On August 30, four health officials from Uzbekistan visited The University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs as part a project called “Antimicrobial Resistance – A Global Health Crisis,” which is being coordinated by Ann Driscoll, senior program officer at World Learning, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The Uzbekistani officials are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on a cooperative agreement to strengthen that country’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) surveillance and reporting systems.

Alan Lyles, a professor in the college’s School of Health and Human Services and School of Public and International Affairs, hosted the Uzbekistani officials, which included the director of the Antimicrobial Center of Uzbekistan’s Research Institute for Epidemiology, Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases, a researcher, an epidemiologist, and the deputy head of the National Medical Center for Specialized Practical Research on Epidemiology, Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. In addition, a three-person team of State Department interpreter-liaisons accompanied them. During their visit, Prof. Lyles delivered a lecture titled “Federalism in the U.S. Experience, with Implications for Uzbekistan’s IVLP project: Antimicrobial Resistance – A Global Health Crisis.” Lyles’ lecture on federalism serves as an introduction to the federalism issues in U.S. public health, medicine, and research. Following their visit to UBalt, the visitors embarked on three weeks of travel to leading U.S. institutions, including the CDC, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Agency for International Development, among others.

Learn more about the International Visitor Leadership Program.

Learn more about Prof. Alan Lyles.

Ashley Cunningham, a student in the graduate Health Administration program, has been selected to serve as the student member on the Maryland Association of Health Care Executives’ (MAHCE) Board of Directors. As a student representative, Ashley will participate in board meetings and work closely with the board’s faculty liaison, Alan Weisman—lecturer in the School of Health and Human Services—to develop programs for students in the Maryland chapter. In collaboration with Prof. Weisman, Ashley will conduct outreach to help grow the association’s membership and increase student awareness and participation in MAHCE networking/educational events, as well as manage the events section of the MAHCE website. Ashley will also work with the Program Committee on planning future MAHCE events.

As Dean Roger Hartley enters his seventh year at The University of Baltimore, we asked him to reflect on his time as dean of the College of Public Affairs.

1) In what ways have the college and programs grown during your time as dean?

In my six years as dean, the college has undergone considerable innovation due to a terrific team of faculty, staff and supportive alums. We have grown to over 15 degree programs (nine masters and six undergraduate) and multiple degree and non-degree certificates. These are in such fields as criminal justice and cyber forensics, health, human services, policy, politics and international affairs, and public administration. With this has come changes in how we reach students with a mix of online programs, in person, and programs offered at The Universities at Shady Grove.

Another advancement has been in engagement work and equity and inclusion. The college received national recognition for social equity from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) in 2018 and additional awards for our work in community development in Baltimore.

In 2017, we added a Center for Drug Policy and Prevention that includes the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). This has expanded our work in drug policy and put us on the cutting edge of this area of public service. The Schaefer Center for Public Policy has created new certificate programs through partnerships with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and Enterprise Community Partners. Among other areas of engagement are the Second Chance College Program, which educates incarcerated men in Jessup Correctional Institute, and the criminal justice-led Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland, which leads in trauma-informed practices.

I have been privileged to be able to work with a dynamic, innovative group of leaders who make public service education create impact on the people of our state. I am so lucky.

2) Why are public servants so important?

I could go on for hours about this, but the role of government and nonprofit leaders changes lives. It improves lives. Public service is the highest of callings for a career, and this college is wholly devoted to the vocation of bringing people together to assist people, businesses and other institutions reach their highest. When I think of our students, many first generation, who want to improve lives, it makes me so proud.

3) Why do you love working in higher education?

I was a first-generation college graduate. Higher education changed my life forever and it has given me an opportunity to help others in my own way. Higher education, like public service, is a career for a life well lived.

Follow Dean Hartley on Twitter @ProfHartley.

Faculty in the College of Public Affairs actively contribute to their respective fields through scholarly activities, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, book reviews and paper presentations, and other publications such as articles and op-eds in major media outlets and blog posts. Here are some of the most recent faculty publications:

Ñusta Carranza Ko, assistant professor in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), has published a new book titled, Truth, Justice, and Reparations in Peru, Uruguay, and South Korea: The Clash of Advocacy and Politics. The book is part of the Palgrave Macmillan Studies on Human Rights in Asia (PMSHRA) book series. “Ñusta Carranza Ko’s exciting new book deftly challenges the conventional wisdom, showing through detailed case studies of Peru, Uruguay, and South Korea that domestic political factors dominate over international advocacy in explaining long term adherence to–or backsliding from–international human rights and transitional justice norms,” said Clifford Bob, professor and chair of political science at Duquesne University. “Carranza Ko should be commended for an important contribution to international relations and political science.”

The SPIA Faculty Lecture Series will host a virtual book launch event for Prof. Ko on April 12. Visit the SPIA Faculty Lecture Series page for details and Zoom login information.

