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 Message from the Dean
Friends and Colleagues:
It's hard to believe it's the middle of November, meaning we're approaching the end of the first decade of this century. Amazing. Wasn't Y2K just yesterday?
I am meeting with the search committees for our new faculty hires, and we seem to have strong candidates for all positions-1 in Dispute Resolution, 1 in Gerontology, and 2 in Public Policy/Affairs. Our faculty are the heart of the college, and are our most telling statement of our commitment to excellence. It will be exciting to soon welcome 4 more new members.
Our faculty and staff continue to do interesting and diverse research and service projects:
· If you can find a little time, you can still attend Dr.
Adenrele Awotona's conference on "Building
Sustainable Communities for Children and Their
Families After Disasters" which is meeting in the
Campus Center through Wednesday noon. You can
check the program below. It is an ambitious, global
initiative.
· Dr. Carol Hardy-Fanta, Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, is at the University of Chile (she's bi-lingual), working on Women Politics in Chile and US. Read her blog.
And our Commonwealth Compact continues to move forward. Following is a link to a 5 minute video from the May launch; I hope you will watch it. It was a powerful and important moment for our community. And Bob Turner (Director of the Compact) and I co-authored a recent
And finally, if you are in or anywhere near the State House tomorrow (Tuesday) noon, do drop by the Grand Staircase Room in the State House to learn about all of the academic programs we offer at the McCormack Graduate School. Bring friends who might be interested in one of them.
It appears that a "team of rivals" might be shaping up in the Obama Administration. This will tell us something about making public policy.
Sincerely,
Steve Crosby
Dean |
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Job Opportunities of Interest
New postings of the week:
Director of Development and Volunteers
Upham's Corner Charter School
Director of Policy and Research
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation
Executive Director
Upham's Corner Charter School
Executive Director
Houseworks
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| MGS in the News
Hope and a Diverse Nation
Boston Globe - (November 13, 2008)
In America, presidential elections are the ultimate act of community. Millions vote, and, though the contest is usually close, the winner is embraced as everyone's president. An editorial by Steve Crosby, Dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies and Robert Turner, Director of the Commonwealth Compact.
Statehouse News Service - (November 12, 2008)
UMass Boston and Crittenton Women's Union, a non-profit group aimed at helping low-income women attain economic independence, released a report yesterday about Bay State single mothers attempting to enter the middle class being hampered by the inadequacy of government work support programs. Randy Albelda, a UMass Boston professor and co-author of the said, "They earn enough to be eligible but not enough to pay the bills."
MarketWatch - (November 12, 2008)
The Center for Social Policy at UMass Boston in association with the Crittenton Women's Union released a report titled "Fits & Starts: The Difficult Path for Working Single Parents". The report highlights the tough choices Massachusetts low-wage workers must make between taking higher paying jobs and losing critical work supports before they can afford to meet their basic living expenses.
Boston Globe - (November 12, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in an article about how December could be a brutal month for job layoffs in Massachusetts, as the economy worsens and more companies look for ways to cut costs before the end of the year. Clayton-Matthews said there may be reason to believe December job losses will be less than some anticipate, at least in the retail sector. Because of a sharp decrease in consumer spending, many retailers are hiring fewer temporary workers for this holiday shopping season. That means fewer jobs to eliminate after Christmas. The same could be true of companies that supply toys and other goods for the holiday season, he said.
WBZ - Boston - (November 12, 2008)
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby is quoted in an article about the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority deciding to selectively raise tolls for the eastern end of the Mass turnpike. This comes as the latest battle in a long list of battles going on for centuries between eastern and western Massachusetts. "This has been going on for two, three hundred years now," said Crosby
Paige Ransford, Senior Researcher at the McCormack School's Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, was quoted in the fall 2008 issue of Ms. magazine about the Center's recent study entitled Parenting from Prison: Family Relationships of Incarcerated Women in Massachusetts, which she co-authored.
Boston Globe (November 6, 2008)
The John Joseph Moakley Professor of International Peace and Reconciliation at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies Padraig O'Malley is mentioned in a story. O'Malley is commended for his efforts in using politicians from Northern Ireland as mentors for Iraqis.
The Ledger, FL (November 5, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in an article about the nation's financial crisis. "The strength of America's workers' retirement security has been declining for many years and will likely continue to worsen," Weller told the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor."Retirement security has been a growing concern for Americans for many years due to limited retirement-plan coverage, little retirement wealth and increasing risk exposure of the individual," said Weller.
NHPR (November 4, 2008)
Staff journalist of the New England Ethnic Newswire based at UMass Boston, Eduardo de Oliviera is mentioned in a story about first time immigrant voters.
Click here for more stories
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Register Now!
November 16-19, 2008
An international conference on
Rebuilding Sustainable Communities
for Children and their Families after Disasters
McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies
University of Massachusetts at Boston
Inaugural event of the
Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disasters
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The John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at UMass Boston invites you to please come and/or invite your colleagues to join us for an info lunch and to learn more about our graduate programs on beautiful Columbia Point and see how....
WE Can Help Make Public Service Work For You!
