Alumni News

“Mentoring reinforces positive decision-making, increases self-esteem and helps young men become more productive individuals,” says former Detroit mayor David Bing '66 B.A. (Econ). “Decreasing the high school dropout rate [whose national average is 40 percent among African American males] increases job readiness.”

Jenny Sacks '08 B.A. (Soc), current president of the Syracuse University Alumni Club of Philadelphia, is this year’s recipient of the Generation Orange Award. The award recognizes alumni who have made an impact on campus and in their communities through volunteer work and philanthropy on behalf of Syracuse University.

Alex Lynch '16 B.A. (PSc/CCE) proposed bringing more security cameras to the city streets around the University to make the area safer for current students, as his research revealed that 82% of students do not feel safe off campus. Lynch raised $94,000 from landlords and student associations to buy and install security cameras in a heavily populated student neighborhood and proposed eight sites for cameras to be installed, with the majority to be placed on Euclid Avenue.

Nilab Mobarez '16 E.M.P.A. has been appointed secretary general of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, which is the Afghan affiliate for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies—the world's largest humanitarian network. 

In the novel, Samuel Zamarripa ’78 M.P.A. offers a contemporary American voice through a narrative style that merges real world settings with fantastical elements and stories.

"These [Confederate] symbols were not widely used after the Civil War, but were reintroduced in the middle of the 20th century by white Southerners to fight against civil rights for African Americans," writes Logan Strother '13 M.A. (PSc), a Ph.D. candidate in political science.

Eric van der Vort '13 M.A. (PSc), Ph.D. candidate in political science, explains the lessons that LGBT movement history can teach social movements. He says the four key lessons are to acknowledge difference, pursue and provide education, build informal policy networks, and turn networks into durable coalitions.

The award from Fast Company, received by Jennifer Sirangelo ’96 M.P.A., president and CEO of the National 4-H Council, recognizes influential and forward-thinking individuals for innovations in business, leadership and culture.

Donald R. Waful '37 B.A. (PSc)/ '39 M.A. (PSc), one of Syracuse University's oldest surviving World War II veterans, was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame.

"How legislators and court systems promote or prohibit justice-enabling policies is vitally important. Civil courts are a venue through which citizens pursue substantive rights when no other authority exists," writes Ph.D. candidate Eric van der Vort '13 M.A. (PSc).

A new scholarship, funded by alumni Sarah Laditka '94 M.A./'95 Ph.D. and Jim Laditka '98 M.P.A./'02 Ph.D. (PA), provides scholarships for undergraduates in all the social sciences, with preference to first-generation college students and others from under-represented groups. "Our Maxwell educations opened many doors for us. We hope the students who are supported by this scholarship will have similar opportunities,” the Laditkas said in a joint statement.

“For more than 90 years, the way forward for our country has come from the prestigious Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and it has been embodied by Syracuse University professors," said civil rights lawyer Vernon E. Jordan Jr., in his Commencement Address at the Syracuse University All University Commencement.

SparkCharge executive Josh Aviv, who holds a BA in Economics from Maxwell, installed charging stations for electric vehicles on campus at two locations.

Through its Turns for Troops program, United Rentals will donate $50 to SoldierStrong, co-founded by Chris Meek '92 BA (PSc/Econ), for every lap Verizon IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Honda, completes during the 2017 season.

Steve Hagerty ’93 M.P.A., a businessman in Evanston, Illinois, was recently elected mayor of that city, running as a first-time candidate for public office. 

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.