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Director's Fund Launch: Fueling Opportunities for Changemakers
The Policy School is pleased to announce the launch of the Director's Fund, an initiative spearheaded by our Advisory Committee. It began with a foundational $50,000 donation from committee member Michael Altman, challenging the community to match this amount. Thanks to the collective efforts of the Advisory Committee and the Policy School community, we exceeded our goal, raising a total of $102,500.
These funds will support co-op placements with the United Nations in New York, among other experiential learning opportunities, and community building in the Policy School. We extend our deepest gratitude to all contributors, especially Ray Ludwiszewski for his significant support, and to the Advisory Committee for leading this impactful campaign. Thank you to everyone involved for your commitment to our mission and for making a tangible difference.
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Charting a New Course in Environmental Governance: Northeastern’s Pioneering Dialogue at Bellagio
In a significant leap towards redefining global environmental strategies, Prof. Maria Ivanova, Director of the Policy School and founder of the Global Environmental Governance Project, spearheaded a Northeastern University delegation to the renowned Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center in Italy. This initiative, organized by Prof. Ivanova, PhD candidate Olga Skaredina, and MPA alumna Clara Copp-LaRocque '23, with the active participation of Prof. Moira Zellner, aimed to catalyze groundbreaking discussions on environmental multilateralism.
The Bellagio Center, celebrated for its role in advancing global dialogues through its selective convening programs, provided the perfect backdrop for this dialogue. With the generous support of the Rockefeller Foundation and Carnegie Corporation, the gathering was not just an event but a seminal moment in the journey toward building a knowledge network. This network's mission is to revisit and revitalize environmental multilateralism, with a spotlight on elevating the influential roles of small states in steering global environmental governance.
The project was co-hosted with the Government of Rwanda and the Present and Future Institute. This coalition was instrumental in bringing together diverse professionals, including influential current and former government officials from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Fiji, Finland, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uruguay. These individuals participated in their personal capacities, contributing their unique insights and experiences. The dialogue was enriched by the involvement of colleagues from the Innovation for Policy Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), further underscoring the event's inclusive and holistic approach.
One participant reflected on the experience, stating, "It was a meeting like no other I previously had. It balanced soft skills and personal consciousness and growth with substantive discussions, collaboration, and planning to influence the international agenda in a positive way while strengthening the small states for the greater good.”
This dialogue at the Bellagio Center is a testament to Northeastern University's commitment to inclusive and impactful dialogue across differences and toward global, whole-of-society collaboration.
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New Forum for Online Policy School Students
The newly launched Policy School Virtual Circle provides the first-ever space for virtual students at the Policy School to connect, network, and share professional opportunities at the School and beyond.
Sadaf Mehdi '24, who has been pursuing an MS in Urban Informatics degree completely online from her home base in New York, helped to lead the Virtual Circle initiative. "The purpose," says Sadaf, "is to foster a sense of community and belonging. I wanted to create a space for online Policy School students like me to feel like they are part of the larger School community. Here, virtual students can seek support and resources while navigating their unique experiences as online learners."
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Civic Action Project (CAP) Info Session
Rebecca Gordan, executive director of the Civic Action Project, visited the Policy School and, together with CAP alumni, spoke to students about Summer 2024 funding opportunities, the CAP application process, and the CAP focus on "real-world" skills training in political strategies and tactics needed to advance public policy.
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Rebecca Gordon and Prof. Linda Kowalcky | | |
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Coffee and Conversation: Prof. Joan Fitzgerald
Joan Fitzgerald, Professor of Urban Planning and Policy, led a Coffee and Conversation discussion in which she mapped out the research and teaching trajectory that has led her to her current work, which focuses on urban climate action and strategies for linking it to equity, economic development, and innovation. In her fourth book, Greenovation: Urban Leadership on Climate Change (Oxford Univ. Press, 2020), she argues that the climate strategies of too many cities represent random acts of greenness rather than integrated and aggressive action. She is now co-authoring Cities and the Struggle for Climate Justice and leading a team (with Alicia Modestino and Advisory Committee member Gregory King) working with the City of Boston on achieving its Green New Deal goals.
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Prof. Jennie C. Stephens' New Role in Ireland
Prof. Jennie C. Stephens, former Director of the Policy School, will embark on an exciting new journey as Professor of Climate Change and Climate Justice at the National University of Ireland Maynooth starting this summer. She will play a pivotal role in the Ireland Climate Analysis and Research Unit (ICARUS), dedicating her expertise to shaping climate justice policy in Ireland and engaging closely with that nation's policymakers. She will also continue to advise and mentor selected PhD students at Northeastern.
