Public Affairs and Government

Over the past 15 years, New York City has become a technology powerhouse, with almost 350,000 jobs in the sector propelled by businesses large and small, including more than 9,000 start-up firms. The city's institutions of higher education are producing more tech, STEM and life sciences graduates than any other locality in the nation, and the New York is a leader in the development of civic technology. How did we get here? Is our current growth sustainable? Are our educational programs feeding alumni into careers in technology large enough and inclusive enough to make tech a vehicle for social equity? What challenges does a high concentration of highly educated, highly compensated employees in this industry pose for the city? Join us for a conversation with three people who have been intimately involved with New York's emergence as a technology hub and setting the agenda for further growth. The Marxe Issues panel of experts includes: Gale A. Brewer, Manhattan Borough President; Andrew Rasiej, Founder/CEO Civic Hall, Founder Personal Democracy Forum, Chairman Emeritus, NY Tech Alliance; and J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives for New York City. This program will be moderated by David S. Birdsell, Marxe Dean, Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

In late 2019 major and, at times, violent protests broke out in Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia. These events took place in the context of protests earlier in the year in Venezuela and, before that, Brazil. These types of protests have had important impacts on political systems and social dynamics in the region and have in the past generation contributed to bringing down governments in Bolivia and Brazil. Chile's protests have already led to an agreement to revise that country's constitution. This panel will bring together experts on the region to discuss the drivers of these protests, the effects on these political systems, and their implications for the future. The Global Insights panel of experts includes: Janice Gallagher, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University-Newark, and Patricio Navia, Clinical Professor of Liberal Studies at New York University. The program will be moderated by Enrique Desmond Arias, Marxe Chair of Western Hemisphere Affairs at Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

"In 2016 the Colombian government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) concluded a historic peace agreement that ended the half-century long war between the government and the FARC. Colombia's president Juan Manuel Santos won the Nobel Peace Prize that year. The implementation of the peace accords has, however, been a rocky affair especially after Ivan Duque, an opponent of the peace process, won the presidency in 2018. Conflict continues today with numerous FARC dissident organizations operating around Colombia and other armed organizations, including the ELN and EPL guerrilla groups, expanding their presence in formerly FARC controlled areas. Indeed, homicide rates have increased nationally since 2017 as armed actors vie for control of lucrative markets in illicit drugs and mining. The country has seen a wave of assassinations of peasants, civic leaders, and former guerrillas leading one important FARC leader to again take up arms. This panel will bring together scholars and practitioners to discuss the state of the peace process and the prospects for Colombia in the coming years."

International Affairs programs face numerous challenges responding to a rapidly shifting global order. As new powers rise and old powers recede, the existing liberal order struggles to maintain relevance in the face of warming climates, growing economic inequality, migration, trade wars and political conflict. What is the future for International Affairs programs? Join us in conversation about the challenges facing MIA programs and the need for a new approach.

Immigrant legal status is a central axis of stratification in contemporary U.S. society and is linked to a range of inequities for youth. The poverty rate of children with undocumented parents is twice the rate of children of U.S.-born parents and undocumented youth are much more likely to report clinical levels of depression and anxiety than their documented peers.Yet although we know immigrant legal status is linked to inequality, we know far less about potential solutions to this problem. One straightforward remedy is the regularization of immigration status. In June 2012, the Obama Administration announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, granting a subset of undocumented youth temporary relief from deportation, access to work authorization, and other related benefits. In September 2017, the Trump administration announced plans to eliminate the program, a highly contested decision culminating in a November 2019 Supreme Court hearing. In this presentation, Dr. Patler addresses a series of interrelated questions about DACA's tenure and potential termination in influencing the wellbeing of undocumented young people: How has DACA influenced psychological wellbeing among immigrant youth during the program's tenure? Have DACA's impacts changed or unfolded over time, in response to changing political contexts? And finally, how has DACA affected the family members of DACA-eligible people?

This Marxe Issues will focus on the complexity of the U.S./China trade and security relationship by exploring the impact of tariffs, cyber security breach, and the long-term perils facing these two superpowers.

