The Maxwell School was the hub for 40 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows representing 35 countries at the end of February, participating in a weeklong workshop, Leadership and Governance during Times of Crisis, sponsored by the Maxwell School of Syracuse University and administered by Executive Education. The fellows explored a myriad of crisis management issues through the lens of leadership.

The workshop examined the dynamics leaders face in crisis situations through a series of vigorous and thought-provoking presentations, which included a culminating simulation. Bruce Dayton, Research Fellow at the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs and Associate Professor at School for International Training who specializes in crisis management and peacebuilding, led the workshop. 

The workshop tapped faculty expertise across Maxwell’s social sciences, in addition to other schools and institutes at Syracuse University. Among the themes explored were political leadership, mapping vulnerability, crisis communication, immigration and the U.N.’s response to humanitarian crises. 

“Crisis and disaster management remains a subject of intense interest within both academic research and policy-making circles,” said Dayton. “And that’s no wonder — crises and disasters represent a perfect-storm because they demand that leaders make vital decisions in circumstances where time is short, the threat is high, and uncertainty is significant. Maxwell’s Leadership and Governance during Times of Crisis workshop was especially focused on helping participants to better understand and prepare themselves to overcome the social-psychological, organizational, and leadership challenges that come into play when crises and disasters hit.”

The workshop took into consideration the diverse professional experiences of the participants.

“The week provided the best of both worlds: Humphrey Fellows benefited from the collaborative, multi-disciplinary research and practice of faculty at the Maxwell School and the faculty learned how these Fellows experience leadership during times of crisis across the globe and through a myriad of public sector fields: educators, public administrators, public health officials, rural development specialists, NGO leaders, and human rights lawyers,” stated Margaret Lane, Syracuse Humphrey Program Director and Assistant Director of Executive Education. “This type of learning environment also enabled a rich atmosphere where Humphrey Fellows had the opportunity to exchange best practices and share experiences among each other.”

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was initiated in 1978 to honor the late Senator and Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and his life-long commitment to international cooperation and public service. The program brings accomplished young and mid-career professionals from designated developing nations and emerging democracies to the United States for a year of professional development and related academic study and cultural exchange. The Fellowship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education. This year, thirteen U.S. universities hosted approximately 150 Fellows from 95 countries.

The Maxwell School has been a host campus of the Humphrey Fellowship Program for nine years. Currently twelve fellows are at the School, pursuing studies and professional development in the areas of public policy, public administration, governance, IT policy, NGO management, leadership, and collaboration. 02/28/18