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Prof. Gabriela Garcia Receives Conservancy Grant
Prof. Gabriela Garcia received a grant from The Nature Conservancy to fund a recent alumna of the MS in Environmental Science and Public Policy program, Paola Stuparich '23, as a NU-TNC Climate Adaptation Fellow. Paola Stuparich is working with PI Gabriela Garcia to support The Nature Conservancy’s global team to understand climate impacts and adaptation needs of communities in the Amazon region and how nature-based approaches can support equitable adaptation goals. They are conducting research to support the selection, adaptation, implementation, and analysis of risk and vulnerability assessment in four countries (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador) in the Amazon region.
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Prof. Beth Noveck Is New Jersey's First Chief AI Strategist
Prof. Beth Noveck was recently named New Jersey's first Chief AI Strategist. Noveck said she wants to implement Murphy’s vision of having the state “lead the nation in the advancement of AI in both the private and public sectors.”
Before this appointment, Prof. Noveck served as the state's Chief Innovation Officer. Her appointment marks a growing shift towards recognizing the role of AI in governance, something Noveck has been at the forefront of for many years.
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"Public Safety in Boston: A Boston Data Portal Story"
Join us for "Public Safety in Boston: A Boston Data Portal Story" on March 26, 1pm-2:30pm at NU Crossing! Explore the intricacies of how BARI uses 911 and 311 data to measure crime and disorder across Boston's neighborhoods, including data going back over a decade. This is a prime opportunity for our audience to gain valuable insights about Boston--and how to use the Boston Data Portal to do even more.
1:00pm - 2:30pm, Northeastern Crossing, 1175 Tremont St, Boston, MA
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Register Here!
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Transformation, Climate Justice, and Higher Education panel - March 11
Can higher education institutions be leveraged for societal transformation? If so, how do higher education institutions need to transform themselves to contribute to – rather than slow down – transformative climate justice? What could be the role of higher education institutions in advancing societal change for environmental, economic, and climate justice?
Join us on March 11th for an exciting panel discussion. Each panelist will speak for 5-10 minutes followed by an inclusive discussion.
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The Panelists -
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Special Guest - Cecile Renouard, President and co-founder of the Campus de la Transition, France
- Stephen Porder, Assistant Provost for Sustainability, Brown University, Providence, RI
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Jennie C. Stephens, Dean's Professor of Sustainability and Science Policy, Northeastern
- Sandra Waddock, Professor of Management, Boston College
Moderated by Alice Plane, Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs, Watson Institute, Brown University
Northeastern University Policy School, 1135 Tremont St., RP 310, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Register Here!
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Bari Conference 2024
The BARI Conference 2024: Greater Boston’s Annual Insight-to-Impact Summit will take place on Friday, April 12th at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge. Proposals were due by January 19th.
The BARI Conference is a unique forum for community leaders, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to share how they advance data-driven research and policy in Greater Boston—and how we could do even more through collective action.
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Prof. Dan O'Brien, Director of BARI | |
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A Potent Moment for Reform: A Discussion with Prof. Jeffrey Moyer, Lecturer and Cannabis Policy Scholar
Please join the O’Bryant Center for an April 2nd book talk featuring Prof. Jeffrey Moyer to discuss his recently published book A Potent Moment: Building Social Equity into Cannabis Legalization. Prof. Moyer will center his talk on the development of a social equity agenda in the cannabis legalization space, featuring Massachusetts’s unique citizen-led contribution to setting a bold agenda for incorporating racial justice in this conversation. Immediately proceeding this talk, there will be a panel discussion on the development of social equity here in Massachusetts in the years since legalization, and what it means to address the prior impacts of criminalization.
We welcome you to join us in person at the O’Bryant Center, which will feature appetizers and snacks, or virtually if you are unable to join in person. We encourage you to register in advance, as a drawing for a free signed copy of the book will be conducted among in-person and virtual attendees who have registered in advance. Copies of the book will also be available for purchase and signing at the event through the NU Bookstore.
Register Here
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Student Spotlight: Jasreet Gill '24
Jasreet Gill '24, who is pursuing an MS in Engineering and Public Policy, was recently featured in a College of Engineering Student Spotlight video. Watch the video to see the great interdisciplinary opportunities that have shaped Jasreet's Northeastern experience.
Jasreet's Student Spotlight Video
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Global Youth Environmental Assembly
Olga Skaredina, a Ph.D. student in Public Policy, participated in the Global Youth Environment Assembly held in Nairobi, Kenya, as an associated event of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), which brought together more than 400 young people from across the world. Olga moderated the session on Youth Engagement in Science-Policy Interfaces and also served as a panelist in a session dedicated to Youth Engagement in Multilateral Environmental Agreements. The culmination of the Youth Environment Assembly was marked by the presentation of the Global Youth Declaration on the Environment to Ms. Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.
