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Dear Friends:
At the Policy School, we understand that real change rarely comes in a single leap. It unfolds through bold, steady steps grounded in evidence, trust, and collaboration, what I call radical incrementalism. Progress requires both vision and discipline, and above all, the courage to continue.
This month, Nature featured reflections on the global plastics treaty negotiations, including a World View article I authored and an editorial underscoring the essential role of formalized science and informal diplomatic spaces. One line captured the heart of our approach at the school: the need to expand informal diplomatic spaces, where negotiators who hold what might seem irreconcilable positions can meet and get to know each other as people, not just as representatives of their country's official position. That is how trust is built, and how breakthroughs begin.
You will see that spirit reflected throughout the stories below: faculty advancing solutions for water affordability and urban decarbonization, students honored for extraordinary bravery, and our community's determination to learning, connecting, and making a difference together.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Warmly,
Maria
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Maria Ivanova
Director, School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs
Co-Director, the Plastics Center at Northeastern
Professor of Public Policy
| | "DOERS AND DREAMERS" SPOTLIGHT | | clockwise from top left: Joe Carruthers with his daughter; on patrol in Afghanistan; police academy picture; receivng the Hanna Award in Oct 2025 from Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey | |
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Beyond the Call of Duty: MPA Student Honored for Life-Saving Bravery
MPA student Joe Carruthers ’26 was one of 19 Massachusetts police and state troopers honored, at a ceremony at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, with the annual George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery. The award is given to law enforcement who “demonstrate extraordinary bravery and courage in the face of extreme risk and certain and imminent danger to life or limb.” It is named for Trooper George L. Hanna, who was killed in the line of duty in 1983, and recognizes acts of courage and dedication by law enforcement. Carruthers, formerly a police officer in Lexington, received the award for stopping an attack by a knife-wielding man on February 12, 2022, and assisting another officer targeted by the assailant. READ MORE
| | UPDATES FROM THE POLICY SCHOOL | |
2025 Impact Report: Policy in Action
The Policy School is proud to share its 2025 Impact Report. See how Policy School faculty and students are bridging the gap between research and real-world results. Our annual report highlights a year of engaged scholarship, experiential learning, and impact that spans communities and continents.
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Leading the Conversation: Three Distinguished Experts Join Policy School as Inaugural Fellows
The Policy School is pleased to welcome Steve Curwood, Alison Sander, and Jamel Zarrouk as the inaugural cohort of Senior Policy Fellows. Fellows contribute to the Policy School through guest lectures, collaboration with faculty, mentorship of students, and thought leadership on urgent policy challenges. READ MORE
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Professor After Hours: Where Curiosity Meets Collaboration
Students wondering what their professors are working on outside of class or how to get involved in research, mentorship, or new projects have a new forum to find out: Professor After Hours. Hosted by the Northeastern Association for Public Policy Students (NAPPS), this hybrid and informal mixer brings together Policy School faculty and students from all campuses for open conversations, collaboration, and networking.
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Community on the Menu: Policy School Debuts Weekly Lunch Gathering
Policy School faculty, students, and staff gathered in the School’s Open Space for the inaugural Policy School Community Lunch Tuesday. This new weekly gathering invites everyone to bring a snack and join in for informal conversation, connection, and community building.
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Shaping the Future: Advisory Council Charts Course Toward Milestone Anniversary
The Policy School's Advisory Council met to explore strategies for strengthening the School's community and amplifying its impact as the School anticipates its 20th anniversary. These dedicated volunteer members help shape institutional priorities and play an essential role in advancing the Policy School's core mission.
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Careers in Context: Oakland Panel Tackles Future of Public Service
The Policy School convened a panel discussion on Northeastern University's Oakland campus that brought together experienced public servants to discuss the future of careers in public service. READ MORE
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Art Meets Policy: Prof. Michell's Work Displayed in Paris
Prof. Cara Michell is featured in the exhibition "Paris des vi(ll)es: Intimités publiques," on view at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France, from October 8, 2025 to January 24, 2026. As part of the exhibition opening, Prof. Michell led a participatory mapping workshop for local residents, scholars, and artists. READ MORE
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Making Models Matter: Prof. Zellner Speaks on Actionable Policy Tools
Prof. Moira Zellner spoke at the Complexity Coffee Speaker Series on how participatory modeling can bridge the gap between computational modeling and real-world implementation in the form of actionable policy and decision-making tools.
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Belonging and Becoming: Prof. Agyeman Explores Equity in City Planning
Prof. Julian Agyeman from Tufts University delivered a talk on "Just Sustaibabilities in Policy, Planning, and Practice" as part of the Policy School Seminar Series. Who can belong in our cities, he proposed, will ultimately determine what our cities can become. Prof. Agyeman brought this concept to life through compelling examples spanning urban planning and design, food justice, and the 'Minneapolis Paradox,’ demonstrating that true sustainability cannot exist without justice and equity at its core.
