New research in the journal听听by Maxwell postdoctoral scholar Dustin Hill, Professor of Public Health Dave Larsen and a team of researchers has found a strong connection between the prevalence of genetic variations of the COVID-19 virus and higher community transmission.

Testing wastewater to detect viruses in a community is a well-established scientific practice. But knowing the prevalence of a disease has always presented challenges, with science relying on sheer volume and concentration of virus load found to make inexact assumptions.

The team, which included colleagues from SUNY Upstate Medical University, SUNY College of听Environmental Science and Forestry and the New York State Department of Health, looked closely at existing data and genomes from wastewater surveillance collected during the COVID-19 emergency, measuring genetic variation through small, insignificant changes in the virus genome, and comparing that to transmission levels.

To put it simply: they found that the more variation in the viral material in wastewater, the more people were infected.

鈥淣ot only do infections rise when diversity of the virus increases, infections decline as diversity declines,鈥� says Hill, the study鈥檚 lead author. 鈥淲e tested three different ways to measure diversity of the virus genome in wastewater, and all three measures predicted infections with extremely high statistical power.鈥�

While the study analyzed COVID-19, this connection could change how wastewater surveillance is used not just to detect, but to measure disease transmission with implications for monitoring other diseases, including influenza, measles, polio and future viruses that may arise.

鈥�These findings open up new areas of exploration in genetic epidemiology,鈥� says Larsen. 鈥淲e will now be able to estimate transmission from sequencing data, something that has previously not been possible.

Key Takeaways From the Study

• Genetic diversity measured in wastewater is highly predictive of community infection numbers, and superior to current methods that use concentration
• Wastewater genetic data can tell us more than just what variants or subtypes are circulating in each community
• Methods can be applied to any pathogen found in wastewater that can have genetic material sequenced

鈥淭his is exactly the kind of research Maxwell exists to support鈥攔igorous, evidence-based and consequential well beyond the laboratory,鈥� says Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke. 鈥淭he collaboration between Professor Larsen, Dr. Hill and their partners at the New York State Department of Health is a model for how transformative research unfolds: without a roadmap, assembling the right collaborators, working through what didn’t work and ultimately arriving at findings that can make communities healthier and safer. The ability to move from detection to prediction changes what policymakers can do, and when they can do it. That’s not just scientific progress鈥攖hat’s the public good.”

The research project grew from a partnership between 性视界 University, the New York State Department of Health, SUNY Upstate and SUNY ESF that began in March of 2020, in the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak.

As the virus first spread in New York and elsewhere, Larsen proposed using wastewater to detect and monitor the virus at 性视界 University. He assembled a team of researchers from 性视界 and nearby universities to begin developing the wastewater surveillance technology that would eventually become critical to New York State鈥檚 response to the disease and developed into the听.

鈥淭he wastewater program was further developed in 2022 by the addition of sequencing of the detected virus, work that was undertaken by the 5-site sequencing consortium set up by the Wadsworth Center in 2021,鈥� says Kirsten St. George, director of the Virology Laboratory at the Wadsworth Center and co-author of the study. 鈥淭he sequence data generated by the consortium provided the information needed for the genetic variation analysis and transmission correlations reported in this study. Initiated to monitor circulating and emerging variants of the virus, the sequence data generated by the consortium has now proven to be a powerful tool for additional applications.鈥�

In 2024, the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network was designated as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Northeast Region Center of Excellence.

鈥淭he valuable partnerships the department and our world-renowned Wadsworth Center have developed with 性视界 University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and SUNY Upstate Medical University are leading to important new discoveries that are advancing our understanding of not only how to detect COVID in wastewater, but also how to analyze those samples to better predict community transmission,鈥� says New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. 鈥淭he researchers involved in this study remain on the cutting edge of scientific discovery that could change how we look at other pathogens in wastewater, including polio, influenza and measles and establishing wastewater sampling as a reliable public health early warning system for public health threats.鈥�

This latest research, in the article titled 鈥�,鈥� appears in the May 14 issue of听Science, a leading outlet for scientific news and research.

For Eva Quackenbush ’26, an interest in maternal and fetal health that began with personal curiosity has grown into a rigorous public health research project with direct implications for how clinicians monitor and make decisions about the most vulnerable newborns.

Quackenbush, a public health major with a concentration in healthcare management in the , worked under the mentorship of , associate professor of public health, on a study examining whether patterns detected in fetal heart tracing鈥攖he monitoring of a baby鈥檚 heart rate during labor鈥攃an predict short-term outcomes for infants born between 23 and 26 weeks of gestation. These babies occupy a narrow clinical window clinicians call “periviable,” a zone where survival has improved in recent decades but where the tools guiding clinical decisions remain poorly understood.

An Understudied Population

Fetal heart tracing is a well-established tool used to signal when medical intervention may be needed in full-term pregnancies. But its predictive value in periviable births has been largely unexplored. That is the gap Quackenbush and Kmush set out to close.

Their study drew on a retrospective cohort of 90 periviable deliveries at a regional referral hospital in upstate New York between January 2017 and August 2022. In their project, two independent maternal-fetal medicine specialists reviewed four key fetal heart tracing indicators鈥攂aseline heart rate, variability, accelerations and decelerations鈥攁nd compared them against an overall composite score. They analyzed those patterns against neonatal outcomes, including lung disease, eye defects, brain hemorrhage and mortality.

