Dear alumni and friends, 

As I write this, the fall semester is in full swing with a busy schedule of on- and off-campus alumni activities. First on Maxwell‘s calendar this season was an alumni event held in Columbus, Ohio, coinciding with the 2022 Annual Conference of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), an organization of professional city and county managers and local government professionals.

Maxwell has a legacy of producing local government leaders and has long been well-represented within ICMA. Our alumni working in city and county management frequently attend or speak at annual, regional and state conferences, and informal alumni gatherings occur regularly thanks to the organizing efforts of alumni volunteer Wally Bobkiewicz ’89 M.P.A.

The 2022 conference was particularly special as Jeff Towery ’85 M.P.A., city manager of McMinnville, Oregon, was inducted as president of ICMA—the second Maxwell alumnus to serve in this role. The late John E. Dever ’50 M.P.A. served as president in 1985- 86, and numerous alumni have served in other ICMA volunteer capacities.

The Maxwell reception provided another opportunity for our alumni community to come together and connect, celebrating those working in local government and honoring Jeff as president. Joining the reception were more than two dozen Maxwell alumni attending the conference, almost 20 students associated with the school’s ICMA student chapter, and several alumni from the Columbus area. Also in attendance were faculty and staff, including Dean David M. Van Slyke, Assistant Dean for Advancement Laine Norton, Director of Accelerated Learning, Global Engagement and Maxwell’s State and Local Initiative Dan Nelson, Professor Minch Lewis and Professor Tina Nabatchi, who also serves as faculty advisor for the ICMA-Maxwell student chapter. (Tina’s presentation on “Strategic Conflict Management” was so popular among conference attendees that the meeting room quickly filled to capacity!) Other events bringing Maxwell alumni and students together during the conference included a networking social and lunch to facilitate local government connections.

Over 2,000 Maxwell alumni work in a field or in a role intersecting with state and local government. With so many alumni connected to and having an interest in this sector, we are committed to continuing our partnership with professionals working in this area. For the latest state and local news, visit maxwell.syr.edu/state-and-local and, while you’re visiting our website, be sure to click on the “alumni” tab at the top of the page to share your professional accomplishments.

Stay well,