Ten Maxwell experts to speak at upcoming NASPAA conference

Eight faculty members in Public Administration and International Affairs will be among the 10 Syracuse University representatives appearing on panels at the annual conference of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) later this month. They will speak on topics ranging from collaborative governance education to data analytics to audiences made up of public administration and public policy colleagues from around the world.

NASPAA is an international association of public affairs schools at universities in the United States and abroad. The 2019 conference, to be held in Los Angeles on October 16-19, will launch the celebration of NASPAA's 50th Anniversary, and is themed Reconstructing Governance for the Next 50 Years.

These PAIA faculty members will appearing as panelists:

Robert Bifulco, associate dean, chair and professor; Johannes Himmelreich, assistant professor; and Saba Siddiki, associate professor; will be part of a panel on data analytics for MPA students. Bifulco’s research has focused on the evaluation of educational policies, Himmelreich’s specialties include applied ethics (especially regarding artificial intelligence), and Siddiki’s research focuses on policy design, collaborative policy-making, and regulatory implementation and compliance.

Julia Carboni, associate professor, teaches courses on nonprofit management and fund development. She will be addressing a panel on incorporating simulation and systems thinking into the curricula. She will also join Tina Nabatchi on another panel talking about enhancing collaborative governance education in MPA programs. Nabatchi, the Joseph A. Strasser Endowed Professor in Public Administration, will also speak on a panel about enhancing collaborative governance education in MPA programs. Nabatchi research citizen participation, collaborative governance, and challenges in public administration.

Leonard Lopoo, professor and co-founder of the Maxwell X Lab, will be on a panel discussing how Community Research Labs are emerging across the country and providing unique teaching and learning opportunities for faculty, students, and practitioners.

David Van Slyke, dean of the Maxwell School, will take part in two panels: The first one explores how public management and administration education is evolving, and the second addresses how graduate professional education in public administration and policy is keeping pace with the changes occurring in the broader governance environment with respect to technology. Van Slyke is a leading international expert on public-private partnerships, public sector contracting and contract management, and policy implementation.

Laura Steinberg, executive director of the Syracuse University Infrastructure Institute and interim executive director of the SyracuseCoE, will be on a panel focusing on the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating engineering concepts and tools into master’s programs. Steinberg holds a courtesy faculty appointment in Public Administration and International Affairs.

Matthew Young, assistant professor, teaches about technology and innovation in the public sector. He will be talking on a panel about digital literacy needs. The goal of this panel is to draw connections between the expertise required in advancing technology use and data privacy and graduate education. On a second panel, he will discuss the teaching of data analytics skills, including what cyberinfrastructure is needed to equip students for future job needs.

Also representing Maxwell at the NASPAA conference will be Ryan Williams, assistant dean for Washington programs and director of Washington, D.C.-based student programs. He will be on a panel about embedding students in government to bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional world. 

10/09/19