The findings were consistent across every model tested: none of the fetal heart tracing patterns were statistically associated with adverse birth outcomes, meaning that the patterns could not reliably predict which babies would fare worse.

“Our research concluded that the heart tracing patterns in this population of periviable infants have no predictive value,” Quackenbush says. That may sound like a null result, but it is a meaningful one, because establishing what does not predict outcomes in this population is itself a critical step toward better clinical understanding, she says.

Building New Skills

Undertaking this clinical research project required Quackenbush to build an entirely new technical skill set. She had no prior experience with coding, but with guidance from Kmush she learned R, the statistical coding language, and applied it to complex regression analyses and data modeling.

“Dr. Kmush has been an incredible mentor for the statistical analysis work that I have been conducting,” Quackenbush says. “She has been guiding my familiarization with R, as well as the process of preparing research for presentation at all levels.”

Quackenbush鈥檚 听work in the lab was made possible in part by the 性视界 Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), which helped fund her project and teamed her with Kmush as a faculty mentor. Quackenbush also broadened her clinical health background through involvement with the University鈥檚 and an internship with the . And beyond coding, she built competencies in scientific writing and research communication, skills she says she will carry into her next career phase.

This spring, she and Kmush presented their findings at the conference in Baltimore, an unusual distinction for an undergraduate researcher. Quackenbush says they hope their study will serve as a foundation for expanded research in the periviable population, including studies with larger sample sizes to further validate the results.

From Data to Policy

This fall, Quackenbush will begin legal studies at the in New York. Her goal is to work in health policy, focusing on improving health outcomes through policy determinations, compliance issues and interdisciplinary collaboration.

While her future path moves her out of the lab, an experience she says has been as much about personal growth as scientific discovery, Quackenbush sees her time there as central to the work ahead. “While my career won’t be directly related to clinical public health activity, I anticipate including many concepts from the public health field into my work in health policy,” she says.

Whether it鈥檚 analyzing data or shaping health policy, Quackenbush says her goal remains to work toward better outcomes for patients. She leaves the lab having contributed one more piece of a puzzle that clinicians, families and policymakers are still working to 听solve.

As hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship continue to draw national attention, 性视界 University public health expert听听is available to offer insight on transmission risks, outbreak response, and what this unusual case reveals about infectious disease preparedness.

Larsen is a professor and chair of public health in 性视界 University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, whose work includes wastewater-based epidemiology. He notes that hantavirus cases in a cruise ship setting are highly uncommon鈥攁nd raise immediate questions about the vessel’s environment.

“Hantavirus is transmitted by rodents, so I would first wonder about rodents on the cruise ship,” Larsen says. “Person-to-person transmission is incredibly rare and would not be the primary suspect.”

With three deaths already reported, Larsen says identifying the source of infection is the most urgent priority for public health responders. “Knowing how the infections occurred is a primary concern. If there are rodents on the ship with hantavirus鈥攁s I would suspect鈥攖hen removing them would be the next step.”

Larsen also points to wastewater testing as a potentially valuable tool in confirming whether the threat has passed. “Wastewater testing could be useful here to confirm that hantavirus is no longer present on the cruise ship, as could other types of environmental testing,” he says.

On the broader takeaway, Larsen is direct:听“We are always at risk of infectious diseases, and sometimes in unexpected ways. We need to continue to invest in public health and outbreak response so that we can control outbreaks when they do happen.”

Professor Larsen’s comments in this article can be directly quoted. To connect with him for additional questions or an interview, please contact:

Daryl Lovell, Media Relations
dalovell@syr.edu

Graduate students Jamea Candy Johnson ’25, G’27 and Adara 鈥淒arla鈥� Hobbs ’26 are taking their affordable housing research out of the classroom and directly to the landlords, developers and community organizers working to solve one of 性视界’s most pressing challenges.

Thanks to a revamped partnership with (TMR), a longstanding, community-focused series of events hosted by the , Johnson and Hobbs shared their findings directly with key public housing constituents.

The two students are conducting the research as , alongside three of their peers.

鈥淢y research focuses on the intersection of housing and health care, especially as it relates to economic stability, and this experience has only solidified that interest,鈥� says Johnson, who is on a pre-med and pre-law track while pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in public health from the .

鈥淲e need community-driven solutions to the problems facing 性视界. This needs to be about bringing people together from different backgrounds and perspectives and seeing what we can collectively do to address and solve the housing issue,鈥� says Hobbs, who in May will earn a master鈥檚 degree in Pan-African studies from the .

Research With the Community, Not 性视界 It

The collaboration with TMR pushed Johnson to conduct qualitative research after engaging directly with those who provide and build housing in the city, and not just those people who need housing.

鈥淚t turned out to be one of the best ways to conduct research,鈥� says Johnson, who works for both the Onondaga County Legislature and at the Salvation Army Women’s Shelter.

Rather than crunching numbers and visualizing datasets, the fellows conducted one-on-one interviews with each panelist before every session. They used those conversations to write discussion questions tailored to each speaker’s expertise, questions designed not just for academic audiences, but for the community members filling seats in the room.

Housing as a Health Issue

When panelists from Housing Visions鈥攚hich develops large multi-unit complexes鈥攁nd A Tiny Home for Good鈥攚hich builds small-scale permanent housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness鈥攄escribed how they partner with Helio Health and Upstate Medical to bring health care directly to residents in their units, it reframed the entire conversation.

