Professorship Awarded to Historian

Osamah F. Khalil, associate professor of history and chair of the undergraduate program in international relations, was recently awarded the Dr. Ralph E. Montonna Endowed Professorship for the Teaching and Education of Undergraduates. He will hold the professorship for the 2021-22 academic year.

Khalil is a historian of U.S. foreign relations and the modern Middle East. He is the author of America’s Dream Palace: Middle East Expertise and the Rise of the National Security State (Harvard University Press, 2016) and the editor of United States Relations with China and Iran: Towards the Asian Century (Bloomsbury, 2019). In 2018, he received the Chancellor’s Citation for Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction. He received a Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2011.

Gretchen Purser, associate professor of sociology, was the inaugural recipient of the award.

The Montonna Professorship was established with a gift from the honoree’s daughter, the late Mary Lou Williams ’50 B.A. (AmSt). Montonna earned a B.S. in chemistry from Syracuse University in 1916 followed by a Ph.D. from Yale University. In 1946, he was named director of research at Syracuse University. He died in 1952.

“Every faculty member rose to the challenge during the pandemic, leading to many strong nominations,” says Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke.

As a result, the Dean’s Office additionally recognized two faculty members for their undergraduate teaching and mentoring. Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science and director of undergraduate studies for the Department of Political Science, received the Maxwell School Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Mentoring. Kristy Buzard, associate professor of economics, was awarded the Maxwell School Dean’s Award for Innovative Teaching. The dean’s office gave these one-time awards to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of these faculty during the pandemic.

Daniel McDowell Kristy Buzard

Together Again

Dear alumni and friends,

As you may have experienced recently, returning to an activity—even one you know quite well— after a long pause is not unlike re-learning how to ride a bicycle. There may be a few nerves and a wobble or two, but then excitement and anticipation take over and it’s time to go.

It had been nearly 18 months since we hosted an in-person alumni event, when, on a sunny day this past September, we welcomed Maxwell alumni from the 1970s through the 2020s for an outdoor luncheon and conversation about our ongoing work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at Maxwell. With safety protocols in place, the outdoor event was held during Syracuse University’s Coming Back Together, a triennial reunion of Black and Latinx graduates.

During the program, Dean David M. Van Slyke spoke about Maxwell’s commitment and efforts to increase diversity and foster an inclusive and accessible environment. Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Gladys McCormick updated guests on current initiatives, including the creation of affinity groups for faculty and graduate students of color and the successful implementation of a training program for graduate students. You can keep track of the latest developments by visiting maxwell.syr.edu/diversity-equity-and-inclusion.

Associate Dean McCormick also facilitated a group conversation during which alumni shared their own experiences and insights. Attendees engaged in discussion about challenges and opportunities they experienced at different times during their personal and professional journeys, from their time as students on campus to their roles after graduation. It was moving to see the sense of community demonstrated as alumni shared their stories with Maxwell and with each other—and in doing so became a part of Maxwell’s DEI journey.

With my first bike ride in many months a success, I’m looking forward to welcoming you back to campus or visiting you where you live. To keep tabs on the latest alumni events and offerings headed your way, visit our website maxwell.syr.edu/alumni.

Stay in touch and be well,

Jessica Murray Director of Alumni Relations

Coming Back Together 2021

The Maxwell School welcomed alumni back to campus this past September for the University’s Coming Back Together celebration. Those who took part in the lunchtime reception to reconnect with faculty, staff and fellow alumni included, from left to right, Gabriel Cruz ’96 M.P.A.; University Regional Director of Development Keri Lowder ’95 B.A. (IR)/’96 M.P.A.; Ruben Orosco

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTE

Online: maxwell.syr.edu/perspective

Email: maxalum@syr.edu

Post Office: 200 Eggers Hall, Syracuse, N.Y. 13244

Key To Degrees

Alumni are designated by year of graduation, degree level and (in parentheses) discipline—for example: Joan Smith ’87 M.A. (Soc). A few of the degree abbreviations indicate both level and discipline, such as M.P.A. and M.S.Sc. Alumni with more than one degree from Maxwell are listed under the year of the latest degree.

AmSt American Studies

Anth Anthropology

CCE Citizenship and Civic Engagement

ESP Environment, Sustainability and Policy

E.M.I.R. Executive Master of International Relations

E.M.P.A. Executive Master of Public Administration

DFH Documentary Film and History

Econ Economics

Geog Geography

Hist History

IR International Relations

J.D. Law

LAS Latin American Studies

M.A.I.R. Master of Arts, International Relations

M.A.I.R./

M.S.P.R. International Relations/ Public Relations (dual)

M.P.D.G.

Comm. Master of Public Diplomacy and Global Communication

MES Middle Eastern Studies

M.P.A. Master of Public Administration

M.P.A./

M.A.I.R. Joint M.P.A. and M.A.I.R.

MPH Master of Public Health

M.Phil. Master of Philosophy

M.R.P. Master of Regional Planning

M.S.Sc. Master of Social Science

PA Public Administration

PPhil Political Philosophy

PSt Policy Studies

PSc Political Science

RusSt Russian Studies

Soc Sociology

SPsy Social Psychology

SSc Social Science

UrSt Urban Studies