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Friends and Colleagues: 
We had two fascinating lectures last week, reflecting on Obama's leadership style. Dr. Theda Skocpol, our Robert C. Wood Visiting Professor, considered whether Obama is really a change agent, and whether his leadership style (compared say to Ronald Reagan or Franklin Roosevelt) can lead to dramatic change. Dr. Bernard Mayer, our Slomoff Lecturer, sponsored by Dispute Resolution alum Ben Slomoff, commented how Obama's leadership style incorporates many of the strategies of conflict resolution, but also wondered whether this is the right kind of leadership style for a President.
As students, teachers and practitioners of public policy, this is an interesting conundrum. I think people of all philosophic persuasions were attracted to Obama's aspirations to change the environment in Washington, and to be a "post-partisan" President. But can it really work? I have a quote on my desk from Leonard Hand, "The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right." I think this is a critically important message for people in the public policy business. But as Bernie Mayer and Theda Skocpol wondered as well, I'm not sure that it's right for people in the politics business. We'll keep musing and watching.
Do check the jobs list this week. There are a couple of particularly interesting opportunities, including a Policy Analyst at the New England Public Policy Center of the Federal Reserve Bank, and Associate Commissioner for Economic and Workforce Development with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.
The UMass Boston Strategic Planning Task Force has forwarded a draft vision, UMass Boston 2025: A Campus Transformed, to Provost Winston Langley for his review. As you'll be hearing, UMass is undertaking a massive task of increasing its research status, overhauling all of its administrative systems, as well as following through on the Master Plan to rebuild almost the entire campus. All this, while the University also retains its commitment to teaching and community engagement as core values. This is an exciting time to be on this campus, as Chancellor Keith Motley and Provost Winston Langley are empowering us to think big and act boldly.
A few other notes:
· Craig Murphy, the M. Margaret Ball Professor of International Relations, Department of Political Science at Wellesley College, has agreed to be the first new faculty member for our new Department of Global Policy Studies (temporary name). We are thrilled to have Craig join us. We hope that within the next few days, two more distinguished faculty will be joining us.
· The first Compleat Biographer Conference will be held on May 15, 2010 at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The conference, organized by the Biographers International Organization (BIO) and hosted by the McCormack Graduate School ,will focus on the practical aspects of the craft and art of biography. It also aims to create a setting in which biographers can meet and share experiences with other biographers.
· Congratulations to John Harding of the MSPA Class of 2010, who was presented the Paul G. Keough Outstanding Student of Public Administration Award by Mass ASPA (American Society for Public Administration). The award was named in memory of Paul G. Keough, Chapter Vice-President and Acting Regional Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. John is the first McCormack Graduate School student to win this prestigious award.
· MGS and the Collins Center are hosting a discussion of the 2010 UMass Boston Undergraduate Student Government Elections. Moderated by Professor Mo Cunningham and coordinated by CRSCAD's Jenn Brunson, we have invited the candidates, campaign managers and the elections committee to join in reviewing the recent student government election campaign. The event takes place Thursday, May 13th 3-4:30PM in UMass Boston's Ryan Lounge. Click to RSVP
· Andrea Tull, an outstanding PhD candidate in our Department of Gerontology, was awarded a dissertation fellowship from the Boston College Center on Retirement Research. Congratulations Andrea.
· Two MGS-related book publications: former MSPA Adjunct Professor David Kassel has just published an interesting book on public sector project management, including the Big Dig. There are important lessons here for people in our line of work. And Tim Glynn Burke (MSPA '06) has co-authored The Power of Social Innovation: How Civic Entrepreneurs Ignite Community Networks for Good, with Stephen Goldsmith, soon to be COO for the City of New York, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Check them out.
· We are very proud of our Public Policy and Public Affairs student employee Haben Tsegai. She walked twenty miles for the Project Bread Walk for Hunger this past weekend. Haben garnered $900 in contributions for her effort. Haben was trying to raise $1000 to be part of the Heart and Soul Club, so if any of the MGS team are interested and did not contribute you can still donate to Walk for Hunger through Haben and help her attain her goal. Haben will be graduating this June with a double major in Women's Studies and Sociology and will always be part of the "Heart and Soul" of McCormack Graduate School. Congratulations Haben!
One of our alums, Stephanie Andrews (MSPA'98, and CAGS in Women in Politics and Public Policy '95) took strong exception to my comments in the last Update on Obama's success with healthcare reform and urging him to move ahead on financial re-regulation. She wrote "You are an educator and I am incredulous that you use this forum to express your personal political views on healthcare, financial regulation and taxes. I suggest that your personal political opinions are better expressed privately." I'd love to have your feedback on how I use the McCormack Update: Has it been too political? Are my musings on public policy issues of interest? Are there other things that I can do to make the Update more useful? I look forward to hearing from you at Steve.Crosby@umb.edu.
Steve Crosby, Dean
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Job Opportunities of Interest |
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UMass Boston Career Services
| Need additional assistance on your job/internship search or resume?
Visit Career Services or call 617-287-5519.
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Around Town
Boston Globe, May 1, 2010
Brief article about the Plough & Stars hosting a fundraiser for "The Peacemaker," a documentary about Moakley Distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation Padraig O'Malley.
Lantigua: 'There's going to be pain'
Eagle-Tribune, May 1, 2010
Article about impending layoffs in Lawrence that mentions Stephen Lisauskas, a management consultant working with the Edward Collins Jr. Center for Public Management to improve Lawrence's finances.