“We’re not just talking about giving people housing. We’re talking about giving people health care. Health care plus housing is going to lead to better lifelong solutions overall,鈥� Johnson says.

It鈥檚 a point echoed by Hobbs, who was born and raised in 性视界.

鈥淎ccess to adequate health care, education and healthy food, that all comes underneath the umbrella of economic mobility,鈥� Hobbs says.

Lived Experience as Expertise

What surprised Hobbs most through the TMR process was being recognized as an expert by many of the community leaders she had long admired and respected.

“I’m not just taking something from the panelists, they’re learning something from me as well. I do know what I’m talking about. I do have something valuable to contribute,鈥� she says.

鈥淥ur lived experiences as locals and residents are the experiences that should be the change agents,鈥� says Hobbs, who has spent more than a decade working in the 性视界 City School District.

Sharing Their Research Insights

Johnson and Hobbs will participate in 鈥淔or 性视界 or With 性视界? What Lender Student Fellows鈥� Research Reveals 性视界 Housing and Health in 性视界鈥� during the . The session runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Room 100A of the Nancy Cantor Warehouse Auditorium.

“This research program has really emphasized human connection more than anything, and I think that’s the greatest part,鈥� Johnson says.

鈥淣ow, I can bring those collective experiences back to my community and hopefully continue to make a difference,鈥� Hobbs says.

Before the start of the Spring 2026 semester, members of the (GMB), a registered student organization (RSO), traveled to Panama with a shared goal of providing essential medical care and conduct community health research in rural areas.

The expedition offered 37 students a unique opportunity for experiential learning, cultural immersion and leadership development outside the traditional classroom setting.

A Global Effort for Local Impact

Global Medical Brigades is a student-led organization dedicated to providing sustainable health care to under-resourced communities abroad. By mobilizing student volunteers and health care professionals, the chapter works to improve health outcomes and empower local communities through education and medical assistance.

鈥淭he 性视界 University chapter of GMB is part of a larger international movement that has facilitated over 1.5 million patient consultations globally over the past 20 years,” says Keona Bukhari-Adams 鈥�27, the newly elected president of the chapter.

During the week-long brigade, students assisted health care professionals in treating over 250 community members who face significant barriers to medical access.

鈥淕lobal Medical Brigades is a small part of a much larger global effort to assist rural communities with extremely low physician densities,鈥� Bukhari-Adams says. 鈥淚t has reshaped my understanding of culture and solidarity in ways that challenge traditional perceptions of what it means to live a life of wealth.鈥�

Community-Driven Fundraising

To finance the mission, 37 student volunteers raised a total of $90,000, each with a $2,430 donation goal. Through local partnerships and personal advocacy, students engaged the 性视界 community to fund trip costs and essential medical supplies.

Becky Roby 鈥�26, the chapter鈥檚 vice president, raised $2,030, while Ava Mastalir 鈥�28, the vice president of membership and outreach, raised $2,500 through outreach to family and friends.

鈥淭his experience alone made me want to fundraise and participate in our next brigade,鈥� Roby says. 鈥淓very trip is special in its own way and I was grateful that I was able to have another experience in Panama.鈥�

On campus, the organization hosted several benefit nights where a portion of the proceeds supported the trip, including events at Chipotle, luv handlz and Purple Banana.

Clinical Care, Field Research and Community Engagement

The trip focused on clinical support and patient care. Students took vitals, assisted doctors in dental extractions for children and helped treat older patients who had not received physical checkups in years.

Students also participated in public health research and spent an entire day conducting community health surveys. This research involved interviewing local women about menstrual and sexual health to understand existing education gaps.

Participants sharpened their professional skills by navigating language barriers and learning local dialects to better console and educate patients. The brigade also worked with local leaders to ensure that disease prevention and hygiene education would have a lasting benefit for the community long after the students departed.

鈥淭he primary skill I learned in Panama was how to interact with patients who were nervous or confused, and how to care for them even with the challenge of a language barrier,鈥� Mastalir says.

Leadership Opportunities and Friendships

The experience also served as a catalyst for student leadership on campus. Many participants, motivated by previous trips to Guatemala, utilized the Panama brigade to further their commitment to global health. Roby says the trip provides 鈥渉ands-on experience in global health and service that cannot be replicated in a classroom.鈥�

Beyond clinical experience, the brigade fostered a strong sense of community among the students themselves. For students considering future brigades, participants emphasize the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone.

鈥淚 loved the friendships I built during the trip, and we still constantly stay in touch,鈥� Roby says. 鈥淏eing part of something so meaningful created a strong sense of community and belonging for me on campus.鈥�

The 性视界 University Global Medical Brigades chapter continues to welcome students of all majors who are interested in global experiences and meaningful service.

Story by Kate Jackson 鈥�26, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

If your readers or viewers are sneezing more than usual this spring, there’s a reason.

Allergy seasons across the U.S. are starting earlier, lasting longer and hitting harder, driven by warmer temperatures and rising CO2 levels that are increasing pollen production. What’s more, people who have never had allergies before are suddenly developing them in adulthood鈥攁 trend that’s becoming increasingly common.

, a teaching professor of public health in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a practicing family nurse practitioner, can help explain this year’s allergy season.

