"The amount of experience that I gained as a policy studies major is monumental. The head of the department, Professor Bill Coplin, gives students numerous professional and academic opportunities to prepare us for life after college," says Dante Moss, a junior policy studies and political science dual major, about his experience at Syracuse.

Jessie Speer, a Ph.D. candidate in geography, received the fellowship, which supports a year of research and writing to help advanced graduate students in the humanities and social sciences in the last year of Ph.D. dissertation writing.

Maizy Ludden, a sophomore majoring in geography, has been named a 2017 Goldwater Scholar. The scholarship is meant to encourage students who intend to pursue research careers in science, mathematics, and engineering.

The Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award, which honors faculty who have a significant, positive influence on graduate education at Syracuse University, was awarded to Azra Hromadžić, assistant professor of anthropology, and Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, professor of history.

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.

Geography students Jade Rhoads and Maizy Ludden were named Udall Scholars. The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. 

During his formal talk with the Maxwell community, Secretary General Luis Almagro Lemes of the Organization of American States spoke of his commitment to the study of public administration and international relations, noting that democracy "demands good governance and strong institutions."

Keith Bybee, professor of political science, talked about finding common ground in our public discourse, on PBS's public affairs program The Open Mind.

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

According to Leonard Burman, professor of public administration and international affairs, "Trump’s 'tax reform plan' isn’t tax reform and it isn’t a plan. To borrow an analogy from the president’s favorite sport, he should take a mulligan and swing again at tax reform after he’s brought on a tax policy team and they’ve had a chance to do their homework."

"A failure to register, or making a false statement, or an omission of a material fact in connection with registration is also unlawful, if it was willfully done. If it was willfully done, he could face either civil or criminal penalties," assesses William C. Banks, professor of public administration and international affairs.

“I think at the end of the day, you’re not going to see either the Trump or the House GOP tax plan. It will look a little more like George W. Bush’s 2001 tax bill—mostly just rate cuts,” says Leonard Burman, Paul Volcker Chair in Behavioral Economics.

“When you want to message and communicate with new donors, you want to demonstrate very quickly that you’re using the money efficiently and effectively and it’s really focused on a goal,” says Dean David Van Slyke. “And then you come back…and you say, ‘Look, we think we’re in a real battle and we think we’re making progress.'”

"The relationship between scientists and government is arguably at a low point today. But that’s the culmination of a trend that had been building for some time," says Harry Lambright, professor of public administration and international affairs.

The Maxwell School 2017 Graduate Convocation will be held on Friday, May 12, at 10:00 a.m. in Hendricks Chapel.