
Formerly known as the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT).

Research News

Heflin research on housing insecurity cited in Common Dreams article
Professor Colleen Heflin's co-authored Lerner Center research brief, "Housing Insecurity During the Coronavirus Response," was cited in the Common Dreams article, "New York to Offer Undocumented Migrants Up to $15,600 in Pandemic Relief." Heflin and co-author Lauryn Quick found that from late April through mid-July, nearly one in five households in New York state and 22% in the New York City metropolitan area reported not being able to afford last month's housing payment.

Faricy research cited in Forbes article on American Rescue Plan
"The Other Side of the Coin: Public Opinion toward Social Tax Expenditures" (Russel Sage Foundation, 2021), co-authored by Christopher Faricy, associate professor of political science, was cited in the Forbes article, "Making The Most Of A Crisis, Biden Links Recovery And Tax Reform." Faricy and co-author Christopher Ellis (Bucknell University) have judged the American Rescue Plan to be "the largest expansion to the American welfare state in a generation."

Sultana study examines overlapping crises of climate change, COVID-19
"Climate change, COVID-19, and the co-production of injustices: a feminist reading of overlapping crises," authored by Farhana Sultana, was published in Social & Cultural Geography. Sultana, associate professor of geography and the environment, argues that an intersectional analysis of the overlapping but uneven global crises produced by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the importance of investigating and addressing them simultaneously through a feminist lens. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of the co-production of injustices structurally, materially and discursively.

Wiemers study on COVID-19 risk factors, protective behaviors published
"Association Between Risk Factors for Complications From COVID-19, Perceived Chances of Infection and Complications, and Protective Behavior in the US," co-authored by Associate Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs Emily Wiemers, was published in JAMA Network Open. In their cross-sectional survey study, the authors found that adults with risk factors for COVID-19 complications reported higher perceived susceptibility to complications. They also found that during common activities, including visiting with friends, the majority of adults, including the highly susceptible, did not consistently wear masks.

Monnat examines opioid misuse, family structure in new study
"Opioid misuse and family structure: Changes and continuities in the role of marriage and children over two decades," co-authored by Lerner Chair for Health Promotion Shannon Monnat, was published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. The authors found that married young adults and those with children have a lower probability of prescription opioid misuse and heroin use.

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Faculty Experts
Our faculty are available to speak about a wide range of issues, including tax policy, trade, foreign affairs, immigration, education, social welfare, and the environment, among others.
To find an expert, use our online directory to search by keyword topic or issue .

Centers, Institutes, and Multidisciplinary Research Initiatives

Research News

Faculty Experts