Here are some of the insights she’s ready to share:

Why this season feels different. Pollen seasons are not only starting earlier鈥攖hey’re blending together across seasons, meaning the body’s immune system stays activated longer. When multiple trees pollinate at once, exposure becomes stacked and continuous, leading to more severe and persistent symptoms. Pollution compounds the problem by making pollen more irritating to airways. And a lesser-known phenomenon鈥�”thunderstorm asthma”鈥攃an trigger severe asthma attacks when storms break pollen grains into tiny particles that travel deep into the lungs.

You are not born with allergies. First-time allergy symptoms in adulthood are very common, and the changing climate is expanding the pool of people affected. Anyone experiencing new seasonal symptoms this year shouldn’t assume it’s just a cold. Olson-Gugerty offers a simple rule of thumb: itching points to allergies; fever and body aches point to infection. She can walk reporters through the key clinical differences between seasonal allergies and a cold, flu or COVID鈥攁nd explain when symptoms warrant a doctor’s visit rather than another trip to the drugstore.

Kids are different, and parents often miss the signs. Children are more likely to develop ear infections, sleep disturbances, and asthma flare-ups during high-pollen periods, but they often can’t articulate their symptoms. Parents should watch for mouth breathing, unusual fatigue, irritability and dark circles under the eyes鈥攕igns that are easy to overlook or misattribute.

The most common mistake allergy sufferers make. Olson-Gugerty says it’s waiting too long to treat. Allergy medications work best when started before symptoms peak, and taking them only as needed rather than consistently is one of the biggest reasons people struggle unnecessarily each spring.

To connect with Professor Olson-Gugerty, please contact Daryl Lovell.

Olutoyin Green 鈥�26 always knew she wanted to study abroad. But she wasn鈥檛 expecting to end up in South Africa鈥攁nd she definitely wasn鈥檛 expecting to go there twice in one year.

Green is majoring in political philosophy; health humanities; and law, society and policy alongside a minor in public health in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Connecting her studies is a need to understand how massive systems impact everyday lives鈥攁nd how everyday people can change those overarching structures.

Thanks to the University鈥檚 experiential learning and outreach initiatives, Green has had the opportunity to encounter both ends of this scalar spectrum. As an undergraduate research assistant with the Engaged Humanities Network, Green works with Southside Connections (SSC) to address social challenges through community organizing.

Her learning with this local, place-based collective action has been complemented by a summer internship at the Global Governance Institute through 性视界 Abroad’s European and Global Internship Program in Brussels, looking at a set of institutions and decision-making processes taking place at a very different scale. Green鈥檚 professional development experiences in Belgium included visits to NATO headquarters and the European Parliament alongside meeting experts from the United Nations.

Finding Her Niche Abroad

Even before heading to Brussels for her summer internship, Green planned a full-length semester abroad鈥攕omething she鈥檇 been looking forward to since her freshman year. Initially, she planned on taking general electives at one of the European centers.

As she looked further into study abroad options, though, Green discovered World Partner programs, and 鈥渞ealized they would expose me to different cultures in a non-traditional way that was geared toward my passion.鈥�

The SIT South Africa: International Relations in the Global South program offers students a chance to dive into global affairs from non-Western perspectives, considering such major international actors as the African Union and the BRICS block (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The program immediately caught Green鈥檚 eye, and in spring 2025, she spent four months in Durban learning about the anti-apartheid movement and contemporary issues in post-colonial societies.

Experiential learning through trips to museums, workshops with local organizations and conversations with civil society leaders developed a lived understanding of multiscalar politics around the region, while three different homestays grounded Green in the country鈥檚 still-existing social disparities.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a favorite moment or memory,鈥� Green says, 鈥渂ecause the entire semester was so impactful, and everything I did鈥攊n and out of formal coursework鈥攃onnected so powerfully.鈥�

Learning From the Past to Reshape the Future

Throughout her coursework in South Africa, Green was especially moved by the reality that individuals who led the anti-apartheid movement are still alive and able to share their stories and strategies for changemaking. Throughout her studies investigating political, social and economic disparities between communities within the United States and around the world, Green has seen that change needs to happen鈥攂ut very rarely found avenues to make that change.

Inspired in large part by the “blueprint and hope鈥� that she received from anti-apartheid leaders in South Africa, her senior honors thesis is now considering how social movements are sustained to effectively create meaningful change. Thanks to support from the 性视界 Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), Green returned to South Africa over Thanksgiving break to lay the groundwork for empirical research informing her thesis.

The trip played a fundamental role in Green’s methodology. 鈥淏efore going back and speaking with people informally, I had a singular idea of who I was going to interview,鈥� says Green, having assumed she would focus on high-profile activists.

The informal conversations highlighted the intricacy of the movement as a whole鈥攁nd just how intentional the role of doorknockers, knowledge generators, exiled individuals and other “behind the scenes” members of the movement were. Green now has a more multifaceted understanding of what social movements can look like, and who is involved.

And though she may not have a favorite memory from spring 2025, reuniting with her host family over Thanksgiving break was the personal highlight of her recent research trip, as well as sitting on the warm beach in November. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing better than the water in Durban,鈥� she says.

Story by Becca Farnum, community engagement specialist with 性视界 Abroad in London

A significant expansion in structure, programming and community outreach听 is paving the way for the (CHB) to help position 性视界 University as a national leader in research, education and practice.

An initiative of the (A&S), the and the (IVMF), CHB has a particular focus on the study and promotion of health, well-being and resilience among veterans and military-connected individuals.

