Four Maxwell Professors Named O’Hanley Faculty Scholars
Brian Brege, Sarah Hamersma, Yüksel Sezgin and Ying Shi will hold the title for three years.
See related: Awards & Honors, Giving, Promotions & Appointments
Haowei Wang Named Maxwell School Scholar in US-China/Asia Relations
The position was created with a gift by Syracuse University alumni Yang Ni and Xiaoqing Li to strengthen connections between Maxwell faculty and scholars in China and Asia.
See related: Aging, China, East Asia, Giving, Longevity, Promotions & Appointments, United States
Philanthropy Driven by Passion, Potential and Purpose: Ken Pontarelli ’92
Pontarelli ’92 B.S. (Econ) credits the University for changing his life, opening up opportunities to pursue his passions and achieve professional success that allows him to focus on the public good. In return, he and his wife, Tracey, are paying it forward by supporting Syracuse students pursuing meaningful careers in the vital field of sustainability.
See related: Giving
Guido Pezzarossi Awarded the 2025 Montonna Fund
The fund was created in 1997 with a gift from the honoree’s daughter and Maxwell alumna, the late Mary Lou Williams.
See related: Awards & Honors, Giving
Memorial Fund Honors Remarkable Journalism Career, Supports Students Involved with IDJC
The siblings of alumna Denise Kalette ’68 B.A. (PSc) have created a memorial fund in her honor to support students engaged with the University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship.
See related: Academic Scholarships, Alumni Experience, Awards & Honors, Giving, Student Experience
History Student Abigail Fitzpatrick Receives Wortman Scholarship for Archival Work in Los Angeles
Maxwell student Abigail Fitzpatrick, received the Wortman Scholarship from the History Department. Funding for the scholarship has been generously provided by Marlene Stein Wortman ’58 B.A. (Hist). Fitzpatrick will use the funding to conduct archival research in Los Angeles for her distinction thesis.
See related: Academic Scholarships, Giving, Student Experience
‘Empowered and Prepared to Contribute’: Awards of Excellence Honorees Reflect on Maxwell’s Impact
Held at Syracuse University’s new DC home, the annual event honored five exceptional alumni who embody the school’s commitment to engaged citizenship.
See related: Alumni Experience, Awards & Honors, Giving
Healthy Monday Finds a New Home With the Lerner Center
Through a restructuring, the center and The Monday Campaigns seek to ensure the vitality and expansion of beloved health programs envisioned by alumnus Sidney “Sid” Lerner.
See related: Giving, Grant Awards, Longevity, Nutrition, Student Experience
Maxwell X Lab Study Reveals New Data on Email Recruitment
Messages that were crafted as letters and promoted a long-term career opportunity were more successful in recruiting applicants to a School of Education teacher recruitment fellowship, their findings revealed.
See related: Giving, Student Experience, U.S. Education, United States, Urban Issues
In Memoriam: B. Ben Baldanza
Baldanza, a longtime Maxwell supporter and innovative business leader who helped transform the airline industry, passed away on Nov. 5, 2024. He was 62.
See related: Giving, In Memoriam
Centennial Celebration Honors Alumni, Students, Staff and Faculty for a ‘Century of Service’
The Maxwell School’s 100th anniversary celebration will be held on Oct. 18 in Goldstein Auditorium.
See related: Academic Scholarships, Awards & Honors, Centennial, School History
Lamis Abdelaaty Awarded the 2024 Montonna Fund
The fund was created in 1997 with a generous gift from the honoree’s daughter and Maxwell alumna, the late Mary Lou Williams.
See related: Awards & Honors, Giving
Robertson Fellows Bring Extensive Travel Experience and a Shared Interest in Public Service
Julia Liebell-McLean and Mael-Sanh Perrier are seeking dual master’s degrees in public administration and international relations.
See related: Academic Scholarships, Awards & Honors, Giving, Student Experience
Selina Gallo-Cruz Honored as O’Hanley Faculty Scholar
The associate professor of sociology researches global conflict, policy change and social movements.
See related: Awards & Honors, Giving, Promotions & Appointments
Prema Kurien Recognized as Maxwell’s Daicoff Faculty Scholar
The designation was created with a generous gift from alumna and longtime advisory board member Cathy Daicoff.
See related: Awards & Honors, Giving, Promotions & Appointments, Study Abroad
Matthew Ross Wanetik Memorial Scholarship Honors ‘Admirable Life’
Zoe Tatum Best, a rising senior majoring in political science, is the recipient of this year’s Matthew Ross Wanetik Memorial Scholarship, which honors the life of a Maxwell School student who passed away from an undetected heart ailment while studying abroad in 2008.
See related: Academic Scholarships, Giving, Student Experience
From Sovereignty to Mortality: Tenth Decade Awards Support Research Across Disciplines
Funded by gifts from hundreds of individual donors, including a lead gift from long-time Maxwell supporters Gerry and Daphna Cramer, the project has since awarded funds for dozens of faculty-led projects that have explored topics related to citizenship—from labor policy to free speech jurisprudence to climate change.
See related: Centennial, Giving, Grant Awards, School History
Centennial Scholars Named in Honor of the Maxwell School’s 100th Anniversary
In addition to receiving a stipend to support their studies, the six students have been invited to attend an anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C.
See related: Awards & Honors, Centennial, Giving, Student Experience
Elizabeth Armstrong Named Maxwell School’s New Assistant Dean for Advancement
A 2013 Maxwell alumna, Armstrong will lead the school’s advancement team to build engagement in support of philanthropic priorities that ensure student success and faculty excellence.
See related: Giving, Promotions & Appointments, School History
New Lerner Gift Amplifies the Impact of Healthy Mondays and Public Health Initiatives
A new $2.52 million gift to the Lerner Center and the Forever Orange Campaign from Helaine Lerner will help amplify the impact of the center’s work to educate, inspire and empower a new generation of advocates for public health.
See related: Giving

Gift Supports Professor's Work at the Intersection of Human Nature and Political Thought
Dennis Rasmussen is the first recipient of a fellowship created with a gift from Stephen Hagerty ’93 M.P.A. and his wife, Lisa Altenbernd ’93 M.P.A.