Center for Policy Research News
New Federal Grant Funds Specialized Training in Health and Aging Research
Doctoral students will examine how policies and geographic factors shape health outcomes for American adults.
See related: Aging, Community Health, Grant Awards, Longevity, Student Experience, U.S. Education, U.S. Health Policy, United States
Harrington Meyer and Heflin Explore the Hunger Crisis Facing Older Adults on Aging Well Podcast
Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, and Madonna Harrington Meyer, University Professor, discuss their co-written book Food for Thought: Understanding Older Adult Food Insecurity (Russell Sage Foundation, 2025).
See related: United States
Lopoo Piece on Lack of Family Planning Support for Egg Freezing Published in The Hill
“If a woman wants assistance in planning the timing of her childbearing, it is not available. This is but one-example of the lopsidedness of family planning in the U.S. Our programs are designed to assist when women want to restrict their childbearing but offer no support when women want to have children,” writes Leonard Lopoo, professor, chair and associate dean of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Government, Parenting & Family, U.S. Health Policy, United States
Daughter Keeps Mom’s 26-Year Tradition Alive at the Maxwell School
The next Maxwell School-sponsored blood drive is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Schine Student Center.
See related: School History
Primary Nesting Season Designations on Conservation Reserve Program Lands
Co-authored by Professor of Sociology Rick Welsh, the article was published in Conservation Science and Practice.
See related: Government, Non-governmental Organizations, United States
Do Nonprofit Ratings Help Donors Make Better Decisions?
This brief describes how donors respond to GuideStar's transparency seal ratings and what that means for nonprofit accountability. The author finds that even ratings not tied to verified performance significantly influence giving, with platinum-rated nonprofits receiving 34% more in donations than unrated ones, and that donors do not penalize poorly performing nonprofits that hold ratings.
Maxwell Faculty Scholarship Takes the Spotlight on The Academic Minute
Five Syracuse faculty, including Maxwell professors Ryan Griffiths and Colleen Heflin, share findings on food policy, AI, architecture, political science and marine biology on the nationally broadcast program “The Academic Minute.”
See related: Aging, Food Security, Government, Political Parties, U.S. Health Policy, United States
Can the Safety Net Support Families Through Childbirth?
The Glass Is Half Full: The Safety Net for Low-Income Women Around Childbirth
Co-authored by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, and Maxwell alumna Hyojeong Kim, the article was published in Demography.
See related: Economic Policy, Income, Labor, Parenting & Family, United States
Maxwell School Announces Faculty Promotions for 2026-27
Four faculty members have received tenure in their promotion to associate professor, while one has been promoted to full professor and another to associate teaching professor.
See related: Promotions & Appointments
Yingyi Ma Talks to South China Morning Post on US Policies and Chinese International Students
Yingyi Ma observes impact of policy shifts under President Trump on Chinese international students, “We have seen some signals, such as a stronger willingness among some Chinese students to return to China, and an overall decline in the number of Chinese students going to the U.S.”
See related: China, Federal Government, International Affairs, U.S. Education, United States
Comparing Perceptions of Algae Feed Supplements for Dairy Cows
The article, co-authored by Professor of Sociology Rick Welsh, was published in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems.
See related: Agriculture, United States
Heflin Article Urging States to Measure Food Insecurity Published in Health Affairs Forefront
As they prepare to field the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2027, states can secure the important data necessary to guide policy and resource choices related to food security, writes Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.
Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern’s ‘Will Work for Food’ Wins ASFS Book Award
The Association for the Study of Food and Society Book Award recognizes outstanding books about food published within the two previous calendar years, with prizes given in three categories: monograph, edited volume and first book.
See related: Agriculture, Awards & Honors, Food Security, Labor
Changes in the Education-Health Gradient Within US States, 1993–2019
Co-authored by Maxwell faculty members Jennifer Karas Montez, Iliya Gutin and Scott Landes, along with Ph.D. student Julia Finan, the article was published in Population Research and Policy Review.
See related: Health Equity, U.S. Education, United States
Heflin Discusses SNAP Payment Errors in Newsweek Article
Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, says it is important to note that “since a large portion of these errors are outside the control of the agencies [because they have to work with the information that clients provide], it will be difficult to bring down these errors without needlessly burdening all SNAP recipients.”
See related: Economic Policy, Federal Government, Food Security, Nutrition, United States
Yingyi Ma Speaks With Rest of World About Chinese Universities Prioritizing New Majors in AI
“In China, the response is more centralized and top-down,” says Yingyi Ma, professor of sociology. “AI is being built into national education planning and new majors. In the U.S., the response is more decentralized. Individual universities, schools, departments and faculty variability is huge.”
See related: Artificial Intelligence, China, Education, Government
Rick Welsh to Lead Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society
The Maxwell sociologist recently began his term leading the international organization focused on the study of food, agriculture and health.
See related: Promotions & Appointments
How Does SNAP Access Prior to Pregnancy Affect Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes?
The article, co-authored Sarah Hamersma, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, and Ph.D. student Mitchell McFarlane, was published in The Milbank Quarterly.
See related: Food Security, Labor, Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition, U.S. Health Policy, United States
Lopoo Speaks to Stateline About Changes to the Title X Program to Promote Childbearing
Leonard Lopoo, professor of public administration and international affairs, says the federal government could help families achieve their family planning goals by expanding pregnancy prevention and infertility treatments at all income levels.
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Center for Policy Research Events
September 17, 2026
The Uncertainty Principle: Diet, Disease, and the Limits of Scientific Consensus
Eggers Hall, 220
3:30PM-5:00PM
September 18, 2026
Syracuse-Chicago Webinar Series on Property Tax Administration and Design: Andrew Simon
Virtual
9:00AM-12:15PM