Prof. Ko also penned an article for The Washington Post titled, “Peru’s government forcibly sterilized Indigenous women from 1996 to 2001, the women say. Why?”

Carol Molinari, professor in the School of Health and Human Services, and co-author Sandra Lundahl (Ph.D. in Gerontology candidate, University of Maryland School of Medicine) recently had a book review accepted for publication in a forthcoming issue of  Journal of Health Administration Education, a quarterly peer-reviewed journal of health administration education research published by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). The book they reviewed is titled Disrupting the Status Quo of Senior Living: A Mindshift by Jill Vitale-Aussem.

Lorenda Naylor, associate professor in the School of Public and International Affairs and director of the B.A. in Policy, Politics and International Affairs program, has published a new book titled, Social Equity and LGBTQ Rights Dismantling Discrimination and Expanding Civil Rights, which explores some of the ways in which LGBTQ citizens have been marginalized for their identity, and argues that the field of public administration has a unique responsibility to prioritize social equity. Prof. Naylor will discuss her book at an upcoming SPIA Faculty Lecture Series event on March 4. Details can be found on the SPIA Faculty Lecture Series page.

The Journal of Applied Research on Children recently published an article, “Information Technology Solutions for Overdose Prevention: Perspectives from the Field,” co-authored by Jeff Beeson, first deputy director and chief of staff of The University of Baltimore’s Center for Drug Policy and Prevention, and colleagues Sarah Ali and Aliese Alter.

In his latest blog post, Jeffrey Ian Ross, professor in the School of Criminal Justice, explores why it’s important to develop a literacy of graffiti and street art: https://jeffreyianross.com/why-developing-a-literacy-of-graffiti-and-street-art-is-important/.

Three students from the College of Public Affairs have been selected for the 2021 Maryland Legislative Fellows Program. Designed specifically for graduate students at Maryland institutions that offer master’s degrees in public policy or a related field, the Fellows Program gives students an immersive experience in the legislative process, working alongside nonpartisan staff in the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) during the Maryland General Assembly’s annual 90-day legislative session (Jan. – April).

“I am honored to participate in this fellowship program to receive more on-the-ground experience in making positive change for the residents of Maryland,” said Najee Bailey, a student in the M.A. in Global Affairs and Human Security program. Najee earned his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Salisbury University, and previously served as a legislative staffer in the Howard County Government.

Yvonne Harper, B.A. ’20, an M.P.A. student, will serve for the House Economic Matters Committee for the 2021 session. Yvonne is co-director of government relations for the University System of Maryland Student Council, former president of The University of Baltimore’s Student Government Association, and a graduate of UBalt’s Jurisprudence program.

Kelly Norton, an M.P.A. student, will be supporting the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, a new division in DLS tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of state programs. “I am quite excited for this opportunity to put the principles I have learned in class into practice,” said Kelly. Kelly is also a graduate fellow with The University of Baltimore’s Schaefer Center for Public Policy.

The following interview is with Regina T. Boyce, ’14, a graduate of The University of Baltimore’s Master of Public Administration program and a Maryland State Delegate who is teaching PPIA 345: The Legislative Process this fall.

Is this your first time teaching this or any class at UB?

This is my first time teaching the legislative process, as well as my first time as an adjunct/employee at the University of Baltimore.

What do you enjoy most about teaching this course?

What I enjoy most about teaching this course is that I can be both a practitioner and administrator of this information. I am a legislator, so I can provide first-hand accounts and scenarios of salient terms and concepts within the assigned readings. As an adjunct (administrator presenting the theory) I can continually evaluate what I hear from the class, constituents and voters, as it relates to how they believe legislatures work. It allows me to think about and work on what my colleagues and I can do to make the legislative process more transparent and accessible to the people of Maryland.

It looks like you’ve been able to welcome guest speakers. Can you mention some people you’ve had and share how they’ve been able to add to the students’ experience in the class? 

Delegate Stephanie Smith (Baltimore City) and Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (Montgomery County): Both work with agencies and organizations directly tied to the 2020 Census. Both talked about their dual roles with the Census as it relates to getting all those living in the U.S. counted, how much funding it brings per person for a state/city and how it links to the class topic of apportionment and gerrymandering. Delegate Smith and Wilkins connect the critical importance of the Census.

Delegate Carl Jackson (Baltimore County), Delegate Nick Mosby (Baltimore City), Maricé Morales (delegate, Montgomery County, 2014 – 2018), and Philip Westry (Candidate, 12th Council District, Baltimore City) shared their experience of being a candidate for elected office. The candidates went into why they ran, the strategy used to get their name and message out to voters, and what it really takes to run for office.

As an alum, what’s it like to be able to teach at your alma mater?

A dream!! I never thought I’d be doing this. During my time at UB, I was always impressed with my professors who were working in the field of the subject matter they taught. This is an excellent teaching model for students who need both theory and practice so that they have the tools to be competitive in a highly competitive global market. This is truly Knowledge That Works.

Congratulations to Associate Professor Don Haynes on receiving the 2019 Distinguished Service Award for Leadership from Trout Unlimited (TU) for exceptional leadership as chair of the Mid-Atlantic Council. Trout Unlimited is a national organization that aims to conserve, protect and restore North America’s cold-water fisheries and their watersheds, and their Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual whose leadership has enriched the TU community at the chapter, council, national or trustee level. A key attribute of the award is the sharing of ideas, experiences, and knowledge with others to nurture and mentor the next generation of cold-water conservationists and leaders. According to TU, Prof. Haynes has used the organization’s online Leaders Forum as a way to spread ideas, foster creativity and connect and support TU volunteers well outside of his immediate geographic reach. Prof. Haynes was presented with the award last week at TU’s 2019 Annual Meeting held in Rogers, AK.

Both Prof. Haynes and his wife, Norma, have dedicated decades of combined service to TU’s mission. From the TU Awards Ceremony program:

“From City Catch, a program that connects Baltimore families to the importance of keeping local rivers clean, to the launch and revitalization of many local chapters, they have poured heart and talent into TU as a couple.

Steadfastly focused on ensuring the next generation of leaders follow in their footsteps, the pair have helped recruit young and passionate members into the leadership ranks.

Whether you know if or not, your own chapter has likely benefited from an idea fostered in Norma’s chapter or a resource designed or shared by Don in the Tacklebox or Community Forum. Thanks to Don and Norma, TU is thriving in the Mid-Atlantic, and their model of investing in the future leadership is being spread far and wide.”

On Saturday, Oct. 5, UB’s Liberal Arts and Policy Building made its debut in Doors Open Baltimore, a guided tour of some of Baltimore’s historic buildings. School of Public and International Affairs faculty member Assistant Professor Sarah Federman was responsible for adding UB to the popular city event after discovering some of its fascinating history. Prof. Federman gave tours of the historic building (located at 10 W. Preston St.) to over 160 people, pointing to what remains of the Knights of Pythians Castle for which the building was first constructed. Visitors marveled at the dragon flag poles outside, the zodiac signs and the stained glass windows designed by this fraternal order that served as the Grand Lodge for the roughly 30 smaller Pythian organizations around the city. The building—which is now used for UB classes and offices—once held an auditorium for 700, was the home of the Club Charles nightclub and housed two different banks (Loyola Federal Savings and Loans, and Crestar). UB alum and now Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos bought the building in the late 1990s until UB secured the funds from the state needed to purchase the building. The building, designed by architect Clyde Friz, cost $750,000 to build in 1926 and was sold to UB for just over $2 million.

Check out the latest news and updates from the College of Public Affairs…

On Monday, Feb. 5, the spring 2018 special topics course commemorating the 50^th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign kicks off its public lecture series with guest speaker, Gordon K. Mantler. Mantler is a professor of history and of writing at George Washington University, and author of Power to the Poor: Black-Brown Coalition and the Fight for Economic Justice, 1960-1974. Mantler’s talk will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. in UB’s Town Hall, located in the H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons. The event is FREE and open to the public.

Learn more about the course: http://blogs.ubalt.edu/poorpeoplescampaign/

Negotiations and Conflict Management graduate Shilesha Bamberg, M.S. ’17, has spent nearly a year working on a bill on human trafficking, which was recently introduced to Congress by Senator Sherrod Brown. Bamberg’s work on the bill began during her time spent interning in Senator Brown’s office as a 2017 Congressional Fellow on Women and Public Policy, an opportunity she earned during her final semester of graduate school at UB.

The text of the proposed bill is now available online: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2305/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Sherrod+Brown%22%5D%7D&r=1

Doctor of Public Administration student Lyndsay Bates has been selected as a 2018 ASPA Founders Fellow. The 2018 class of fellows is comprised of 25 graduate students and new professionals from around the country. The competitive fellowship, launched by the American Society of Public Administration in 2006, was created to support the next generation of public service leaders through a series of professional development opportunities. The fellowship will enable Bates to attend ASPA’s annual conference this March in Denver, CO where she’ll present her research. Additionally, fellows receive a year-long mentorship with a seasoned practitioner or senior scholar and have access to tailored professional development webinars that address their specific educational and professional goals.

M.A. in Global Affairs and Human Security student Carolina Todo Bom (left) and M.S. in Negotiations and Conflict Management student Blessing Olatimehin (right) have been named 2018 United Nations Association (UNA–NCA) Graduate Fellows. According to the UNA-NCA website, the Fellows Program offers participants the chance to build strong professional and academic skills through relevant internship experiences and a series of 10 seminars on global issues and the United Nations. Bom and Olatimehin are among a diverse group of 22 fellows who come from various universities in the Washington metropolitan area.

