Andrew Young School News

Alumnus Brian James' (B.A. ’99, M.S. ’01) journey is exemplary of the lasting impact of mentorship.

Distinguished University Professor William J. Sabol's research expertise spans corrections, sentencing policy and crime statistics.

Lauren Taylor (B.A. ’18, M.A. ’22) applies her interesting mix of educational experiences at Georgia State University to shape policy at the highest levels of government.

New research from Georgia State University’s Georgia Policy Labs finds positive effects on student learning from an online-learning platform used for pandemic recovery.

Onika Richards brings to her new role more than 17 years of experience in career development and employer relations across several diverse academic institutions.

Nicholas Mulkey (B.S. ’13) is making waves in Atlanta’s international affairs scene, helping to shape the city’s global future.

Stefano Carattini's new research, published in Science, suggests that experience with a policy can lead people to change their beliefs about the policy and increase public support for it.

Georgia State University’s International Center for Public Policy recently hosted leading global policy experts to examine challenges in fiscal decentralization.

Brandon Attell has joined the faculty of Georgia State University’s School of Social Work as a research assistant professor.

Triple Panther Karin Smoot (B.A. ’01, B.A. ’08, M.P.A. ’22) embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and adaptability.

Kat Albrecht and Adam Pah have helped develop SCALES, the nation’s first AI-powered open data network providing free access to federal court records.

The initiative will help find ways to foster a deep sense of community within the college’s alumni network and among its alumni of tomorrow.

Breeanna Bellinger (B.S.W. ’15) is making waves in the field of social work, demonstrating how a passion for helping others can lead to a fulfilling and impactful career.

Christabel Ghansah's (B.S. ’14, M.P.A. ’17) "multipotentialite" philosophy guided her academic journey at the university, where she pursued diverse disciplines and later added an MBA to her credentials.

Labor and education economist Christopher Walters will be the Usery Distinguished Lecturer this year at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.

John Gunnells (M.P.A. ’18), who graduated with a concentration in policy analysis and evaluation, chose Georgia State University for its proximity to the state capital and its top 25 program ranking.

Heloise Ahoure (B.S. ’13), who chairs the AYS Alumni Council, is leveraging her diverse experiences to support the next generation of policy leaders.

Learn more about Georgia State's international impact from Charles Hankla, the new director for international programs in the university's Public Finance Research Cluster.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded Christian Saenz a three-year, $194,457 grant for research that examines the effects of e-cigarette policies on youth tobacco use.

AYSPS played a large role in helping Georgia State meet its second-highest annual total for research funding, contributing nearly a fifth of the university’s $185.72 million raised in FY ’24.

Gloria Claudio (M.S.W. ’22), looking for ways to complete a class project, brought her neighborhood together to form a new homeowner’s association over which she eventually presided. She and Associate Professor Fred Brooks wrote a journal article about the experience that he now uses in his teaching.

Fulbright scholars practice people-to-people diplomacy and often return with a greater appreciation of cross-cultural exchange.

The award recognizes exemplary performance, beneficial contributions to the work environment and consistency in workplace efficiency, creativity and innovation.

The award recognizes a faculty member who has exhibited superior teaching during the last three years, as measured in student evaluations, course demand and faculty adoption of their unique teaching methods.

The award recognizes the accomplishments of a tenure-track AYSPS assistant professor for their outstanding success in research, scholarship, teaching and service to their department.

The award recognizes exemplary performance, beneficial contributions to the work environment and consistency in workplace efficiency, creativity and innovation.

This fall, students at Georgia State University College of Law will have the unique opportunity to delve into the legal aspects of Issa Rae’s career under the guidance of Professor Mo Ivory.

Georgia Policy Labs is a research-practice partnership among Georgia State University and a coalition of school district, state agency and nonprofit partners.

Vasquez Reyes grounds her teaching, service and research in 12 years of direct social work practice.

Ben Marx, Alex Bell and Miracle-Rose Toppar join the Department of Economics, Eden Kamar joins the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology, Suresh Neupane joins the Department of Public Management & Policy, and the School of Social Work welcomes Maritza Vasquez Reyes.

Heloise Ahoure (B.S. ’13) will chair the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Alumni Council 2024-25 Executive Cabinet.

Benson (M.S. ’01, M.P.A. ’07) brings nearly 30 years of experience in the development and management of sponsored research, executive training and technical assistance for domestic and international partners related to public finance.

Caitlin Barrow (M.S.W. ’24), has worked in nonprofit program management for a decade, was selected for the CDC Evaluation Fellowship.

Jasmine Uddin (M.P.A. '24) will join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Associates Program (PHAP) this fall.

As interim chair, Sevigny will collaborate closely with the department and dean’s leadership team to advance the school’s planning and execution of future goals.

Andrew Young School of Policy Studies economist Jonathan Oxley has won Georgia Policy Labs' third competition.