Since launching its website and affiliate portal this past summer, have joined CHB鈥攔esearchers, educators and clinical practitioners from across the University and from area health institutions. have been launched and the student research cohort has been formed.

CHB has hired a dedicated to support affiliate projects. It has also established a for staff who coordinate research initiatives and plans to implement student awards. Additional workshops and research showcases are scheduled for spring.

Building an Ecosystem

CHB is designed to advance translational health behavior research, education and training and provide a collaborative ecosystem for professionals working in the health behavior field, says , A&S professor of psychology, licensed clinical psychologist and CHB director.

Health behavior is a broad, interdisciplinary area that examines the many factors, choices and conditions that influence physical and mental health across the lifespan. The center鈥檚 purposeful cross-campus, cross-institutional structure makes it a hub for affiliates to share interests, findings and treatments and engage in academic and professional collaborations. Affiliates conduct basic laboratory studies, field research, clinical trials, digital health intervention work, qualitative studies and implement projects.

Veteran Focus

While CHB operates across a wide range of health behavior fields, a specialized focus on veterans and military-connected individuals complements the University’s commitment to that population, according to Ditre.

鈥溞允咏� University has a national reputation as the best university for veterans and military-connected students. The University has worked with the 性视界 VA for about 30 years, beginning with faculty research collaborations and later expanding to co-mentored training and student placements. Building on that reputation and three decades of partnership, we should also strive to be the best place to learn how to serve veterans,鈥� he says.

Veterans experience higher rates of suicide risk, trauma-related concerns, sleep problems, chronic health conditions and substance use compared to civilian peers. Many also face barriers tied to geography, stigma and complex transitions between military and civilian systems.

“These gaps have real consequences for individuals, families and communities. The University and this center, in collaboration with the IVMF, are uniquely positioned to address them,鈥� Ditre says.

Digital Innovation

Digital innovation is a high priority because technologies like mobile devices, biometric monitoring and virtual reality help researchers collect real-time data from participants and capture their moment-to-moment experiences as well as indicators of health and behavior.

Affiliates have built mobile tools, tested them in trials and worked with community partners to implement check-in platforms and digital interventions that deliver guided exercises or personalized feedback.

鈥淭hese tools let us reach people who may not engage with traditional services and connect with participants as they go about their daily routines or in settings where traditional care is harder to access. These technologies also help us understand behavior, tailor information to individual needs and deliver support in ways that fit people鈥檚 circumstances. For many of the populations we serve, this kind of flexibility is essential,鈥� Ditre says.

Assuring health equity is another key focal point. That means designing studies and programs that are flexible, accessible and attentive to actual conditions and making sure that research benefits and outcomes reach the communities that need them most.

Grant and Award Applications

Application portals for the new pilot grant programs open Jan. 20, 2026, and close Feb. 12, 2026.

The supports cross-departmental and cross-campus projects with external institutional partners. The supports new or expanded 性视界 University and Veterans Affairs collaborations.

The grants range from $500 to $10,000 and the total pool of $50,000 is funded by A&S.

The funds give teams a way to test ideas, build a partnership or generate early data for larger external grant submissions. They also lower the barrier for new investigators who want to connect their work with campus priorities, according to Ditre.

Nominations for the , which cites excellence in research coordination work, are ongoing.

Future Activities

Future plans include more workshops with VA partners and collaboration with University Academic Affairs and the IVMF on a “Voices of Service” showcase where faculty, staff, students and community partners share veteran-focused research, courses and applied programs.

A neuroscience and health behavior research day, new working groups regarding sleep, substance use, trauma and digital health issues, awards for student work and additional community engagement activities are also planned.

As he participated in a seminar for the International Drug Policy Academy in Strasbourg, France, one afternoon last May, Alejandro Parra 鈥�24, G鈥�25 had a moment of reflection.

The alumnus, who earned a bachelor of science and a master’s degree in public health, joined global health experts from as far away as Malta and Mexico for a discussion about the ways culture shapes health care. They talked about the impact, for instance, of adjusting clinic hours based on local religious traditions, and collaborating with institutions such as churches to help distribute medicine and supplies.

Parra was not just an observer, but a participant鈥攈e gave a presentation on a proposal to cleanup needles discarded by drug users in a city park.

鈥淚 gained confidence presenting in front of experts in my field and the experience deepened my understanding of the multifaceted mechanisms that drive community action,鈥� says Parra, who attended the seminar during his internship with the Council of Europe鈥檚 Biomedical Division in the spring of 2025. 鈥淚t was a really unique opportunity and one of many insightful experiences I had.鈥�

Witnessing History in Europe

Another: In June, Parra sat in on a landmark event at which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an accord with the Council of Europe to establish a special tribunal to try top officials responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During his remarks at the event, Zelenskyy called for unity across Europe and the U.S. and urged leaders to uphold global democracy and the rule of law.

During his internship, from May through late June, Parra worked on public engagement and policy communication, creating fact sheets simplifying complex issues such as the role of artificial intelligence in health care, human rights in mental health care and the Oviedo Convention鈥攁 1997 treaty on human rights in biomedicine.

He also participated in policy workshops and meetings with experts from across Europe on issues including psychiatric care and substance use disorders, gaining firsthand experience in building policy based on complex local contexts.