The 2019 Spring Ackerman Lecture features Cristina Jimenez, a community organizer, strategists and freedom fighter. She is the Executive Director and Co-founder of United We Dream (UWD), the largest immigrant youth-led network in the United States. A CUNY alumni, Cristina holds a master's degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from Baruch College Marxe School of Public and International Affairs and graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and Business from Queens College.

Moderated by Lawrence Scot, Professor from the Master of Public Administration, Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs (MSPIA) at  Baruch College, this lecture contains an overview of nonprofit accounting, including a brief introduction of recent accounting reporting changes, the presentation of financial statements with clarifying contributions received & made, revenue from contracts with customers, and leases.

The United States Army War College's Eisenhower Series Program promotes candid dialogue between students at the Army's senior educational institution and universities and civic organizations across the country. Our panelists will discuss their military careers and their views on American national security and leadership nearly twenty years after the 9/11 attacks and the start of the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The distinguished panel moderated by Marxe Professor Hector Cordero leads a panel of visiting cabinet ministers from the Dominican Republic.

This Marxe Issues Public Policy program will focus on the controversy involving reaching a viable NAFTA agreement under the current Trump administration. The panel will feature distinguished experts on the United States, Canada and Mexico trade policies. They will discuss the setbacks that have occurred to date and suggest ways diplomatic talks should proceed in the interest of all three countries. The NAFTA agreement greatly impacts the American economy, and our relationship with Canada and Mexico both economically and politically.

The February 5th Marxe Issues program, co-sponsored by the Robert Zicklin Center for Corporate Integrity at the Zicklin School of Busienss, will focus on why universities and colleges must carefully monitor their donor base to avoid politically or ideologically driven philanthropy from seeking unethical influence on college campuses. The panelists will address this issue sighting recent cases and the steps taken to introduce new policies and philanthropic strategies. This panel of experts includes two officials from George Mason University, the institution exposed in national press headlines for being influenced by politically motivated donors.

Janai Nelson discusses the local and national steps the Legal Defense and Education Fund is taking to protect and defend voting rights.

This program features a discussion with Marxe Professor Thomas Main, author of the book “The Rise of the Alt-Right” and Professor Mark Lilla, professor of the Humanities at Columbia University, author of “The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics."

Moderated by David Birdsell, Dean of the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, the program starts by showing a documentary film regarding the access to the right to vote guaranteed in the constitution using North Carolina for the case study of the issues and taking a close look as it relates to national security, terrorism, social justice and human rights protections against radical public policies. The panelists include: Ezra Rosenberg of the Voting Rights Project at Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights under the Law, Melissa Mark-Viverito of the Latino Victory Fund, and Susan Lerner of the Common Cause of New York. A Q & A follows the discussions   

Moderated by Professor Carla Robbins from Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, this program includes panel speakers Carlos Petersen (Eurasia Group), Nawra Mehrin (UNDP), Daniel Coughlin (International Rescue Committee), and Olivia Nightingale (AJWS) focusing on global career paths and their individual professional experiences.

Keynote addresses from the National Academy of Public Administration sponsored event explore ways that states and localities can address inequality in the face of fiscal austerity. J. Philip Thompson: How States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Agencies Might Address Future Challenges : A Focus Upon New York City ; Jim Malatras: For Many, Is College Out of Reach? Exploring Scalable Innovative State Programs to Close the College Access Gap.

Addresses from the National Academy of Public Administration sponsored event explores ways that states and localities can address inequality in the face of fiscal austerity. Bruce J. Katz: The New Localism: How Cities can Thrive in an Era of Populism. Marc Morial: Keynote address.

This lecture focuses on Manuel Castro's work in and with New York City government to strengthen the labor rights and organizing of day laborers.

The conversation will explore themes from the book Big Impact: Insights & Stories from America's Non-Profit Leaders, including lessons learned about philanthropy and nonprofit leadership at a time when civil society is more important than ever.

Two-day workshop on blockchain technology.

Two-day workshop on blockchain technology.

Information about the CUNY / IBM-Watson Case Competition.

The new "Marxe Issues" Breakfast Series focuses on important public policy concerns. In keeping with the findings and issues raised in Steven Diner's book “Universities and Their Cities: Urban Higher Education in America," the author explores the role of higher education in advancing economic and social justic relations. The panel will discuss how a stronger university/city collaboration involving pooling vast resources can significantly benefit both citizens and government services. An enhanced alliance of cities/universities can be a bold step toward rethinking how to advance needed local changes and advancements.