Adam Pah has led digital innovation in the college since he joined it as the policy analytics lead faculty and clinical associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology in August 2023

The 2024 Mandela Washington Fellows and partners with Georgia State University’s Leadership in Public Management Institute are encouraged to collaborate on projects in sub-Saharan Africa funded by the program.

Since joining Georgia State University from Northeastern University, where he distinguished himself in numerous administrative roles, Thomas J. Vicino has been engaging the Andrew Young School community.

An applied microeconomist and interdisciplinary scholar, Ribar served as interim associate dean for faculty affairs and research since January 2023. He joined the university as the faculty director of the Child & Family Policy Lab of the Georgia Policy Labs in 2020.

Its service-learning focus and syllabus developed by students helps humanize unhoused individuals and break the stigma surrounding them.

Six undergraduates in Georgia State University’s criminal justice program interned with the MARTA Police Department in spring 2024, and all six received job offers from the organization.

A 17-member delegation of Georgia public safety executives and senior police officials has returned from Israel after an intensive two weeks of public safety leadership training with the country’s top police executives.

Members of the all-volunteer leadership and civic-minded group will work to support the college’s mission and grow its alumni community.

Daigle is a Distinguished University Professor in the college’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Twenty-five leading young professionals from 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have arrived at Georgia State University to participate in the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Rising one spot to No. 14, the program placed among the country’s top 10 percent of such programs, coinciding with the launch of its new online degree in spring 2024.

Simone Marletta and Eloho Edward recently completed a mentoring program with two of the nation’s leading economists as part of the DEEP Initiative, a program developed in partnership with the National Association for Business Economics, the Federal Reserve System and Georgia State.

Graduates of three executive leadership programs in Georgia State's Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology and the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange can convert their certificates to credit hours under the university’s new Credit for Prior Learning Policy.

Ivery has served as interim associate dean for academic affairs in the college since June 2023.

While looking for chemistry internships, Anaiah Tanner-Barnes (B.S. ’24) noticed listings for forensics and changed her major, allowing her to pursue a dream career in criminal justice.

Shemlyn Earle pushed past early struggles and adversities to earn a degree that will make it easier for her to help others in need.

An experience Taylor Jacobs (B.S. ’24) had in high school brought her full circle when she secured an internship in the office of U.S. Rep. David Scott.

Shanice Amos (M.P.A. ’24) is set to join the Cartersville-Bartow Metropolitan Planning Organization (CB-MPO) as an assistant transportation planner.

Ali Nuckles (M.P.A. ’24) took some twists and turns in her career before becoming a project specialist for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Bridge Design and Maintenance Program at AECOM.

Yoharis Mendoza Altamar's (B.S. ’22, M.S.W. ’24) internship in the criminal justice system as an undergraduate broadened her understanding of her potential.

Xiaochun He and his students have developed a detector to measure cosmic rays and investigate how space weather can impact our changing climate. It’s just one of his research projects at the forefront of nuclear physics and the associated applications.

During her time at Georgia State, undergrad Ann Philip (B.S. in Public Policy) has interned with the Georgia General Assembly and Congress.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies' rankings jumped six positions to No. 16 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools in Public Affairs.

MPA students Brittany Dankwa and Mackenzi Stewart, along with alums Troy Crittendon (M.P.A. ’19) and Mariana Ortiz (M.P.A. ’23), were named to the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Atlanta’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2023.

Professor of Chemistry Gangli Wang is leading a U.S. Department of Energy grant to explore new approaches to CO2 conversion and hydrogen fuel production from water using electrocatalysts.

Georgia is noted in the report for following best practices for incorporating well-designed trigger mechanisms in its tax relief measures to help limit the volatility and unpredictability associated with its changes in tax policy.

Six AYSPS alums were among the 40 remarkable graduates under the age of 40 honored by the Georgia State University Alumni Association.

Roenitz (B.S. '19) is a government relations associate at the Georgia Municipal Association.

Polacek (M.P.A. '18) is the director of legislative affairs and constituent services for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Georgia State University alum Nicholas Kogan (M.A. ’17, M.S. ’17) is senior manager of revenue operations at HHAeXchange.

School of Public Health faculty are partnering with colleagues across campus to create new learning opportunities for students while also advancing interdisciplinary research.

The College of Education & Human Development's Adult Literacy Research Center hosted its first mini conference to bring together affiliate faculty and students from across campus to share their research projects and network.

The university will host 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging leaders for a six-week Leadership in Public Management Institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, joining Georgia's two other host sites.

Undergraduate courses in Crime Scene Investigation, Cybercrime Investigations and Technology in Criminal Justice, which can be used as upper-level electives by students in any degree program, are now available online.

Can Chen and coauthors used structural topic modeling to examine 40 years of journal articles to identify the leading topics in public finance and budgeting, how have they changed and future topics that should be more closely researched.

Georgia State’s expenditures in the social sciences accounted for nearly a fifth of the university’s record $215.9 million in total research expenditures in fiscal year 2022.

Georgia State’s 40 Under 40 program annually celebrates the most influential and accomplished Georgia State graduates who embody the values of the university.

A Georgia State crowdfunding campaign has enabled friends and supporters to endow a $25,000 graduate fellowship in the Andrew School of Policy Studies to honor Elizabeth Fitch (M.P.A. ’01), who died from metastatic breast cancer in 2011 at the age of 36.

Georgia State University is partnering with Atlanta Public Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools, the Newton County School System and Rockdale County Public Schools to help reduce the teacher shortage in Georgia.

Samir Abdullahi (M.P.P. ’10) leads Select Fulton, the economic and workforce development unit of Fulton County government, as director of economic development for the county.

Sass ranks among the nation’s top university‐based scholars who had the biggest influence on educational practice and policy last year, according to the 2024 Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings.

Lelani Mannetti, a Values Assessment Fellow for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), is working to help others understand that to make sustainable, transformative change, all voices must be heard.

These communities will receive financial resources and technical assistance through A Statewide Health Equity Initiative, a program funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and implemented collaboratively by the Georgia Department of Public Health and the GHPC.

Delores Varner, LMSW, MATS, was honored for her remarkable achievements and commitment to improving outcomes for at-risk children and their families that inspire future generations of social workers.

When Kelsi Broderick (B.S. ’23) entered Georgia State in 2018, she was thrilled to attend Georgia’s largest R-1 research university and excited to live and study in downtown Atlanta.

At a recent summit held for its partners, researchers and the community, Georgia Policy Labs released its 2023 Impact Report.

Bride helped lead a study that provides the first set of principles aimed at preventing or reducing secondary traumatic stress. He now works with others to have the principles adopted and incorporated into curriculums and professional training programs across the globe.

Monkam (Ph.D. ’08), an associate professor of public economics at the University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa, received Georgia State University's Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement during International Education Week 2023.

They include a free, massive open online course (MOOC) on data visualization and $50 microcredential workshops on leadership and data visualization.

Fifteen Georgia State students traveled to Washington, D.C., in late September to participate in the three-day Panthers in the District immersion experience.

The global open-access hub and repository for criminology has launched the CrimRxiv Consortium, an international institutional network to advance open criminology for impact and social justice.

Reeves (M.P.A. ’14), senior director of Georgia State University’s Georgia Policy Labs, will join the Urban Institute’s Center on Education Data and Policy as director of program development.

Johnson received the Early Career Research Impact Award in Social and Behavioral Science.

To better understand health disparities that disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities, a team of Georgia State University researchers has been working to identify specific health concerns affecting underserved Atlanta communities.

Deming will speak on a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper he recently co-authored with Harvard economists Raj Chetty and John N. Friedman.

Five of the nation’s leading information technology security experts have joined the advisory board of Georgia State University’s Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group.

A multidisciplinary research team led by the City of Atlanta and Georgia State University was recently announced as one of four statewide winners of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation’s 2023 Community Research Grant.

Georgia State study finds that media coverage about the risks of research on reflecting sunlight to cool the Earth outweighs information about its benefits.

The official White House photographer and 2023 40 Under 40 honoree makes history every day, documenting the Biden presidency.

Research funding in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies grew by 40.3 percent year-over-year, setting a new record of $53.2 million in total awards for fiscal year 2023.

Previous research shows stable and safe housing provides benefits for formerly incarcerated people, yet securing post-incarceration housing is a pervasive challenge.

Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is welcoming five new faculty members to campus this fall.

Cathy Yang Liu has been named the Michael and Enid Mescon Endowed Chair in Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.

Gov. Brian P. Kemp has appointed Robert Buschman as Georgia’s state economist effective Sept. 1. Buschman is interim director of the Public Finance Research Cluster in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies has named Esra Tanyildiz, Andrew Heiss and Thaddeus Johnson winners of its prestigious annual faculty awards, and Kristy Hill received the Staff Excellence Award.

At age 27, Hayden launched the Grace Hayden Impact Scholarship to support students with a demonstrated interest in economics.

Jan Ivery, Denise Jenkins, Leah E. Daigle, G. Brent Cummings and Nadia Borissova have been named to senior leadership positions within the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in recent weeks.

The career coach and employee relations professional has joined the college as assistant director for employer relations.

Courses in the new graduate certificate programs — Public Management and Leadership, and Policy Analytics — can be completed online and used toward an M.P.A. or M.P.P. degree.

Deborah M. Whitley, a professor of social work in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, has been named a 2023 GSA Fellow.

Historian Ras Michael Brown will use the award to support a research-practice partnership with the Gullah Museum, a nonprofit organization based in Georgetown, S.C.

Professors Al Thrash and Ben Yonas have created a student-run distribution and licensing company that is enjoying early success and teaching young artists how to build careers in the music business.

CrimRxiv was founded by Georgia State Professor Scott Jacques of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in July 2020.

Shila Hawk (Ph.D. ’15) and Capt. Aprille Moore (B.S. ’05) were among a 20-member delegation that recently returned to Georgia from Israel after an intensive two weeks of public safety leadership training with the country’s top police executives.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences has awarded Georgia State’s Georgia Policy Labs $1.85 million to study the effects of remote instructional delivery and recovery strategies on student outcomes in grades K–12.

Seven undergraduate students, after completing a multidisciplinary, experiential program that combines academic rigor with an emphasis on social responsibility, hold the new certificate.

When Atlanta wants something done, it asks Doug Hooker, former head of the Atlanta Regional Commission. Now a Senior Fellow and professor of practice at Georgia State, he teaches the course URB 8097: Practices in Urban and Regional Governance.

Forbes has again ranked Georgia State University’s online Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) program among the top online social work programs in the nation, recently placing it at No. 7.

Associate Professor Robin Hartinger-Saunders received the 2023 University at Buffalo School of Social Work Distinguished Ph.D. in Social Welfare Alumni Award.

Catherine West (B.S.W. ’23), born when China's one-child policy was in effect, shared her experience with the Georgia State University class at Phillips State Prison.

Thanks to an AmeriCorps VISTA grant, students and faculty in Georgia State University's College of Education & Human Development and Andrew Young School of Policy Studies are developing an outreach program for LGBTQIA+ youth in Atlanta experiencing homelessness.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies graduate programs in public affairs rank among the top 8 percent of such programs overall, at No. 22 among the universities ranked.

The lecture series, created to honor the late Michael Mescon, brings experts to Georgia State’s downtown campus to talk about contemporary leadership issues.

Five alumni from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, along with the college’s senior director of development, Amanda Puché, were among the 40 remarkable alumni under the age of 40 recently honored by the Georgia State University Alumni Association.

Atlanta Magazine recently named a record number of Andrew Young School of Policy Studies alumni to the Atlanta 500, a list of the most powerful leaders across the city.

Georgia State University Associate Professor of Social Work Qiana Cryer-Coupet has co-authored a book that helps social workers better serve men as parents.

Principal investigator David C. Ribar and his team will use Ascendium's three-year grant of up to $500,000 to study the Technical College System of Georgia’s eCampus initiative for rural learners.

A $669,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to Georgia State University will establish a literary journal written by, for and with the incarcerated community.

Georgia State University master’s student Avery Evans has joined 25 civic leaders from the public, nonprofit and private sectors to help build public support for the city’s Clean Energy Atlanta plan.

A criminal law specialist delves into the rise of true-crime podcasts to investigate their impact on juries and trials.

Jaden Gomez, a fourth-year economics major, knew the Georgia Legislative Internship Program, would provide a great opportunity to learn more about his career interests in law and city planning.

The day-long camp, sponsored by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management and produced by the Department of Public Management and Policy, introduces the field of public policy to undergraduate students.

The award of $20,000 to the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ AYS Open initiative will save Georgia State students an estimated $1 million or more on learning materials before 2026.

A new Georgia State University study suggests that college women majoring in STEM fields are more frequently victims of sexual assault than their non-STEM counterparts.

Camardelle is a VP at the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative, which works to support the engagement, capacity and leadership necessary to address Atlanta’s racial wealth divide.

Ridley (R-Woodstock) was elected to represent Georgia House District 22, which includes parts of Cherokee and Cobb counties.

He manages alumni programs, communications and experiences for the Office of Career Services and Alumni Relations.

Anthony Hill Jr., a second-year economics and political science double major, represents Georgia State University in the House Minority Leader’s Office.

In this Q&A,Georgia State University student Fangzhou Wang (Ph.D.) shares insight into her work and where it’s likely to focus next.

Riti Sarangi (B.S. ’21) built a picture-perfect resume — one that helped her get admitted into Columbia University’s master’s program in public health — by focusing on campus engagement.

A research team at Georgia State University is exposing the shady practices used on social media and dating apps to commit “romance fraud.”

Public policy major Ann Philip of Johns Creek, Ga., has been assigned to the Government Oversight Committee.

Hundreds of music educators in the state gathered in Athens, Georgia for the annual Georgia Music Educator In-Service Conference at the end of January. Similar to years past, the Georgia State School of Music was presented and well accounted for!

The U.S. News 2023 Best Online Programs rankings assessed more than 1,800 graduate and undergraduate programs offered online by regionally accredited institutions — the highest number of degree programs evaluated in the online rankings’ 11-year history.

Twelve graduates of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business are among the honorees named by the Georgia State University Alumni Association to its 2023 class of distinguished alumni under the age of 40.

Started in 2018, Georgia State’s 40 Under 40 program annually celebrates the most influential and accomplished Georgia State graduates who embody the values of the university.

Georgia State's online M.I.S. in Criminal Justice Administration ranks No. 27 according to U.S. News & World Report.

The five-year grant to Georgia State will train social work students to work in K-12 schools.

MPA alums Jannine Miller ('02), Ann L. Hanlon ('04) and Jerry Gonzalez ('05) join Georgia State President M. Brian Blake and Amb. Andrew Young, who was recognized as a “living legend.”

The American Economic Association (AEA) presented Georgia State's Department of Economics with its 2022 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion on Jan. 7.