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When the Tap Runs Dry: Tackling Water Access and Affordability
Prof. Sharmila Murthy spoke at the Northeastern School of Law on the increasing unaffordability of household water, which threatens basic water accesss for millions of Americans, and how state and local governments could modify their utility laws to overcome legal barriers to affordability.
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Decarbonizing Cities: Prof. Fitzgerald Pushes for Climate Action and Sustainability
Prof. Joan Fitzgerald presented at an "Urban Decarbonization: Priorities for COP 30." Organizers noted that decarbonization at the city-scale may hold the key to success. Currently, the world’s cities generate 75% of the world’s CO2 emissions, and many of the required transformations are most tangible at the city level, where policies favoring bike lanes, green businesses, electrified transport, and sustainable infrastructure are made.
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What Women Want: Leaders Shape Future of Public Service Education
Building community across schools of public service, women deans and directors gathered in Flagstaff, AZ for the second annual convening of women leaders in public service education. Hosted by Policy School Director Maria Ivanova, Carissa Slotterback (University of Pittsburgh), and Victoria DeFrancesco Soto (University of Arkansas), the convening created space for reflection, connection, and shared purpose.
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Decolonizing the Classroom: Prof. Stanica on Integrating Diverse Traditions
Prof. Cristina Stanica took part in the panel “Decolonizing PA Education and Embedding Philosophical Inquiry” at this year’s NASPAA conference. She presented “Integrating Comparative and Diverse Administrative Traditions in Public Administration Education."
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When Federal Funds Fall Short: Exploring a New Path Forward for Massachusetts
Policy School Advisory Council member David Halbert attended the Focus 2025 Conference in Devens, MA held by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, where David serves on the Board, as did Prof. Kimberly Lucas. The gathering brought together policymakers, advocates, and community members committed to finding solutions in the aftermath of federal funding cuts and positioning Massachusetts as a leader showing what is possible when we come together and invest in our communities.
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Impact at Scale: Prof. Prakash's Initiative Reaches Across Entire Indian State
Prof. Nishith Prakash continues to play a pivotal role in the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program (EMDP) now scaling across an entire Indian state of 50 million people and creating pathways for 30,000+ students to thrive in the modern economy. READ MORE
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Beyond the Algorithm: Prof. Zellner on What AI Ethics Misses in Planning
Prof. Moira Zellner presented “Planning Ethics and AI: Moving Beyond a ‘Problems with the Technology’ Framing" in Minneapolis. She discussed ethical issues related to genAI modeling and how considerations of bias, privacy, equity and inclusion, accountability and transparency, and mis/disinformation often focus fail to capture broader impacts that are core to the planning field. READ MORE
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Building from the Ground Up: Prof. Lucas Advises Mayors on Early Childhood Systems
Prof. Kimberly D. Lucas was an invited resource expert and speaker at the inaugural Hunt Institute Mayors Leadership Fellows event in Fort Worth, TX. The event brought together 15 mayors and councilmembers from across the country to discuss leading initiatives in early childhood and K-12 education. Dr. Lucas joined Kathy Stohr (Pritzker Children's Initiative) and Josh Davis (StriveTogether) in a conversation titled "Laying the Foundation: How Mayors Strengthen Early Childhood Systems."
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Stars in their Eyes: Michele Rosenthal on Leadership and Student Success
Michele Rosenthal, Associate Director of Student Experience and Graduate Co-op Success, presented "I Am Still the Starry-Eyed New Professional" to members of the CSSH undergraduate academic advising staff. She provided an overview of her multi-faceted professional experience and discussed her approach to leadership, advising, and navigating the higher education landscape.
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Cell Phones and Cities: Policy School Students Present at Leading Mobility Conference
PhD student Josh Rosen and BARI postdoc Sarah Sanchez traveled to Paris to present at NetMob 2025, the primary conference on the use of cellphone mobility data for social/urban science. Josh presented work examining how inequality in access to time as a resource leads to urban inequality such as segregation. Sarah spoke about a collaboration with the SUNLab to mitigate bias in cellphone mobility data to better estimate patterns of segregation across the city.