Info-Lunch
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
12:00-2 PM
Grand Staircase Room
Massachusetts State House
The McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies offers the following degrees:
Masters in Public Affairs
Masters in Public Affairs-International Relations Track
Doctoral Program in Public Policy
Masters in Dispute Resolution
Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution
Certificate Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy
Masters Program in Gertontology - Research Policy Track
Masters Program in Gerontology - Management of Aging Services Track
Doctoral Program in Gerontology
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60th Anniversary of the Genocide Convention
International Roundtable Discussion
Tuesday, November 18th 2008 4-5:15
Wheatley Bldg 4th Floor Room 148
On 8 December 1948 the General Assembly of the UN adopted a Convention establishing "Genocide" as a criminal norm. However, it took fifty years until this crime was prosecuted before an international criminal tribunal in the Akayesu Case before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Even if the crime of genocide is perceived of as the worst of all international crimes, its application is anything but clear. In addition there is a certain conflict between genocide as a criminal norm and the prohibition of genocide as an obligation under public international law.
The 60th Anniversary of the Genocide Convention is a perfect time to reflect on the origins of the Convention, its present difficulties and the future prospects.
Panelists:
Lynne Tirrell - Philosophy Dept.
Paul Bookbinder - History Dept.
Robert Weiner - McCormack Grad School
Refreshments will be served.
Sponsored by the International Relations Masters Program
of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies
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Women in Politics in Chile & US
 Follow Carol Hardy-Fanta's Commentary from Chile
Read her blog on women & politics in Chile & the US
The idea behind this blog was the fact that I have been invited to Santiago, Chile, to work with a group of women at the University of Chile on building an educational program to promote women in politics. Their program (PROLIFEM-Programa de Liderazgo Femenino en Asuntos Públicos), is the brain child of María de los Ángeles Fernández at the University of Chile.* PROLIFEM will launch in January 2009, and I'm down here sharing my experiences with our Graduate Certificate Program and Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Chile is one of the few countries that has a woman president -- and the US just went through an historic election with a woman presidential candidate who did not win. So what do I have to share with women in Chile about how to promote women in politics? And what will I learn while I'm here? Read my posts, look at the photos, and comment as you wish.
* My visit to Chile is being sponsored by the Fundación Chile 21 and Center for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies (CIEG) at the University of Chile, who received funds from the U.S. Embassy.
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11/19 Learn More About Our Graduate Certificate Program!
Meet the Associate Program Director, Faculty, and Alumnae at UMass Boston's Graduate Studies Showcase on November 19th.
The Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy is a two-semester graduate certificate program that prepares individuals to serve at all levels of government, take on leadership roles in non-profit organizations, hold elected office, and pursue advanced degrees, most frequently in law and public policy. The program offers a unique combination of graduate-level academic work in policy studies, analytical and research skills, and carefully supervised professional field work in addition to advising, counseling, and professional development services.
Where & When
Graduate Studies Showcase
Wednesday, 11/19/08, 4:00-7:30 p.m.
University of Massachusetts Boston
Campus Center Ballroom
Click here to register for the showcase
Click here for transportation and parking information |
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National Hunger and Homelessness Week
This year, UMass Boston is joining the fight against hunger and homelessness by hosting various awareness programs, events and drives throughout the month of November. We will have most of our events during the National Hunger and Homelessness Week, November 16 - 22, 2008. During this week the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement (SLCE) is coordinating several efforts along with several students and clubs on campus to not only to fundraise and solicit donations, but mostly to educate students, faculty and staff about hunger and homelessness issues that are occurring today in Boston and worldwide.
Panel Discussion: Homelessness and the Economy - A Review of Boston
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 3:00 pm
Lipke Auditorium 2nd Floor Science Center
Guest Speakers include:
James Shearer - Board President of the Homeless Empowerment Project
Joe Finn - Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance
Kathy Martinez - a One Family Scholar Graduate
Emily Cohen - Systems Change Organizer at One Family Inc
Documentary Film: "Trouble the Water"
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 6:00 pm
Lipke Auditorium 2nd Floor Science
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, the film tells the story of an aspiring rap artist and her streetwise husband, trapped in New Orleans by deadly floodwaters, who survive the storm and then seize a chance for a new beginning.
Oxfam Hunger Banquet
Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:00 PM
Campus Center Ball Room
Through this eye opening program, organizers and participants experience firsthand how our decisions affect others in the world around hunger by participating in a simulation, hear a guest speaker from Oxfam America, and have a meal that will educate them on the hunger issues worldwide. There are 100 spots available. Attendance is on a first come first come basis.
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Fulbright Voluntary Rule of Law Speaker Program Yields Direct Results
Judge Peter Anderson, Visiting Fellow with the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Co-Director CDD's USAID China project meets with American Consul General in Wuhan, China and Hubei High People's Court.
As a direct result of his fruitful visit to Hubei High Court, and strong interaction with Hubei senior judges in his May 2008 voluntary speaker program organized by ConGen [American Consul General] Wuhan, retired Justice of Massachusetts State Court and Fulbright Specialist Peter Anderson formally invited Hubei High Court to participate in developing a project in the fields of evidence and court management of pre-trial discovery in civil cases funded by USAID. The project would start with a four to five day seminar in Wuhan in the spring of 2009. Participants would be Hubei civil judges and judicial training college judges, and Massachusetts judges and law professors with expertise in evidence and discovery. Following the seminar (perhaps in the fall of 2009), there would also be an opportunity for five to eight Hubei judges who participate in the seminar to spend up to two months in Boston. This study tour would include course work, internships in the Massachusetts courts, and exchanges of views with Massachusetts colleagues and other experts. Both sides met on October 30 to solidify the arrangement.
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