UMBC Department of Public Policy

Public Policy News

Eric Zeemering receives APSA award

Posted on November 28, 2012 3:45 PM |Permalink

Public Policy assistant professor Eric Zeemering has been named the 2012 recipient of both the Clarence Stone Young Scholar Award and the Norton Long Developing Scholar Award from the Urban Politics Section of the American Political Science Association, in recognition of his scholarship, teaching and public service.

In the News: Bess Keller and Don Norris

Posted on November 28, 2012 3:21 PM |Permalink

Public policy MPP student Bess Keller wrote an op-ed in the Baltimore Sun about the fate of a Baltimore City school garden: "Harvest of disappointment: Good intentions weren't enough to make a garden thrive at one Baltimore school."

Don Norris was quoted in a Columbia Patch story about expanding Route 32: "Poll: Should MD 32 Expand to Four Lanes Through Clarksville?" He also commented to the Baltimore Sun about the aftermath of passage of the referendum to expand gambling in Maryland: "Lawmakers who backed gambling look now to collect."

Professors release study on economic impacts of Maryland Dream Act

Posted on October 12, 2012 12:24 PM |Permalink

Two UMBC professors have released the results of a cost-benefit analysis of the Maryland Dream Act, which is subject to a referendum vote in the November 6 election. The Dream Act would allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at public universities in Maryland if they meet certain conditions. The estimates from a cost-benefit analysis prepared by Dr. Marvin Mandell (Public Policy) and Dr. T. H. Gindling (Economics) suggest that the net economic effect of the Maryland Dream Act will be positive, and the benefits will be substantial. The estimated total net economic benefits of each annual cohort of students who take advantage of the Dream Act are approximately $66 million in 2011 dollars. That estimate includes increased lifetime earning for students, as well as higher income and property tax payments to federal, state and local governments, and public savings from lower rates of incarceration.

The study, "Private and Government Fiscal Costs of the Maryland Dream Act," has received extensive press coverage, and was the basis for editorials in the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun. A summary of the press coverage can be found here.

Eric Zeemering talks about Baltimore's "strong mayor" system on WYPR

Posted on June 27, 2012 12:22 PM |Permalink

Sheilah Kast of WYPR's Maryland Morning interviewed Dr. Eric Zeemering on June 27 about Baltimore's "strong mayor" form of government, and how that system compares to others around the country. Go to story

Rebecca Missell selected one of New York Jewish Week's 36 Under 36

Posted on May 23, 2012 2:18 PM |Permalink

Rebecca Missel (MPP, 2006) has been selected as one of New York Jewish Week's "36 Under 36." The magazine selected 36 up-and-coming young Jews who are innovators in Jewish arts, philanthropy, media, social justice, the rabbinate and community life. Rebecca was selected for organizing the group Jersey Tribe, which serves young adults in New Jersey.

Steven Hemelt receives New Scholars Award

Posted on May 7, 2012 2:55 PM |Permalink

Dr. Steven Hemelt (Ph.D., 2009) received the 2012 New Scholars Award from the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP). He was presented with the award, which includes a $2,000 honorarium, at the AEFP Annual Meeting in March. Dr. Hemelt is currently a post doctoral research fellow at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

John Olszewski named to "20 in Their Twenties" list

Posted on April 17, 2012 10:28 AM |Permalink

Public Policy Ph.D. student John Olszewski has been named one of the Daily Record's "20 in Their Twenties." The list honors Maryland’s up-and–comers who are successful by or before the age of 30 based on their professional accomplishments, civic involvement and impact of achievement. John is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 6 in Baltimore County. He also leads the 21-member Baltimore County Delegation in the House of Delegates as its Chairman—the youngest ever to be elected to that position.

Marv Mandell receives Charles Woolston Award

Posted on February 7, 2012 3:34 PM |Permalink

Public Policy Professor Marvin Mandell received the UMBC Athletics Department’s Dr. Charles Woolston Award at the Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony on February 4, 2012. The Athletics Department gives the award to an individual who provides outstanding service to the department and strives to improve the student-athlete experience. Dr. Mandell has served as the university’s NCAA Faculty Representative for the past nine years.

Eric Zeemering receives IBM Business of Government grant

Posted on January 10, 2012 11:25 AM |Permalink

Eric Zeemering has received a research award from the IBM Center for the Business of Government. Through this grant Dr. Zeemering and colleague Daryl Delabbio will develop, “A County Manager’s Guide to Local Government Service Collaboration.” The IBM Center’s goal for the highly competitive award is “to help public sector executives and managers address real-world problems by supporting leading researchers who produce empirical evidence to inform the debates about whether particular management approaches will improve government performance.”

New book on terrorism by C. Mustafa Unal

Posted on December 23, 2011 10:09 AM |Permalink

Dr. C. Mustafa Unal (Ph.D., 2009) has published a book, Counterterrorism in Turkey: Policy Choices and Policy Effects toward the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) (Routledge, 2011). The book, based on Dr. Unal's dissertation, examined counterterrorism policies from the perspectives of the government and the PKK. He evaluated whether the Turkish government's policy choices so far have been effective (and in what circumstances), and how they have affected both the level and nature of terrorist violence in Turkey.