Maxwell School News and Commentary

According to Shannon Monnat, Lerner Chair for Public Health Promotion, the recent decline in life expectancy "is due almost entirely" to increases in overdoses and suicides. "Although the declines are small, they are unprecedented, and they are signals that there is a serious well-being crisis in the U.S."

"The alliance has had overwhelming positive influence and maintained its relevance," writes Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.

On presidential candidate John Delaney's suggestion that if elected, he would debate Congress four times a year, Professor Grant Reeher opines: "I can see that this is an effort to change the political culture by requiring direct engagement, but the participants have to agree to take the exercise at face value, in front of TV cameras, and the political disincentives against doing that right now are strong."

“The UPA program in Washington is a great two-way learning experience,” said Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute. “I easily learn as much from the participants as they glean from me.”

According to Emily Thorson, assistant professor of political science, negative misinformation about a politician of an opposing party is hard to shake, even after people learn that the original story was false.

Catherine Gerard, director of the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration, discusses the importance of peacebuilding, dialogue and local efforts in combatting violence against women across the globe. She appeared on a documentary featuring a local women's group, Women Transcending Boundaries, which is a group that fosters a community of women from many faith and cultural traditions seeking to nurture mutual respect and understanding.

“Ultimately, I want to work for the government in counterterrorism or intelligence, so a good foundation in public leadership is important,” says E.M.P.A. candidate Katy Quartaro.

 "When you put out things that people can get behind, you also put out things that people can criticize," says Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, about Senator Warren's campaign strategy to release detailed policy positions early on in the primary cycle.

"The size of the court is not specified in the constitution and it's changed multiple times…in the first 100 years it was a regular occurrence for Congress to change the size of the Supreme Court," says Thomas Keck, professor of political science and Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics.