AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: Maxwell School of Public Affairs and Citizenship Strives for Innovation After Prestigious Recognition
Louis Leibowitz: The Maxwell School of Public Affairs and Citizenship at Syracuse University is at the top again. For 2026, it shares the number one ranking for public affairs programs nationwide with Indiana University. Maxwell Dean David Van Slyke feels it’s a result of more than just a classroom.
David Van Slyke: It’s not just a sage on a stage presenting to a set of passive student participants, right? It’s how do we get students involved hands-on, real-time.
Leibowitz: It’s not just the opportunities that students receive. Sophomore Sophia Campagironi feels that her classes in Maxwell have exposed her to new national challenges.
Sophia Campagironi: It’s just been really eye-opening to see kind of these issues that like I wouldn’t even think of every day where it’s like, “Oh my gosh, like, I didn’t even realize people were living in motels full-time.”
Leibowitz: With innovative programs and countless opportunities, Maxwell will continue to be an attraction for countless students to come. For NCC News, I’m Louis Leibowitz.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) —According to U.S. News and World Report, the Maxwell School of Public Affairs and Citizenship got co-named as the number one public affairs program in the nation last Tuesday.
According to the Daily Orange, this is the 30th time that Maxwell earned this prestigious honor. The U.S. News and World Report began these rankings in 1995. Since the first survey, Maxwell has topped the list in every survey but one of them, according to SU. Maxwell Dean David M. Slyke said this honor is a result of innovative faculty.
“We take the notion of experimental learning really seriously.” said Slyke. “If we’re not innovative in both what we’re teaching and how students are learning it and applying it, then in fact, we’re not setting our students up for success.”
However, it is not just the ways that faculty teach at Maxwell that makes the school stand out. Slyke feels that the students at Maxwell allow it to be a collaborative environment.
“On a range of policy issues, we also find that our students come to us with real questions,” said Slyke. “Part of what we always say to the students is, you know, the great element of the social sciences is it’s a really healthy dose of skeptisim.”
A lot of this curiosity is brought about by many students. Sophomore Sophia Campagiorni feels that her classes in Maxwell have allowed herself to get exposed to national issues.
“It’s just been really eye-opening to see kind of these issues that like I wouldn’t even think of every day,” said Campagiorni. “It’s like, Oh my gosh, like, I didn’t even realize people were living in motels full-time.”
Similarly, Campagiorni also experienced different activities that allowed her to collaborate with her classmates.
“We did something cllaed hot takes and hot cocoa,” said Campagiorini. “It was interesting seeing how many people take stances on different issues.”
Looking into the future, Maxwell wants to keep adapting. Dean Slyke sees that as times keep on changing, so does Maxwell.
“I think part of what we’re trying to do as we move forward is to say, all these issues that we live in and experience are rapidly changing all the time,” said Slyke. “It’s important to understand from history what worked, to what extent, and what didn’t work, and then think about how we shape the future.”
As an innovative program, Maxwell will continue to be an attraction for countless students for many years to come.