Public Affairs and Government

A fireside chat with Nasser Paydar, President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and former Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, the U.S. Department of Education and Linda Essig, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Baruch College CUNY. Organized and hosted by the Higher Education Administration Program at the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

Join us for a public lecture, organized and hosted by the Howard J. Samuels State and City Policy Center at Baruch College, on the causes and consequences of rising housing costs, by Edward L. Glaeser, Professor of Economics at Harvard University. Dr. Glaeser will examine why housing has become increasingly unaffordable in major cities and what policy choices can and cannot do to address the housing crisis in urban centers including New York.

Spring 2026 Ackerman Lecture. Join Jelani Cobb, Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism at the Columbia Journalism School for this important lecture situates contemporary concerns over democracy, immigration, DEI, and higher education within their broader historical contexts.

How Major Change Happens in Urban Welfare Policies? Can New York City respond effectively to poverty and related problems? Mayors Lindsay, Giuliani, and de Blasio all sought major change in city welfare policy. When has big change been achieved and how did it happen? Thomas J. Main’s new book, Reforming Social Services in New York City: How Major Change Happens in Urban Welfare Policies (Cornell 2025), will be the springboard for a discussion of these issues.

Context Matters. Whether cultural, economic, political or environmental, contexts shape our work, our values and our strategies. Join our visiting nonprofit and community philanthropy scholar/practitioners as they share and reflect on their experiences from Peru, the Philippines, and Ukraine.

Join Mustafa Santiago Ali for a lecture highlighting some social justice movements reshaping communities across the country and learn about a model that is bringing transformative change.

As nations push toward net-zero goals, nuclear energy is making a comeback — sparking debate while offering a low-carbon, reliable power source. With AI driving unprecedented electricity demand, how can nuclear power meet both climate and tech challenges?

Join global experts for a deep dive into:

⚡ Technological, economic, and policy trends shaping nuclear energy

🌐 Geopolitical perspectives from the U.S., China, and the EU

🔬 Nuclear’s role in decarbonization and powering the AI era

Keynote address from the launch event of the Online Executive Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration.

Join Deborah Archer, president of the ACLU National and esteemed legal scholar, for a discussion of her upcoming book Dividing Lines, where she explores how America’s transportation infrastructure has reinforced racial segregation and inequality over the past century. From highways that separate communities to sidewalks that exclude, Archer reveals how seemingly neutral infrastructure choices have perpetuated division. Drawing on history, legal analysis, and real-life testimonies, she offers a critical look at the enduring impact of these systems and outlines a vision for a more equitable future.

Come hear legendary organizer Marshall Ganz in conversation about his once-in-a-generation book. Its framework for creating real and lasting change is drawn from his extraordinary experiences with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, President Obama’s 2008 election campaign, and training future leaders for over 20 years at Harvard.