Brian E. Bride of Georgia State University has been named among the top 50 most impactful global contributors to social work journal scholarship.

Sass ranks among the nation’s top education scholars according to the 2023 Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings.

The return to near-universal in-person learning in school year 2021–22 did not yield substantial improvements in students’ average math or reading achievement growth.

Distinguished University Professor Ann-Margaret Esnard will serve as the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ (AYSPS) interim dean, effective mid-January.

Leading e-cigarette researchers are urging the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to correct misinformation overstating the dangers of e-cigarettes.

Under the theme, “30 Years of Enhancing Public Safety Across the Globe,” the event brought together 250 guests to celebrate GILEE’s impact on policing and communities by improving professionalism in public safety.

Wallace has served as dean of one of the nation’s top 20 policy and public affairs colleges since 2018. Ann-Margaret Esnard, Distinguished University Professor, will serve as interim dean.

U.S. counties with a higher percentage of people identified as “digitally excluded” saw higher COVID-19 case and death rates throughout the pandemic and lower vaccination rates, suggesting increased vulnerability among this population to future disease.

Atiyah Kennedy knows that whatever career choice she makes will be well-grounded in four years of internship experiences while at Georgia State.

Even with a laser focus on academics, Lauren Rose favors application over theory and pursued experiential learning opportunities throughout her time at the Andrew Young School.

Bob Kosek (M.P.A. ’14) strives to improve Georgia’s economic conditions as the division director of global commerce at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Georgia State University’s Georgia Policy Labs has named urban geographer Rea Zaimi winner of its inaugural Engaged Research Competition.

MPP alumnus Samir Abdullahi ('10) was honored for his significant career achievements and social responsibility.

Choi’s scholarship focuses on intimate partner violence, substance abuse and health disparities among immigrant and minority populations, especially in developing, implementing and evaluating socio-culturally appropriate community intervention and prevention strategies. Formerly a faculty member at the University of Georgia, she serves as a commissioner on the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and is core faculty at the Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory (IPRCE).

Georgia State's Office of International Initiatives has named Juan Luis Gómez Reino (Ph.D. '10) and Ashley Aguilar (B.A. ’22) 2022 Georgia State International Education Award winners.

The American Cancer Society is funding research on the effect of eliminating health insurance cost-sharing on the use of cancer prevention and early detection services by Michael Pesko and his team.

New research by Georgia State University's Georgia Policy Labs finds Achieve Atlanta’s scholarship and support services lead to substantial increases in college persistence and completion rates for students.

Nycolle Carvalho (B.S. ’22) is a legal administrative assistant at the Cobb County District Attorney's Office, where an internship introduced her to victim advocacy.

Lauren Sudeall, professor of law and director of the Center for Access to Justice at Georgia State University College of Law is one of 32 individuals elected to the American Law Institute cohort.

In his new book, Urban Studies Professor Dan Immergluck shines a light on the forces that are reshaping the metro area, including politics, race and the need for more affordable housing.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Michael Pesko $2.65 million in renewal funding for a five-year study to evaluate the effects of e-cigarette policies on youth tobacco use.

They will develop a first-of-its-kind model that will reveal the fuller impact of climate change and climate policy on regional and national financial systems and economies.

Martha Bailey, a professor of economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, will present research on the economics of contraception Monday, Oct. 24, during the 17th W.J. Usery Lecture at Georgia State University.

Monita Porter (B.A.’16, B.S.’16, M.I.S. ’21) helps leverage the success of Black-owned businesses as the assistant deputy director at the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Thad Johnson (Ph.D. '20) spent nearly a decade in law enforcement before becoming a criminal justice scholar. His research focuses on race and police policy related to issues of systemic bias in the U.S. justice system.

AYSPS faculty and research centers reported a record year for grants raised in fiscal year 2022, earning nearly $38 million in research funding with the Georgia Health Policy Center’s record $28.5 million in grants leading the way.

Georgia State, the University of Georgia (UGA) and the Georgia Institute of Technology have been awarded a $400,000 Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation 2022 Knowledge Challenge Grant to study the relationship between merit-based scholarship receipt and entrepreneurship career paths.

Master of Public Policy student Agnes Iwaye was a delegate for the 2022 World Bank Group Youth Summit held at World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., this summer. From Nigeria, she admits her early experiences fostered her interest in international development.

Smith has received grants from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth and the Helios Education Foundation for research that will shed more light on the role higher education can play in closing racial disparities.

Political Science researcher Judd Thornton’s findings raise concern over the influence of racism and colorism in skewing the results of political surveys.

The university welcomed new faculty in economics, social work and urban studies to campus in August for the 2022-23 academic year.

Associate Professor Frances Chen received nearly $590,000 to conduct a three-year study of probation and parole officer (PPO) stress and PPO-client relationships.

Georgia State’s Social Action Alliance (SAA) invites students from all disciplines to participate in a weekend-long, multidisciplinary hackathon during which they will work in teams to develop solutions to metro Atlanta transportation and mobility issues. Registration closes Sept. 21.