鈥淎 key skill I developed was writing for a non-scientific audience, condensing dense expert reviews into digestible facts,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his clarity proved essential in making policy resources accessible and engaging to the public.鈥�

Building Policy and Communication Skills

The internship was one of several study abroad experiences Parra embraced during his five years at 性视界. It proved especially transformative, showing him that global health is more than a coordinated effort; it is fundamentally rooted in the strength and unity of community.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 really deliver health care services to somebody without knowing their background and how to tailor it to them,鈥� says Parra, who now resides in Queens, New York, and works as a mental health specialist for Lodestar Children鈥檚 Services, serves as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserves and is a member of the New York Army National Guard Military Funeral Honor Guard.

鈥淭he MPH [master of public health] program develops a multitude of cross-disciplinary skills and values that have shaped my perspective as a public health professional and provides me with a road map to continue to learn and grow my knowledge in the field.鈥�

One of Parra’s favorite courses was Substance Use and Mental Health. Professor often asked students to lead weekly sessions based on their own evidence and case studies. The resulting discussions, according to Parra, were 鈥渢hought-provoking鈥� and shaped his view of mental health 鈥渁cross different cultures, traditions and global contexts.鈥�

As an undergraduate, Parra was honored with the Public Health Leadership Scholar Award. He served as a career ambassador, a resident advisor, an honors peer mentor and a global ambassador. He was a member of 性视界鈥檚 Army ROTC and served as a cadet in the New York Army National Guard.

He was supported by an internship award through the University鈥檚 , and by the Patricia and Melvin Stith Graduate Student Fund established to support military-connected graduate students enrolled full time at 性视界 and participating in the University鈥檚 .

Through his studies, internship and extensive global network, Parra learned that collaboration, trust and openness are the cornerstones of effective public health policy and human rights.

鈥淢y internship with the Council of Europe made it clear that developing human rights-centered policies requires a deep commitment to iterative feedback and adaptation,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he best policy work results from respectful debate, careful consideration of diverse viewpoints, and the humility to adjust ideas in response to real-world needs.鈥�

Story by Catherine Scott

Growing up in India, Sudha Raj鈥檚 childhood dream was to become a physician. But there was one problem: She didn鈥檛 like the sight of blood.

Thanks to the influence of her parents and a friendly neighbor, Raj discovered a different way to help people by focusing her career on nutrition science and dietetics. She moved to 性视界 in 1981 to enroll at the University, and while she never left 性视界, she has made an enormous impact around the globe.

In particular, Raj is known worldwide for her studies to investigate dietary acculturation patterns of Asian Indian immigrants in the United States and her various leadership roles with the , the world鈥檚 largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Closer to home, she鈥檚 an award-winning and researcher in the in the .

Recognizing Raj鈥檚 groundbreaking contributions to the field of nutrition and dietetics, the Board of Directors selected Raj as a recipient of the , which was presented at an honors breakfast Oct. 12 during the in Nashville, Tennessee.

鈥淪udha has an inquiring mind and has mentored thousands of students to carry that quest for inquiry, but also cultivated a culture of integrity, purpose and shared commitment to advancing the profession,鈥� says Harlivleen 鈥淟ivleen鈥� Gill, who served as the 2024-25 president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 鈥淏eyond her research and education, Dr Raj is known for her warmth, compassion and genuine connection with her colleagues and students.鈥�

Nutrition and Food Studies Associate Professor first met Raj when she joined the University faculty in 1998, and Bruening says Raj is the first faculty member to receive a national award of this stature since the legendary in the early 1990s.

鈥淔or her many professional, scholarly and educational accomplishments at the local, national and international level, and for her selfless generosity to making all of us who are privileged to know her better global citizens, I strongly recommend Dr. Sudha Raj for the Medallion Award,鈥� Bruening wrote in her recommendation letter to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics鈥� Awards Committee.

Nutrition and Food Studies Associate Professor Lynn Brann joined the 性视界 faculty in 2003 and says Raj has brought her expertise in multiple areas to the department through new course development and her dedicated mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.

鈥淪eeing Sudha receive this award brings me joy,鈥� Brann says. 鈥淪udha has been thoughtful and deliberate to select areas of nutrition that are meaningful to her and that impact the population at large. I am inspired to follow her pursuit of advancing the profession.鈥�

For her part, Raj says she was excited to receive the Medallion Award and mingle with the five other award recipients from around the country. But she sees the honor as a 鈥渢eam effort鈥� because of the support she has received from her colleagues over the years.

鈥淚n the nutrition department we have the best colleagues to work with,鈥� Raj says, 鈥渁nd a lot of things happened here (at 性视界) through the Academy鈥檚 initiatives because my colleagues saw value in it.鈥�

Read the full story on the Falk College of Sport .

Twenty distinguished leaders from around the world will soon convene at the for an intensive, three-week academic program to cultivate technical expertise and deepen engagement to combat the production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs.

The school鈥檚 Executive Education program and recently added Public Health Department will host the Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship Program on Combatting Illicit Drug Trafficking starting Sept. 8. Funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, the program is part of the federal government鈥檚 wider global efforts to combat illicit drugs.

鈥淲e鈥檙e honored to have been selected to host this important program, which will support global efforts to comprehensively address illicit drug trafficking from perspectives ranging from public health and public safety to transnational crime and artificial intelligence,鈥� says Dessa Bergen-Cico, professor of public health and a leading expert in drug policy. 鈥淭his program aligns with the Maxwell School鈥檚 efforts to foster global engagement and informed dialogue around complex international issues.鈥�

Bergen-Cico will provide academic leadership and guidance throughout the program. She and public health colleagues鈥攚ho joined Maxwell in a transition from the David B. Falk College of Sport this summer鈥攚ill join Maxwell social scientists in offering expertise to the visiting scholars.

