Providing a significant increase in funds available to support diverse research around the world—and to honor the dedication and service of a longtime Maxwell leader, colleague and interim dean—the faculty and the advisory board of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs have created the Michael J. Wasylenko Endowed Faculty Fund.
In 2010-2011, as interim dean, Wasylenko oversaw the integration of the graduate public administration and international relations programs; creation of an independent undergraduate international relations department; and initial development of a new Maxwell School undergraduate major in citizenship and civic engagement that will enroll its first class of students in fall 2013.
“Mike maintained Maxwell’s momentum through the dean transition to Jim Steinberg,” says William Eggers, outgoing chair of the advisory board. “He has been a strong voice for the Maxwell faculty and for support of faculty research and projects, so when the advisory board decided to honor Mike’s service, a new fund supporting faulty research seemed to be a perfect fit. The response was outstanding.”
Wasylenko says that the $250,000 fund will provide much-needed support for faculty to pursue field work, examine archives in other locations, acquire data and purchase necessary equipment to carry out their research. “These resources can serve as seed funding, leading to larger research pursuits and additional external support. Enhancing faculty funding will enrich the intellectual life of the school and add to the success and recognition of its faculty,” he says.
A professor of economics, Wasylenko has been on the Maxwell School faculty since 1986 and has served as the Maxwell School’s senior associate dean for academic affairs and administration since 2003. As chief operating officer, he manages the school’s endowment accounts, finances and budgets; oversees the information, computing and technology functions and staff; coordinates with the Office of Design and Construction, architects and contractors to manage and renovate building space; along with chairs and program directors, plans faculty hires and strategies for department programs; and serves as personnel director for school staff.
Wasylenko has also served as the University’s faculty representative to the NCAA for a decade. Reporting to the Chancellor, he works closely with athletics programs on compliance with new areas of NCAA legislation, legislative enforcement and student athlete welfare. In this role, he has developed strong working relationships with members of the athletics department, while advocating for the best interests of the University and its constituencies.
As an academic, Wasylenko specializes in public finance issues and has published extensively on state and local finance, firm location, tax incentives and population decentralization within metropolitan areas. He is co-author of “Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Issues, Magnitudes, and Location Choice of New Manufacturing Plants.” Wasylenko has advised numerous state tax commissions and his work has taken him to more than a dozen countries, including Egypt, Hungary, Jamaica, Thailand and South Africa.