An initiative activated by the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology has saved nearly 10,300 undergraduate and graduate students more than $800,000 (est.) total in six semesters.

The four-day program, which begins this fall, will address the top challenges women leaders in law enforcement face while providing tools to develop and enhance their leadership skills.

The Georgia State University Alumni Association has named three new members to its Board of Directors and 18 new members to the Young Alumni Council board.

This year’s record surpasses the previous high of $150 million set in fiscal year 2020 and is $22 million higher than the previous year’s total. In the past three years, externally funded research activity at the university has climbed 9.5 percent.

Kirsten Benson (M.Mu. ’05, M.I.S. ‘20) fights gentrification by helping to build affordable housing units for Atlantans.

The American Bar Association (ABA) will honor Anamaria Hazard (J.D. ’15) with the Up & Comers Award at its annual meeting in Chicago, on Aug. 5.

An introduction to current affairs and global issues sparked a passion for engagement that informs her actions and serves as a model to others.

Twenty-five distinguished young professionals from 19 sub-Saharan African countries are participating in the Alumni Enrichment Institute for the Mandela Washington Fellows, a program created by the U.S. Department of State.

Pearson, a 2022 Georgia State 40 Under 40 honoree, is a victims’ rights advocate with a long-held belief that it’s her duty to give back to her community.

Damion Carpenter (A.S. '21), a long-time Atlanta Braves employee and a Georgia State Sport Administration student, received a replica of the diamond-studded version given to the 2021 Braves World Champion team.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences has awarded Georgia State the grant to conduct a four-year study of the relationship between student outcomes and career and technical education, and teacher preparation and experience.

The new concentration will prepare students to work as analysts and managers in the public and nonprofit sectors.

The delegation partnered with the Israel Police for the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange’s 29th annual peer-to-peer executive training program.

A grant from Georgia State University’s Women’s Philanthropy Network will fund a new year-long initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of community fundraisers through training and a new grant-writing course. It will launch fall 2022.

The new transdisciplinary research center will help transform the way critical urban challenges are studied and addressed.

Population growth and landmark federal policy have dramatically changed where Blacks and whites live in relation to each other in metro Atlanta’s inner 10 counties during the last 50 years.

The Women’s Philanthropy Network (WPN) at Georgia State University selected a diverse set of college and unit-level initiatives to receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $75,000 to foster student success and improve student opportunities.

The new university initiative establishes interdisciplinary research hubs to address some of society’s most pressing issues, including pandemic preparedness, climate solutions, crime victim protection, equity and access, and public health.

Two years into the pandemic, many K-12 students who experienced lower achievement growth before the pandemic have been the slowest to recover, according to new research by the Georgia Policy Labs.

Professor James Marton and Associate Professor Jan Ivery have been chosen to lead their respective academic units in Georgia State's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.

The pilot internship program allows seniors graduating from Georgia State University's Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology the opportunity to work up to 20 hours a week with the MARTA Police Department, receiving $15 per hour.

The pandemic has produced a mental health crisis with effects that may reverberate for years — even decades — to come. At Georgia State, researchers are working to gain insights into the emotional toll and identify how people are finding hope even as the threats persist.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Georgia State University health economist Michael Pesko a $1.8 million grant to study the effects of state mandates requiring insurance companies to cover hearing aids.

Christabel Ghansah (B.S., M.P.A., MBA) and Ambria Hardey (B.S.) joined the third cohort of entrepreneurs selected for Georgia State University’s Entrepreneur and Innovation Institute Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund.

Using a new grant, environmental health researchers at Georgia State are examining the effects of air pollution in metro Atlanta childcare centers.

Gennie Hendrick (B.S.Ed. ’12, M.S. ’22) shifted from a 13-year career in the Lanette L. Suttles Child Development Center to earning a master's in communication sciences and disorders this spring.

Capt. Aprille Moore (B.S. ’05), a Georgia State Alumni Association 40 Under 40 honoree, is a community-focused officer who hopes to inspire more women to join the force.

With their closest family members out of harm’s way, husband and wife Yuriy Davydenko (M.P.A. ’10, Ph.D. ’20) and Liudmyla Zapukhliak (M.S. ’20) continue working to aid fellow Ukrainians and raise awareness of the devastating conflict in their country.

Jalia Garza plans to provide cognitive behavioral therapy after obtaining a master's degree, a goal she feels is attainable through the community she found in Georgia State’s School of Social Work.

Summa cum laude graduate Nicole DeLettera credits her time management skills for helping her succeed as she balanced school, mentoring, two internships and single motherhood.

Jackie Williams (B.S.W. ’22) is graduating at the top of her class as a scholar in Georgia’s Title IV-E Public Child Welfare Education Program.

Christofer Valdez sees his work in the criminal justice system a pathway to social justice.

LaDerrius Williams (B.I.S. '22) is completing a journey he started 10 years ago, determined to become a leader in social change.