J Street to present program on Israel
Brookline Tab, April 24, 2010
Article about an upcoming program concerning Israel at Brookline's Ehrenfried Hall that mentions MGS Professor Professor David Matz.
Economic Snapshot for April 2010
Center for American Progress, April 21, 2010
MGS Professor Christian Weller writes about the economic recovery beginning to take shape.
In Governor's Race, Cahill Finds Himself as the Candidate in the Middle
WBUR, April 15, 2010
Steve Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is interviewed about state Treasurer Timothy Cahill's run for governor as an independent candidate.
U.S. Should Follow Massachsetts' Lead on Ocean Planning
SouthCoastToday.com, April 15, 2010
Steve Crosby, MGS Dean, coauthored this column about how a national ocean policy being considered would bring to the forefront the work done in Massachusetts to establish the nation's first comprehensive plan for managing state coastal waters by agencies.
Analysis: Nigeria's Smoldering Crisis in Jos
Globalpost.com, April 14, 2010
Darren Kew, Associate Professor, of the MGS Graduate Program in Dispute Resolution, co-authored this op-ed article.
Iran's Parliament Limits Its Power as a Watchdog
New York Times, April 14, 2010
Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy visiting scholar Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, is quoted in this article Iran's Parliament.
Town awarded $150,000 for High School Solar Panels
The Daily News, April 6, 2010
Article about Amesbury High School which, with the help of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management, won a $150,000 grant for solar panels.
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Do you know a non-Rotarian, midcareer professional interested in conflict resolution, peace-building, and mediation? Is this person ready to learn new skills, become better equipped to help prevent and resolve conflict worldwide, and lead others toward peace? If so, you may have found an ideal candidate for the Rotary Peace Centers program, which offers fellowships to pursue a master's degree or professional development certificate in fields related to peace and conflict resolution. This program helps promising leaders expand their global outlook, strengthen their negotiation skills, and ultimately make a positive impact on future peace and conflict resolution efforts worldwide. Will your club and district sponsor a candidate? Download the application.
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The Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy
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Register now for two online courses this summer
Gender and Conflict Resolution around the World
 Using case studies from around the world, Prof. Amani El Jack will lead students in examining a range of issues facing women in dispute and conflict prevention and resolution. Course runs June 1-July 15.
Click here to find out more - and to register for this course.
 Women's Leadership in a Global Perspective
Watch Prof. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo on YouTube to learn about this new online course: Women's Leadership in a Global Perspective. Course runs June 1-August 26. Click here to find out more - and to register.
In this course, students will explore leadership theories, examine leadership styles and sources of power in different countries, and develop action plan for their own leadership development.
On May 6th, a panel on "Women Making a Difference," organized by students of the Graduate Program for Women in Politics & Public Policy, will take place from 6:00pm-8:30pm in the Healey Library, 11th floor.
Click for Details
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Please join us to celebrate the release of
Click for Invitation  | Social Change and Nonprofits: Learning Beyond Borders
A collection of essays authored by leaders of social change nonprofits in Boston, Massachusetts and Haifa, Israel, who took part in a transnational peer learning exchange between 2005-2009.
Please RSVP by to Noga Nevel
617.895.8163 nnevel@jcrcboston.org
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Capstone Presentations
Monday, May 10 and Tuesday May 11
5:30PM UMass Boston Campus Center
Third Floor, Room 3540
See flyer for details
Dispute Resolution Masters Project Presentations
Tuesday May 18, 2010
5:30 - 7:00 PM UMass Boston Campus Center, Third Floor, Room 3540
 Cassidy Evans, a Masters Candidate in the Dispute Resolution program, was selected as a 2010 Summer Fellow of Harvard's Program on Negotiation. The Fellowship will be used to fund her project assisting with the Nigeria Legal Professional Exchange that is taking place at UMass-Boston this August and September in conjunction with the Settlement House in Abuja. Additionally she will be researching the role of rule of law in Nigeria. She will present her project and research to the Harvard PON Community in the Fall.
Call for Papers!
Conflict Studies: The New Generation of Ideas
Deadline Extended: May 15
Acceptance Notification: June 9, 2010
Papers Due: August 15, 2010
Submit Proposal Online
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The Center for Democracy & Development
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 Michael Keating, Associate Director of the Center for Democracy and Development, was invited to give a talk on recent developments in Liberia by the Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars at Syracuse University on April 13, 2010.
 On May 3, 2010, Michael Keating and Professor Darren Kew conducted a webinar with students and faculty at the Sorbonne in Paris and students from McCormack on the topic of media coverage of Africa.
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The Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disasters was named "Website of the Week" on the Homeland Security Newsletter. The newsletter is online here.
 Professor Adenrele Awotona, Director of CRSCAD, has been appointed as an Advisor to the International Child Art Foundation's (ICAF) Chile Healing Arts Program. ICAF, which is based in Washington DC, has served as the national art and creativity organization for American children and the international art and creativity organization for the world's children since 1997.
 July 2010 International Conference
Rebuilding Sustainable Communities with the Elderly and Disabled People after Disasters
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Want to post your event?
All submissions should be received at least ten days before the event date. The MGS Update cannot guarantee that all submissions will be published. Inquiries regarding the events published in The MGS Update should be directed to the phone number or email provided. Please send listings to robert.okeefe@umb.edu or call 617.287.5536.
Thank you.
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