Juan Caragena discusses the consequence of recent policy changes on minority and particularly Latino voters

The threat of nuclear war has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks with the continuous threats and missile testing by North Korea. This poses a major global security threat and is particularly frightening to the South Korean population. This event, presented by the Marxe School's public policy breakfast series at Baruch College, will features the views of Ambassador Hahn Choong-hee.

On May 24, 2017, Baruch College held a dedication ceremony formally celebrating Austin W. Marxe ('65) and his $30 million gift to the College. Announced in September 2016, the gift endowed and named the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College.

Panel discussion centers on financial aid, tuition-free college and phasing the new Excelsior Scholarship legislation into the CUNY system.

The new "Marxe Issues" Breakfast Series focuses on important public policy concerns.

Panel discussion on what pollsters missed and got right.

Dr. Thompson's lecture will examine the infamous 1971 Attica prison uprising, the state's violent response, and the victims' decades-long quest for justice. In her book, Blood in the Water, Dr. Thompson sheds new light on one of the most important civil rights stories of the last century, exploring every aspect of the uprising and its legacy from the perspectives of all of those involved in this 45--year fight for justice.

Panel discussion and Q & A.

This event considers the impact of arts and culture on the City and its neighborhoods, Leaders of museums, teaching artists and foundation program officers discuss their aspirations and obstacle. The event was introduced by James A. (Jack) Krauskopf, Director of the Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management in the School of Public Affairs. The moderator, Bruce Payne, Distinguished Lecturer in Communication Studies at Baruch and formerly President of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, starts the program by introducing panelists to the audiences. The panel speakers are: Adarsh Alphons, Founder & Executive Director, Project Art, Kerry McCarthy, Senior Program Officer, Arts and Historic Preservation, The New York Community Trust, Jorge Daniel Veneciano, Executive Director, El Museo del Barrio, and Jason Yoon, Director of Education, Queens Museum.

The 2016 race for the Democratic and Republican Party presidential nominations has surprised even the most seasoned political observers. Our panel of experts from the fields of polling and journalism will try to make sense of what's happened so far, and provide clues for what to expect going forward.

Marc Mauer delivers the 2015 Lillie and Nathan Ackerman Lecture. This lecture examines how and why the climate for criminal justice reform has changed over the past decade. Is the new political environment being driven by fiscal interests, changes in drug war politics, concerns over racial/ethnic disparities, or compassion for those who are incarcerated? Mauer assesses how far the reform movement has come and what changes in policy and practice are necessary if we seek to end mass incarceration in the United States. Opening remarks are provided by Prof. David Birdsell, Marianne Engelman Lado, and Prof. Byron Price.

This nonprofit seminar is presented by David Rivel, Chief Executive Officer of The Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services. It focuses on considerations for large organizations getting even larger, planning for growth in programs and administration, factors affecting transfer of government contracts to new sponsoring organizations and more. Gail B. Nayowith, Principal, 1digit LLC moderates the event.  

The Ackerman lecture features Professor Richard R. W. Brooks, Charles Keller Beekman Professor of Law, Columbia University. Prof. Brooks tells the charged, still controversial story of the rise and fall of racially restrictive covenants in America, and offers rare insight into the ways legal and social norms reinforce one another, acting with pernicious efficacy to codify and perpetuate intolerance. 

Baruch College's School of Public Affairs welcomes Sheryll Cashin, Professor of Law at Georgetown University, as the guest speaker of the 2015 Lillie and Nathan Ackerman Lecture. The lecture series invites leading intellectuals and public figures to address major questions of equality and social justice. Sheryll Cashin delivers the lecture “Place not Race: A New Vision of Opportunity in America”; the opening remarks for this program are provided by Ryan Alan Smith and Marianne Engelman Lado.

Joined a conversation with Darren Walker, President of The Ford Foundation, to discuss the relationship between private foundations and the nonprofit sector from the perspective of members who are involved in foundations, and community-based organizations in New York City.  The seminar was led by Professors Michael Feller and David Birdsell, from the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College.

Prof. Michael Seltzer hosts Allison Jones and Kyle Reis for a discussion on social media and fundraising in his PAF 9152 class.