Erica Mondragon (B.S.W. ’22) was a caregiver at an early age, her journey helping her realize she wanted to help more people as a social worker.

Valeria Metzgen (B.S. ’22) has started packing for her internship in Washington, D.C., where she’ll work in a congressional office and participate in professional and leadership development training.

Yanet Berakhi’s passion for supporting all cultures followed her through college, where she was active in both the Latina and Caribbean organizations on Georgia State’s campus as a first-year student before joining the Model UN as a sophomore.

Instead of catching up on sleep and the latest Netflix shows during spring break, Anja Minninger (J.D. ’24) worked with advocates to assist survivors of domestic violence...

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State will host 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging leaders for a two-week Alumni Enrichment Institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

After stints in the armies of South Korea and the United States, Taegue Park plans to work with those in need of a second chance.

MPP student Daniel Glenn chose the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in hopes of intersecting his passion for theater with his interest in public policy.

A new research-practice partnership between Georgia State University’s Georgia Policy Labs (GPL) and Achieve Atlanta is one of three research-practice partnerships named as winners of the prestigious 2022 Institutional Challenge Grant.

John K. Tien, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), met with Georgia State University students and faculty April 8 during a visit to Atlanta arranged by the World Affairs Council of Atlanta.

Distinguished University Professor Dr. Alessandra Raengo of the School of Film, Media & Theatre is the recipient of the prestigious 2022-23 Paul Mellon Senior Fellowship from the Center for the Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

State and local governments struggling to address the nation’s trillion-dollar deficit in infrastructure financing will find help in a new book co-authored by Georgia State University scholar Can Chen.

Its No. 20 ranking places the AYS in the top seven percent of public affairs programs among its peers.

Data on Georgia's K-12 student learning modes - whether in-person, virtually, or through a combination of both during the pandemic - is now publicly available.

A new report ranking economics departments for their published research ranks Georgia State University’s among the top 50 in the world and best in Georgia.

Sarina Marsh and Jovan Paige were named to the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Atlanta’s 30 Under 30 class for their dedication to improving communities and empowering youth in the nonprofit sector.

Andre Dickens (M.P.A. '13), Greg Dozier (B.S. Criminal Justice ‘93 and M.B.A ‘03) and Jerry Gonzalez (M.P.A. '05) were recently named among Georgia Trend's 100 Most Influential Georgians.

In their new book, “Housing Market Response to Sea Level Rise in Florida,” professors Risa Palm and Toby Bolsen examine whether projections on flooding in South Florida — made public via flood maps — result in greater market awareness and responses to this environmental risk.

Anton Flores-Maisonet's (B.S.W. ’92) passion for immigrant justice and deep faith has led him to co-found nonprofit organizations that serve newcomers and asylum seekers.

Atlanta Magazine recently named 8 AYSPS alumni and faculty to its 500 Most Powerful Leaders list for 2022, with Amb. Andrew Young recognized a "legend."

Genesis Castro (M.P.A. ‘20) was recently named one of Georgia’s 50 Most Influential Latinos by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Awardees are recognized as innovators, leaders and for “leaving a footprint behind.”

Ten Andrew Young School of Policy Studies alumni will be honored as members of the Georgia State University Alumni Association's 40 Under 40 Class of 2022 on March 24 at a ceremony and reception at the Foundry at Puritan Mill.

Earned Income Tax Credit Day and a new report from Georgia State University build awareness and offer action steps to increase the use of EITCs.

John List, the Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and a best-selling author, will present the 2022 Economics Distinguished Public Lecture on “The Voltage Effect: How to Make Good Ideas Great and Great Ideas Scale,” at the Student Center East Auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m.

Several Georgia State online master’s programs have been ranked as the best in the country, according to the 2022 Best Online Rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

The 40 Under 40 program honors, recognizes and celebrates the most influential and impactful Georgia State graduates under the age of 40 who embody the values of the university.

A first-of-its-kind study led by the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies found significant variability in state- and nationwide policies on end-of-life decision making in U.S. prisons.

The working paper found that state-level legalization of abortion produced a 30 to 40 percent decline in non-white maternal mortality, with little impact on overall or white maternal mortality.

Georgia State University economist Tim Sass has been ranked among the nation’s top education scholars, according to the 2022 “Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings” released today by Education Week blogger Frederick M. Hess, the American Enterprise Institute’s director of education policy studies.

Georgia State University President M. Brian Blake addressed the fall 2021 WomenLead cohort during its culminating event of the semester: a poster presentation session where students discussed their future plans and personal leadership strategies with executives, community leaders and faculty.

Increased collaboration among Atlanta's universities and hospitals, Eds and Meds, will make a larger contribution to the economy than its Fortune 500 headquarters.

The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) recently adopted a resolution to formally accept, acknowledge, support and use the definition of community policing originally authored by a Georgia State University professor.

The pandemic has had a massive impact on violent crime. Here, three Georgia State criminology experts weigh in on why it’s happening — and what we can learn.