The selected fellows are distinguished senior professionals working in such fields as border protection, public policy, forensic science, public health and international cooperation. They hail from five global regions: Africa, Central and South America, East Asia and the Pacific, the Near and Middle East, and South and Central Asia. Countries represented include Cambodia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Mexico, Nigeria and Senegal.

Part of the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education, the Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship is part of the Fulbright Exchange and provides executive-level training for senior foreign leaders that are well-positioned to influence policy in fields of critical importance to the U.S. This is the first Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship program focused on combatting illicit drug use, production and trafficking.

The fellowship includes an academic seminar, professional networking, site visits and meetings with the Department of State and federal agencies which are working to reduce illicit drug trafficking and use.

Fellows will learn about cutting edge drug surveillance methods, as well as economic and political factors fueling drug production and trafficking, strategies for monitoring criminal banking and cryptocurrencies, the use of AI in drug production, technological trends in trafficking, and successful models of law enforcement collaboration. Participants will also share their expertise and develop drug prevention strategies to be implemented in their home countries.

Steven Lux 鈥�97 M.P.A., director of Executive Education, is pleased that Maxwell has been selected as a site for the training program and points out the school鈥檚 long connection to another Humphrey exchange in which fellows from several emerging democracies and developing countries visit annually for a 10-month program involving graduate study, professional development and cultural exchange.

鈥淚t is an honor to have been selected as a host site for this prestigious program that will bring professionals from around the world to tackle a vexing global issue and national priority,鈥� says Lux. 鈥淲e expect to learn from them as much as they from us.鈥�

Over the summer, four academic disciplines focused on preparing students as professionals in the human, health and social services fields (formerly housed in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics) transitioned to new academic homes across the University.

• The now resides in the School of Education.
• Marriage and family therapy joined human development and family science and the united department is now in the .
• The University鈥檚 have joined the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Concurrently, the was reimagined as the nation鈥檚 first standalone college of sport on a Research 1 campus.

These changes align with the University鈥檚 goal of creating academic synergies among, and supporting the continued growth and impact of, human dynamics programs. They also reflect the University鈥檚 ongoing commitment to human thriving, one of the areas of strategic excellence outlined in 鈥淟eading With Distinction,鈥� the University鈥檚 .

The moves were announced in fall 2024 following strategic evaluation by the Human Dynamics Task Force, which was informed by input from students, faculty, staff and community partners. The task force鈥檚 goal was to ensure that each human dynamics program is positioned for long-term success, deeper collaboration and greater impact as they transition out of the Falk College and into new schools/colleges for the 2025-26 academic year.

Human Development and Family Science (HDFS)/Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)

New home: College of Arts and Sciences (both disciplines housed in the Department of Human Development and Family Science)

Degrees offered: B.S., HDFS; M.A., MFT (in-person/online); Ph.D., HDFS; Ph.D., MFT; minors in human development and family science, child and family policy, mindfulness and contemplative studies and gerontology

Why it fits: These disciplines align with the College of Arts and Sciences’ (A&S) commitment to solving global challenges around health and well-being and will provide new avenues for collaboration and creativity. Cross-program partnerships will expand student learning opportunities in health-adjacent fields, drive research innovation and significantly enhance A&S’s collective impact on individual and community well-being. HDFS and MFT are natural additions to such existing A&S departments as psychology, communication sciences and disorders, health humanities, LBGTQ studies, neuroscience and women鈥檚 and gender studies.

Bringing these programs into A&S strengthens our commitment to interdisciplinary research and teaching that supports individuals and families across the lifespan. We are excited to welcome faculty and students whose work aligns so closely with our mission.

鈥� College of Arts and Sciences Dean Behzad Mortazavi

Public Health

New home: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Degrees offered: B.S., public health; B.S., public health and management (in partnership with the Whitman School of Management); MPH.; MPH/MBA dual program (in partnership with the Whitman School)

Why it fits: Public health鈥檚 move to the Maxwell School fits with the school鈥檚 academic strategic plan, which includes a focus on addressing health and health disparities. Public health and public policy are highly interrelated, and Maxwell is uniquely positioned to provide evidence-based solutions to the challenges facing public health leaders and practitioners. Opportunities for growth and collaboration will be enhanced across existing external partnerships (such as the public health department鈥檚 work with the New York State Department of Health) and within key Maxwell research centers and institutes, such as the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health, Aging Studies Institute and the Policy, Place, and Population Health Lab.

This is a natural fit for the public health department and for the Maxwell School. Adding these experts in global and environmental health, infectious disease and other top public health issues to our community of world-class scholars on population health, aging and health policy, as well as our health scholars across the social sciences, will further enhance our vital voice in the study of health and in the development of health policy.

鈥� Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke

Social Work

New home: School of Education

Degrees offered: B.S.W.; M.S.W. (in-person/online); J.D./M.S.W. (in partnership with the College of Law); social justice minor

Why it fits: The core values of social work鈥攕ervice, social justice, dignity and the worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence鈥攁lign closely with the School of Education鈥檚 mission of mentoring and nurturing the next generations of educators, scholars and leaders who will have meaningful and sustained impact in their communities. The addition of social work to the school brings new possibilities for interdisciplinary research and curriculum development, with social work faculty bringing to the table deep community partnerships, a strong research profile and an enthusiasm for working collaboratively.

