Alumni News

The Health Management Faculty Development Fund, established from a gift by David Dean '76 M.S.Sc./'78 Ph.D. (SSc), will support research and teaching by a soon-to-be-hired faculty member, who will focus on health care policy and management.

Maidel De La Cruz '15 M.P.A. is the current chief of staff for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's Office of City Legislative Affairs. 

Emily Ruddock ‘13 M.P.A. was named the executive director of MASSCreative, a Boston-based nonprofit involved in statewide advocacy for creative communities. She is responsible for leading the full breadth of the organization’s efforts to increase the funding and perceived value of art, culture, and creativity.

Colliers International, a real estate services and investment management company, hired Alec Hillmeyer ’18 B.A. (Econ) as a retail division associate. Previoiusly, Hillmeyer was vice president at Social Movement Media, a full-service digital marketing agency. 

Marshall Spevak ’10 B.A. (PSc) was named one of New Jersey’s most influential millennials. Spevak received this award as recognition of his extensive work as a political operative at the New Jersey Statehouse.

Kenneth Meier, a distinguished scholar in residence in the School of Public Affairs at American University, received the Duncombe Award in 2019. The award honors former Maxwell professor of public administration William Duncombe.

Prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Tech, Stephanie Smith '09 Ph.D. (PA) was an associate professor at the University of New Mexico. She has also worked in the nonprofit sector in San Francisco and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Vladivostok, Russia, prior to her return to academia.

Jode Millman ’76 B.A. (Soc) has released a thriller novel titled "The Midnight Call." Millman currently co-hosts and co-produces the Backstage with the Bardavon podcast, a series that invites listeners backstage for conversations with musicians and other performers. When not writing, Millman has worked as a lawyer specializing in copyright, trademark, matrimonial and real estate law.

In his new position as public engagement manager for the City of Menlo Park, California, Clay Curtin '06 M.P.A. will be responsible for implementing a pilot program to increase community engagement. This role, which was newly created for Curtin, is meant to help unite members of the community and community groups directly with city commissions. 

In her new role, Honora Spillane '09 J.D./M.P.A. will work on CenterState CEO’s business development portfolio. CenterState CEO is a nonprofit based in Syracuse that focuses on connecting businesses across Central and Northern New York.

A unique arrangement between Syracuse University, the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and SoldierStrong has resulted in the donation of a groundbreaking virtual reality system to treat veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress. SoldierStrong co-founder Chris Meek '92 B.A. (Econ/PSc)/'18 E.M.P.A. says "it is both clinically effective and it reduces the stigma that many service members feel about seeking treatment for their post-traumatic stress," of the effectiveness of virtual reality treatment. 

Lei Duan ‘13 M.A. (Hist)/’17 Ph.D. (Hist) has accepted a position as a lecturer in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at Arizona State University.

In his new role, Kurian Thomas ’11 E.M.P.A. is responsible for overseeing more than 60 spirituality projects covering topics including education, health and well-being, and democracy.

Justin Wein ‘04 B.A. (PSc) will oversee Price’s congressional office; hire, train and supervise the congressman’s staff; and advise the congressman on political matters.

Michael Singer ‘86 M.A. (IR) has been named executive chairman of the board at BrainScope, a company developing assessment devices for brain-related injuries that can be used remotely. Singer was previously the CEO of BrainScope, a position he has held since the company was founded more than a decade ago.

Lou Luba ‘93 J.D./M.P.A. was presented with the Oliver Ellsworth Prosecutor of the Year Award by the Connecticut Criminal Justice Educational and Charitable Association. The award is conferred annually to a Connecticut prosecutor who has “made exceptional contributions in the pursuit of justice.”

Ghanaian physician Laud Boateng will use his MPA/IR to improve health policy worldwide.