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Alumnus Spotlight: Ed Kammerer, Jr., J.D., PhD '14
What was your background before starting the PhD program in the Policy School?
I double majored in English and Political Science at UMass-Amherst before getting a JD at Suffolk University. After that, I worked as a public defender in New Bedford for two years.
What compelled you to give up your law career to pursue a PhD?
I loved my legal work. But, about a year into it, I came to the realization that, as much as I enjoyed helping individual clients, I was not making a dent at a policy level in a criminal justice system that sets people up for failure. I saw firsthand a cycle of crimes of desperation and despair and the consequences of harsh punishments, a frayed social safety net, and a lack of job training and opportunities for people with criminal convictions. I hoped a PhD would position me to contribute to systemic reforms.
What did you find most valuable in your experience of the PhD programl?
I liked the focus on experiential learning and the commitment to making a pragmatic difference in local communities. I appreciated the support of faculty who really prepared us to achieve our professional aspirations and become the best versions of ourselves.
How did you end up pursuing a career in academia?
I was initially hesitant about this path because I wasn’t interested in a research-focused career. But I absolutely fell in love with teaching. I started as a lecturer in the Policy School and the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern. I couldn’t believe that I was basically getting paid to have fun conversations with interesting, smart people. As an added bonus, I didn’t have to wear a lawyer’s suit every day.
How are you applying your PhD in Public Policy now?
I am currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Political Science at Idaho State University, where I teach both graduate and undergraduate courses on American Politics with a focus on the law and courts. My research spans two areas. The first examines the role of courts in the public policy process, judicial decision-making, and the use of storytelling in legal argument. The second explores political science pedagogy with an emphasis on simulations and legal argument.
How have you navigated living and working in Pocatello, Idaho?
Before moving to Idaho, my notion of a hike was walking to destinations in mid-town Manhattan instead of taking the subway. I now live 2 ½ hours from Yellowstone National Park and have come to enjoy the gorgeous natural scenery. I’m also lucky to be part of a terrific campus community. I’ve taught some really bright and engaging students, a couple of whom I’ve encouraged to apply to the Policy School. And I’ve had the opportunity to teach classes, including one on LGBTQ public policy, that very much align with the commitment I nurtured at the Policy School to contribute to meaningful, transformative impact in the real world.
For more information on Ed, check out his website.
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C2C Funding and Training Opportunities
C2C is happy to announce 2024 funding and training opportunities offered through the Community to Community (C2C) Impact Engine. C2C’s mission is to understand and address social disparities by fostering trusting relationships between academic researchers and community or government partners. Centering the wisdom of community voices, C2C co-creates research evidence that advances equitable practices and policies in the places our university calls home.
C2C uses an Engage-Think-Do model for the co-production of policy analysis and implementation by connecting faculty with community stakeholders to collaborate on long-standing public problems in areas such as crime, environmental justice, housing, public health, racial injustice, and workforce development. These collaborations use data and research evidence to change real-world policies or practices that drive societal impact. Every successful partnership gets us one step closer to a more inclusive and just world.
Funding Opportunities
Successful applicants will engage in collaborations with a city agency, state department, or community-based organization with the goal of using research evidence to change a policy or practice. Grantees will become part of the C2C community of practice with opportunities to participate in the C2C summer institute, present in the C2C research seminar series, and publish in the C2C publication series. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by March 8, 2024, to ensure ample time to plan for projects to launch during Summer 2024.
Training and Research Opportunities
• Training Researchers to Inform Policy (TRIP) – Apply by April 1, 2024
Faculty, post-doctoral students, and Ph.D. students from across the global university systems are invited to attend this hybrid day-long training with the Scholars Strategy Network (SSN) on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Participants will engage in hands-on activities that explore how to form research-practice partnerships with a city agency, state department, or community-based organization and also be eligible for additional coaching and mentoring through SSN.
• Become a Faculty Affiliate – Apply by April 1, 2024
Faculty from across the global university system who conduct community-engaged research are invited to become a C2C affiliate. Faculty Affiliates serve a two-year renewable term during which time they will have the opportunity to be connected with a policymaker or practitioner, serve as a PI on C2C funded projects, attend the C2C summer institute, present in the C2C research seminar series, and publish in the C2C publication series.
Please email the C2C team at C2C-Impact@northeastern.edu if you have questions about any of these upcoming training and funding opportunities. To learn more about C2C and other community engaged research initiatives across the global university system, sign up for the quarterly Community to Community newsletter here
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School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs | |
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