Maxwell School alumna Denise Kalette got her first byline at age 12, under a poem titled “The Poor Taxpayer” that she submitted to her local newspaper. In a few paragraphs of playful prose, she drew attention to an issue that seemed far beyond her years—the financial plight of many working-class Americans.

Two years later, in 1960, Kalette sent a letter to the White House that elicited a response from Vice President Richard Nixon. “I am glad to know you are taking an active interest in our government and its elected officials,” Nixon wrote, “and I trust that you will continue this excellent foundation for good citizenship.”

Given Kalette’s love of writing and unwavering support for the underdog, it was no surprise to her loved ones that she would go on to become a highly accomplished journalist. Over more than four decades she covered a wide range of topics, from the Olympics in Seoul to corruption in a county jail. She especially loved writing profiles of American heroes such as Sally Ride—the first American woman in space, and ordinary citizens facing extraordinary circumstances.

“What she was able to do was a result of her own drive, her persistence,” said her brother, Edward L. Chapman. “She had this innate sense of right and wrong about things and always had this place in her head and heart for everyday people.”

Kalette passed away in 2021. To honor her legacy and support Maxwell students who are involved with the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship (IDJC), Chapman and sister Dorothy Blackmon gifted $50,000 to establish the Denise F. Kalette ’68 IDJC Memorial Fund. Maxwell students who are involved with research and engaged in programming at the Washington, D.C.-based institute can apply for a one-time award ranging from $1,200 to $5,000.

“Denise’s career in journalism was inspired by her interest in helping people connect with one another in hopes of building mutual understanding,” said Chapman.  “She knew the media’s important role in a well-informed public to help support a healthy democracy. We know that if she were here today, she would wholeheartedly support the IDJC, and especially the students who are engaged with it.” 

Blackmon added, “Denise enjoyed her time at Maxwell and found it extremely beneficial for her path in life, and we hope it will provide the same value to other students.”

Launched in 2022, the IDJC is a joint initiative of the Maxwell School and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. It promotes nonpartisan, evidence-based research and dialogue in the public interest and strives to create new knowledge, foster a more informed and engaged citizenry and equip students for success.

“I am incredibly grateful to have received the award. It gave me the financial support I needed to fully take advantage of my unpaid internship without worrying about additional expenses,” said Rebecca Akinwale, one of the first three award recipients.

Akinwale, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in May 2025, participated in events and programming at the IDJC while interning in the U.S. Capitol during her senior year. The experiences furthered her interest in a career that combines public policy and diplomacy with media literacy.

“Throughout my time at Syracuse, I’ve explored how media and civic engagement can help build public trust in institutions,” said Akinwale. “Misinformation is one of the biggest challenges in today’s digital age—it can have serious consequences for underserved communities.”

Fellow award recipient Mikah Bein hopes to work in diplomacy with a focus on the Middle East and its relationship with the U.S. She is a rising senior and an 1870 Scholar who is majoring in international relations as well as environment, sustainability and policy.

Like Akinwale, Bein interned at the Capitol this spring while collaborating with peers and instructors at the IDJC, including visiting fellow Andrew Weinstein, former U.S. public delegate to the United Nations. “This semester was more than an academic experience, it was real-world experiences that I will carry with me to the future,” she said. “I am extremely grateful to have received the award, and to have been taught by incredibly intelligent and successful educators.”

The third recipient, Gëdza'nyö Tháh Jimerson, is a psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences who participated in the Maxwell-in-Washington program in the spring while exploring the law, society and policy integrated learning major. She participated in IDJC events and field trips, engaging with Kramer Director Margaret Talev and Research Director Johanna Dunaway, professor of political science. Jimerson said, “It was absolutely amazing.”

“This support for our students allows them to focus on their coursework and unique experiences in Washington, D.C.,” said Dunaway. “We’re grateful to the family of Denise Kalette and truly honored to help keep her incredible legacy alive with this award.”

Kalette’s siblings said her compassion and concern for others was likely rooted in their childhood travails. Due to their parents’ financial struggles, the five children were split up for a few years, in foster care and at a local Catholic orphanage.

Chapman said Kalette questioned the strict rule-based structure of the orphanage and the nuns who oversaw her care.  “She was always about the ‘why’ and ‘what are our options?’” he said. “She was always a good student.”

In high school, Kalette began writing for local newspapers that included the Syracuse Herald-American and Herald-Journal, and the Post Standard. After graduation, despite her parents’ protest, she backpacked through Europe. The trip was a formative experience that would support her future career. She forged a lifelong friendship with a family she stayed with in Switzerland, gained a global perspective and became fluent in German and French.

Back in the states, Kalette spent freshman year at Hiram College before transferring to Maxwell, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1968. She continued writing for the local papers about all manner of topics—from local government meetings to a magic show.

In the early 1970s, Kalette distinguished herself as a full-time investigative and features reporter for The Bremerton Sun near Seattle. She exposed corruption and abuse after going undercover as an inmate in a local jail. Later, as a special correspondent for The Washington Post and the Associated Press, she traveled the world, working in Geneva, Budapest and Paris, to name just a few. As a national features writer for USA Today, she interviewed Ride as well as General Chuck Yeager.

Kalette was pleased to join Ronald and Nancy Reagan on their last day in the White House. She was also honored to meet with the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana.

Chapman and Blackmon found the invitation to meet with Charles and Diana while looking through their late sister’s keepsakes. They also found the letter from Nixon, the poem published in 1958, numerous carefully clipped articles, and several laminated press passes—including one from a brief stint in broadcast news with a Denver station.

“Though she never pursued awards for her work, Denise received a variety of recognition and accolades during her decades as a journalist,” Blackmon said, noting that she was on a team nominated for a Pulitzer in 1988 and in 1991, and a series she wrote on Indigenous people in Washington state was read into the Congressional Record. “She often told us that her work was her refuge, and that was evident in the vast array of articles she published throughout her career.”

In retirement, Kalette settled in Atlanta, Georgia, and delved into creative writing. She had been working on a memoir about working in Europe while discovering her connection to Jewish family members who lived and struggled in central Europe until World War II. 

Chapman and Blackmon are pleased to support current students while honoring their sister’s remarkable life. 

“Throughout her journalist career, Denise’s process was to pursue the details and frame them in a relevant manner to deliver her reader the full coherent story behind the headline,” Chapman said. “Giving her stories depth and making them relatable was the backbone of her success and why her work was so well regarded by senior staff and the public alike.”

By Jessica Youngman