In Georgia State’s Center for the Economic Analysis of Risk, faculty are researching the most effective channels for upward economic mobility in Atlanta and across the globe.

Georgia police chiefs and other law enforcmenet officials have returned from Israel after an intensive two weeks of public safety leadership training.

Taylor Stanley (M.P.P. ’13), granddaughter of ambassador and civil rights activist Andrew Young, is creating long-lasting social change in Atlanta by addressing racial inequity at the youth level through ATL: Advance the Lives.

Georgia State alumna Delores A. Varner (B.S.W. ’96, M.S.W. ‘01) and friends of Mindy Wertheimer recently endowed two scholarships for social work students.

She decided that by focusing on public policy, she could make positive change in the world by helping immigrants as well as the homeless.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies will receive a grant from New America to fund the work of its Data Science for Public Service Consortium.

The Urban Studies Institute hosts an online event featuring presentations on rural-urban disparities by Georgia mayors, researchers and practitioners.

Alumna Maria Azuri (B.S.W. ’03) helps nonprofits with diverse stakeholders improve their sustainability by connecting them with specialized grants & programs.

New research shows how environmental policy could affect employment and whether measures intended to reduce climate change cause job losses.

Alumni Candice Dixon, Captain Aprille Moore and Mary-Kate Starkel were named to Georgia Trend's 40 under 40 list for 2021!

New research finds that adopting advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and automation can produce mixed or negative effects on worker well-being.

Risk of racialized fatal encounters with law enforcement impacts a broader profile of racial, ethnic and gender subgroups according to new research.

In spring 2023, Luse will lead a class of select students across disciplines and across colleges working on-camera and off as part of the cast and crew of a film he co-wrote with Georgia State screenwriting students.

Alhi N'guessan (M.A. in Economics' 21) believes in using economics to alleviate the effects of climate change while minimizing future consequences.

Ashley Aguilar hopes to work in South Korea in the field of environmental economics.

Christina Cummings (M.P.A ’11) injects equity into federal investment, helping to restore services, economies and justice in disinvested communities across the nation.

The Child Care Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) federal grant will provide free childcare for eligible Perimeter College students at a Decatur YMCA childcare facility affiliated with the Head Start program.

The Andrew Young School is excited to launch the Social Action Alliance, a Next Generation Service Corps initiative to train future civic leaders.

Imani Maxberry, a graduate student in Urban Studies, has been awarded the first $5,000 Andrew J. Swope Scholarship for Equity and Justice.

A National Institutes of Health-funded study suggests the Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2021 may not benefit public health, particularly in young e-cigarette users.

New research from the Georgia Policy Labs finds that students spend less than half their normal classroom time on virtual learning during the pandemic.

A new book advances understanding of how people and organizations across health systems and social services can work together in new and sustainable ways.

Students are seeing the benefits of lower costs as more Andrew Young School faculty begin teaching with open access materials,

GSU professor Dan Immergluck co-edited a special journal publication on the consequences of eviction and how housing policy can impact individuals.

To celebrate our first cohort of Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) University Partnership Program graduates we interviewed the program's directors.

Cherella Nicholson (M.I.S. in Urban Studies ’20) promotes environmental remediation in southwest Fresno, California, through her brownfield advocacy work.

New research finds that video footage captured by police-worn body cameras is closing racial gaps in police misconduct investigations.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies named new interim directors for the School of Social Work and the Public Finance Research Cluster.

Alexis Veazie, a senior in the Honors College at Georgia State University, has been accepted to speak at the 2021 American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting in Chicago this November.

The Federal Reserve and the Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group are forming a three-year partnership to address online financial fraud.

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A new study aims to demonstrate the resilience of LGBTQ+ individuals during the coronavirus pandemic through a combination of diary entries and surveys.

For the first time in its 25-year history, the Andrew Young School of Policy has named two recipients each to its prestigious annual faculty and staff awards

Criminal Justice alumna Chinelo Moneke’s (B.S., ‘21) desire to serve marginalized populations and her Nigerian heritage have driven her career aspirations.

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ed Sherwood (B.A. '68, MBA ’76) recounts a forgotten Vietnam War battle and memorializes lost comrades in a new book.

A new study finds that health care providers who include the community voice in collaborative activities will improve health equity for their constituents.

Nitcelle Emanuels ascended several rungs on the corporate ladder by 2014. She had earned two degrees from Georgia State: a B.S. in human resources and policy development from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in 2003 and an MBA from the Robinson College of Business in 2011.

The Honors College at Georgia State University has awarded the Presidential Scholarship, the university’s most prestigious and valuable academic award, to seven incoming, first-year students.

Alumna LaTresse Snead works at the National Park Foundation to lead a network of community partners in the preservation and protection of national parkland.

An analysis conducted by the Metro-Atlanta Policy Lab for Education has found substantial impacts on student achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group will use a $1.4 million federal Minerva Research Initiative grant to examine conspiracy theories.

Gregorio Macias Garcia grduates with his B.S. in Economics this spring and plans to pursue a master’s degree and eventually become a data scientist.