During the holiday break, Assistant Professor Sarah Federman worked with Project COMMON BOND, a program that supports college students who have lost a parent to terrorism. Grown out of Tuesday’s Children, which was created to support those impacted by 9/11, Project COMMON BOND now supports young people from all over the world grappling with challenging losses and violent conflict. The January seminar in which Federman participated works specifically with students who want to learn more about conflict resolution: either to help their home nations (U.S., Haiti, Palestine, Ireland, Norway, Bosnia, Columbia, Argentina, India, Kenya, etc.) address conflict or to help them respond productively to their own losses. The seminar included conflict resolution theory and practice as well as spoken-word poetry and theater games drawing on the “Theatre of the Oppressed” methodologies.

Asst. Prof. Sarah Federman (top row, far left) with the January seminar participants

Federman will also deliver a talk—“Narrative & Conflict: How our words perpetuate and/or transform conflict”—at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (233 N. Charles St.) from 9-11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11.

It’s only a month into the new year and Associate Professor Sascha Sheehan has already penned six op-eds for various publications, including Fox News, The Hill, Washington Examiner, and Newsmax. His latest article, co-authored with University of Michigan Professor Emeritus Raymond Tanter, challenges an argument made by a leading Iran scholar at AEI and was a lead story in The National Interest, the leading journal associated with the realist school of foreign policy thought.

For more on Prof. Sheehan’s work, follow him on Twitter @profsheehan or check out his website www.professorsheehan.com.

Blaine Getachew, a student in the M.P.A. program, was offered and has accepted the position of Procurement Sourcing Lead at Johns Hopkins University. “As always, I credit some of this to UB as it has opened many doors for me in the field of public service,” said Blaine. “But I also credit Prof. Kelechi Uzochukwu. These positions require a significant amount of math and statistics, and her class gave me the confidence to go for it (and that I did)!” Blaine expects to complete her program in spring 2018.

Asst. Prof. Kelechi Uzochukwu

And speaking of Prof. Uzochukwu, her article, “Who Engages in the Coproduction of Local Public Services and Why? The Case of Atlanta, Georgia” was accepted for publication in Public Administration Review, a leading journal in the field of public administration research, theory and practice. Additionally, the journal has invited her to create a podcast recording summarizing her manuscript.

Senator Ben Cardin (left) and lecturer Tiffaney Parkman (right)

In late October, lecturer and B.A. in Human Services Administration program director Tiffaney Parkman was presented with the “Keeper of the Flame” Award from the Baltimore County Branch of the NAACP for her work in the community. She also received citations from Senator Ben Cardin, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Delegate Adrienne Jones and the Baltimore County Council.

In his role as the Regent for the Maryland Association of Healthcare Executives (MAHCE), lecturer and B.S. in Health Systems Management program director Alan S. Weisman presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Ronald R. Peterson, President of the Johns Hopkins Health System and Executive Vice President of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Mr. Peterson is retiring at the end of 2017, after 44 years of healthcare management. The award was presented at MAHCE’s Education and Networking conference held on Oct. 17 at the Sheppard Pratt Conference Center in Towson, MD.

Ronald R. Peterson (left) and Alan S. Weisman (right)

School of Criminal Justice Professors Andrea Cantora and Renita Seabrook will serve as panelists at an event titled, “Education for liberation: The politics of promise and reform inside and beyond America’s prisons,” to be held on Nov. 14 in Washington, D.C. The event will bring together authors, advocates, returned citizens, and other experts to discuss prison education and reentry programs.

Watch a video of the event.

Asst. Prof. Andrea Cantora

Assoc. Prof. Renita Seabrook

Last month, Prof. Seabrook penned an op-ed for The Daily Record titled, “Let’s get our citizenship back.” Seabrook, who directs UB’s undergraduate program in Nonprofit Management and Community Leadership, wrote about how the citizens of Baltimore are determined to meet local problems with local solutions. Read the full op-ed.

Lisette Engel, M.P.A. ’16

Lisette Engel, M.P.A. ‘16, was recently hired as the executive director of The Dwelling Place, a nonprofit organization in Gaithersburg, MD that supports homeless families in their pursuit of self-sufficiency by providing housing, education, financial and life skills, and career enhancement.

From Lisette: “My specialization was in public and nonprofit management, and because one day I’d like to run for office, I’d been looking at ways to be more involved in government locally. I recently found out that I was appointed to the Community Action Board of Montgomery County, meaning I’ll be part of an advisory/working group that works for low-income and working families in the county. I’m so excited about all the amazing things I’ll be a part of and the great people I’ll meet. UB was such a good fit for me and a big thank you to Toyette Sullivan—UB Student Support Services Coordinator at the Universities at Shady Grove—for her support and for always answering all of my questions.”