Maxwell School News and Commentary

The scholarships, now in their 36th year, were founded as a tribute to—and means of remembering—the students studying in London and Florence through Syracuse University who were killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

The founder of the policy studies program received the Chancellor’s Medal at the recent One University Awards Ceremony.

The One University Awards Ceremony, an annual event to honor members of the Syracuse University community who are making a difference through academics, scholarship, creative work and dedicated service, will be held Friday, April 11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

 “You have to have social promotion. You have no choice. And the only place I would be in favor of making them repeat is if they can't read,” says Bill Coplin, professor of policy studies.

Valerie earned a bachelor’s degree in policy studies in the spring of 2024 after just three years and with a 4.0 GPA, and was in her first year with the organization Teach for America. She passed away on Dec. 23, 2024.

Andrea-Rose Oates, a policy studies major, was selected as one of the award winners. The Unsung Hero Award is given to community members, students, faculty and staff who have made a positive impact on the lives of others but are not widely recognized for their contributions. 

Baldanza, a longtime Maxwell supporter and innovative business leader who helped transform the airline industry, passed away on Nov. 5, 2024. He was 62.

Dean David M. Van Slyke signed memorandum of understandings with two top Korean universities on a recent trip to the republic in an effort to increase academic collaboration. 

Assistant Teaching Professor of Policy Studies Austin Zwick and alumna Karina Freeland '23 B.A. (PSt). investigate what conditions are needed for local government to take on leadership and policy innovation in environmental regulation. Published in Sustainability.

Despite its size, Syracuse asserts “a larger dreaming of possibilities, punching above their weight, acting like a bigger city,” says Austin Zwick, associate teaching professor of policy studies. “[There's been] a real alignment and agreement between multiple levels of government...for the last 10 years or so,” he says.