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Mining for Insights: PhD Student Publishes Brief on Industrial Policy and Fragmentation
PhD student Maddie Craig-Scheckman has published her first brief in a series on Minerals-Based Industrial Policies in a Fragmenting World, produced by the Jain Family Institute (JFI), a think tank based in New York City, where she serves as a non-resident fellow. READ THE BRIEF
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PhD Alumnus Spotlight: Sushant Kumar
PhD alumnus Sushant Kumar recently completed one year as Assistant Professor at Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, at O.P. Jindal Global University, India. He is currently working on projects exploring sociotechnical imaginaries of AI in popular Indian discourse and alternative futures of GenAI in Indian higher education. READ MORE
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From Paris to London: PhD Student Explores Sustainability and Social Equity
PhD student Sebastián Ramirez attended the Columbia University Summer School in Paris on Sustainability and Development, supported by a scholarship offered by Mirova Research Center and SIPA. He then went to the Queer Conference at the London School of Economics (LSE), an academic gathering that brings together scholars working on issues of gender, sexuality, and social equity from multiple disciplines.
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Planet Action 2025 | Mon, Nov 15th–17th| MIT campus (Cambridge, MA)
Join the TEDxBoston speaker series, where researchers and innovators scale breakthroughs in biodiversity, circular economies, and planetary intelligence, and turn insight into global impact. MPA student Bella Wood '26 will deliver a Day 1 talk on "Intergenerational Living Laboratories." Policy School Director Maria Ivanova will moderate a Day 2 discussion on "Shaping Policy from Neighborhoods to Nations" and offer a Day 3 reflection at the New England Aquarium on the issues she raised in her TedX talk last year on "The Plastic Paradox."
Register here
Boston Data Portal Workshop | Mon, Nov 10th (5:30 pm–7:00 pm ET) | Northeastern Crossing, 1175 Tremont Street
The Boston Data Portal, overseen by BARI, now has updated data, which include 911 and 311 calls and building permits through 2024 and property assessments for 2025 for Boston as well as the most recent American Community Survey release for all of Massachusetts. You can visualize the data on the Boston Area Research Map or download them (with full documentation) through the Boston Data Library. The data are ideal for anyone and everyone curious about crime, housing, land use, or other topics related to Boston's communities and can be used for research, advocacy, planning, and more. If you’d like to learn how to use the Boston Data Portal in your work or advocacy, please join this free workshop.
Register Here
State of the World Series | Thu, Nov 13th (5:00 pm–6:15 pm ET) | 909 Renaissance Park
The State of the World Series aims to shed light on several major issues that will impact our world in the coming year and discuss how international cooperation can help address these challenges. Each year, this series convenes a dynamic panel of experts with a range of perspectives to exchange and share ideas.
This year’s panel features Professors Kaija Schilde (Boston University), Jennifer Erikson (Boston College) and Xiaoxiao Shen (Northeastern University), moderated by Center Director, Prof. Mai’a K. Davis Cross.
GIS Day | Wed, Nov 19th (4:00 pm–5:00 pm ET) | Northeastern University
This year’s theme, inspired by Esri’s GIS Day, is: “Geo-Generalist Era: Where Spatial Meets Everything.” Today’s geospatial thinkers are increasingly geo-generalists—applying spatial insight across many disciplines. From public health to marketing, climate science to logistics, GIS is becoming a core competency in solving complex, real-world challenges.
Register Here
Book Launch: The Politics of Global Rescue with Sidita Kushi | Wed, Dec 3rd (5:00 pm–6:15 pm ET) | 909 Renaissance Park
Why do some humanitarian crises, like Kosovo and Libya, spur humanitarian military intervention, while others, such as Darfur or Myanmar, are relegated to the margins of global agendas? In her newest book, From Kosovo to Darfur, Prof. Sidita Kushi shows that this selectivity gap is not about geopolitical interests or humanitarian norms alone, but also about where crises occur and how they are perceived by Western political elites. Intrastate crises closer to the Western sphere and framed as genocide or systematic killing are more likely to prompt third-party intervention than distant crises narrated as identity-based civil wars. Drawing on new global data and case studies of Kosovo, Libya, and Darfur, this talk will unpack the regional biases, the politics of perception, and their consequences for understanding the humanitarian military intervention phenomenon.
Sidita Kushi, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Politics at Mount Holyoke College and a Non-Residential Fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Northeastern University, an M.A. in Political Science and Economics from Northeastern University, and a B.A. in Economics and International Studies from St. John Fisher University.
Reading Between the Policies | details TBD
Engage in policy discussions that are tailored to this semester’s chosen book! Connect with students from across Northeastern campuses in a collaborative environment. This semester's book will be The Pointillistic City by Prof. Dan O'Brien.
NAPPS weekly meeting | every Friday | NAPPS Weekly Meeting | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
If you’ve ever wanted to step up, speak out, and shape the world around you, then NAPPS (Northeastern Association for Public Policy Students) is the place to be. Whether you’re eager to test your skills in leadership roles, brainstorm innovative policy solutions, or engage with the larger policy community, NAPPS offers the perfect platform. It’s a space where you don’t just learn—you lead, experiment, and grow.
| | | | Making a Difference from the Local to the Global | | | | | |