I look forward to the new opportunities presented by closer collaboration with programs that share our historical commitments to inclusive pedagogy and practice, as well as to reciprocally valuable partnerships in Central New York. We will benefit from our new colleagues鈥� expertise in online teaching and their dedication to veterans and military-connected families.

鈥� School of Education Dean Kelly Chandler-Olcott

Does taxing soda reduce how much people purchase and consume it?

Do restaurant patrons make healthier choices when calories are listed on menus?

Are GLP-1 weight-loss medications likely to reduce healthcare expenses?

These are but a few of the timely questions related to health policy and economics that have captured John Cawley鈥檚 scholarly interest in recent years. He鈥檚 studied these topics and published his findings in high-impact peer-reviewed academic and policy journals to inform decision-makers and fellow researchers.

Cawley uses sophisticated methods to address complex questions and provide straightforward recommendations. The short answers to the above questions are as follows: Yes, taxes on sugary drinks reduce purchases but have ambiguous effects on consumption, and people do tend to order fewer calories when that information is listed on menus. And, while the study of GLP-1 drugs is very much ongoing, the weight loss associated with them is likely to reduce healthcare expenses for individuals with extreme obesity, but not necessarily enough to cover their current high prices.

Cawley is a leading health economist, and he joins the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs this fall as the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Chair in Public Policy and professor of economics and public administration and international affairs. He will also serve as a senior research associate in the Maxwell-based Center for Policy Research (CPR).

鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome such a world-class scholar to our ranks,鈥� says Dean David M. Van Slyke. 鈥淎cross disciplines and in our research centers and institutes, students and faculty will benefit from his expertise in the critical area of health economics, his research endeavors and his well-established connection with policymakers.鈥�

Van Slyke points out that Cawley鈥檚 addition comes at an important time, as the public health department transitions to Maxwell from the University’s Falk College of Sport. The restructuring brings to Maxwell hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students and 14 faculty members whose research interests intersect with Cawley鈥檚 endeavors.

Likewise, opportunities for collaboration abound with several Maxwell-based research centers and institutes such as CPR and the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health.

These opportunities were a draw for Cawley, who has a keen interest in the economics of risky health behaviors and says he鈥檚 eager for the 鈥渃ross pollination of ideas.鈥�

鈥淏eing around people from other disciplines is a big plus because you learn about different ways of thinking about the same issues,鈥� he says, adding, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get stuck in an echo chamber.鈥�

He says he鈥檚 honored to hold the Moynihan title, founded in 2007 to honor its namesake, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who served as a U.S. senator, assistant secretary of labor under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, assistant to President Nixon for domestic policy, and ambassador to the United Nations and India. He served on the Maxwell faculty from 1959-61 and returned to teach for a few years before his death in 2003.

鈥淒aniel Patrick Moynihan personified what we would want from academics,鈥� says Cawley. 鈥淗e was a very serious researcher, a prolific author, he engaged with policy and he served as an advisor to presidents. He could speak to anybody, and I think that鈥檚 sort of the gold standard of what we hope for in people in those positions. I鈥檓 really excited to join Maxwell鈥攊t has amazing faculty in all departments. It鈥檚 exciting from a research perspective.鈥�

Cawley joins 性视界 from Cornell University, where he began as an assistant professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management in 2001. Since 2021, he served as a professor in its Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and directed the Cornell in Washington program.

Cawley鈥檚 other roles at Cornell included serving as co-director of the Institute on Health Economics, Health Behaviors and Disparities from 2011鈥�22 and professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management and Department of Economics. He received a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Harvard University, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

He has served as an honorary professor of economics at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at the University of Galway in Ireland since 2014. In 2016 he was named a Fulbright Specialist in Economics to Ireland through the Fulbright Scholar Program. His numerous accolades include the State University of New York Chancellor鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Scholarship, the Kappa Omicron Nu/Human Ecology Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Advising and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation鈥檚 Investigator Award in Health Policy Research.

Cawley鈥檚 research findings have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including American Economic Review, Journal of Health Economics, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Journal of Economic Perspectives, JAMA, Lancet and the American Journal of Public Health. He has been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, PBS and The Washington Post.

Cawley is the president-elect of the American Society of Health Economists and will serve as president from 2026-27. Since 2022 he has served on the board of directors of the International Health Economics Association. He is a former editor of the Journal of Health Economics and served on an Institute of Medicine panel on obesity in youth.

He begins at Maxwell on Monday. He will teach a spring 2026 undergraduate course titled 鈥淭he Economics and Regulation of Risky Health Behaviors,鈥� which will cover policies such as the minimum legal drinking age, recreational and medicinal marijuana, soda taxes and euthanasia laws.

Cawley is excited for the role, and to be part of the Orange community that he鈥檚 familiar with given his many 性视界 University connections, including a sister who earned a master of public administration at Maxwell, a niece who is currently an undergraduate and a nephew who is on staff.

鈥淚鈥檓 honored to join Maxwell, which is home to the oldest and highest-ranked public affairs program,鈥� says Cawley. 鈥淚t has an incredible history of distinguished faculty and accomplished alumni, and I鈥檓 really looking forward to collaborating with the students and faculty. Also, I鈥檝e gotten my basketball tickets and a picture with Otto, so the semester is already off to a great start.鈥