“THE TYPICAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION STUDENT IS INTERESTED IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOME MEANINGFUL WAY.”

Professor Jeffrey Straussman joined Syracuse University as a faculty in 1979. In 1975 he earned a PhD in Political Science from the City University of New York and before that, he completed an MA at Hunter College in the same city.
He is currently the Associate Dean for Maxwell School and Chair of the Public Administration Department. One of his main characteristics is to be very popular and appreciated by the students of Public Administration. In 1999 he was distinguished with the prize for superior teaching, being declared as the Maxwell Professor of Teaching Excellence.

Professor Straussman has an important international academic experience .In 1992 he was a Scholar for Fulbright Foundation at Budapest‘s University of Economic Sciences where he taught Public Administration and Policy Analysis. He also assisted the Hungarian faculty in developing a Public Affairs Department. He has traveled to different regions of the world to do research and to teach the benefits of Public Management skills. He has worked in Macedonia, Israel, Venezuela and China, among others.

We have good and bad news about Dr Straussman’s near future: the good news tell us about his nomination as the new Dean of Rockefeller College for Public Affairs at the University of Albany, NY. The bad news tells us that Maxwell School is loosing a value since July 1st.

1. When and why did you join Maxwell School?
   I joined the Maxwell school in 1979 as an assistant professor because i was impressed with the policy oriented research and teaching in the department of public administration.
    

2. What specifically about the position of Chair and Associate Dean as Maxwell really attracted you to the position?
   I have great respect and admiration for the intellectual capabilities of my colleagues.
    

3. In the last few years, the Maxwell School of Public Affairs has been highly rated in the polls. How is Maxwell contributing to reform in the public sector in the United States?
   Maxwell's contribution comes in a small way by providing all three sectors who have skills and knowledge to work on behalf of the citizenry--to make the polity a better place.
    

4. Which is the profile of the PA Program student?
   The typical public administration student is interested in public affairs and wants to make a difference in some meaningful way.
    

5. How do you see Maxwell’s role in the community? How can Maxwell students, who are learning these skills, bring them to the community?
   By community I assume you mean local community and Maxwell students have always tried to contribute through volunteering and otherwise being a positive force.
    

6. Can you mention some alumni from Maxwell that hold or right now hold public positions in USA or abroad?
   There are so many but one person who quickly comes to mind is Robert Henke, who is assistant secretary in the department of veterans affairs. There are many, many alumni in high level positions in Korea and the deputy minister of culture in Vietnam is a Maxwell graduate.
    

7. How would you describe the “Maxwell Mafia” and the role of networking?
   Maxwell alumni are proud of their connection with the school and are usually supportive of younger Maxwell students searching for jobs and try to help.
    

8. What is different from this year and your first year at Maxwell? How could you summarize your experience at Maxwell?
   Well, as you know, I will be leaving to become dean of Rockefeller College, university of Albany so the class of 2005-06 will always seem special to me.
    

9. What would be your main recommendations in terms of future plans and challenges for the next Chair and Associate Dean? What message could you provide to the Maxwell students?
   Stick with what works--a commitment to management and policy relevant teaching and research, yet always seeking to improve the program. Pay attention to global trends and think of how they should be brought into the program.
    

10. What are your future plans?
    My immediate plan to learn my new job as dean and bring some of my experiences I have learned at Maxwell to the Rockefeller College of public affairs and policy.

©2005-06 Guillermo Gonzales-Arica, Syracuse University For technical assistance contact gugonzal@maxwell.syr.edu The views expressed on this website are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer or Syracuse University.

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