The Watson School's Realizing Rights Lab, led by John Hazen White Professor of Public Policy, Susan Moffitt, brings together faculty, Ph.D., MPA and undergraduate students from across a variety of academic disciplines to research barriers citizens encounter to exercising their rights and what can be done to overcome them.
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Site News from the Last 365 days
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Alumni Spotlight: Ellie Adair ’18 MPA
Using the skills developed at the Watson School, Ellie Adair plays the infinite game in her role as chief operating officer at the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review.
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In this paper, published in Policy Studies Journal, Watson School Postdoctoral Research Associate in Education Policy and member of the Realizing Rights Lab, Cameron Arnzen, examined how administrative burdens interact with education to shape democratic participation.
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This working paper from a Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies research team led by Ieva Jusionyte provides a first systematic look into Mexico-U.S. extraditions and expulsions.
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Student Spotlight: Minh Hoang ’26 MPA
Minh Hoang plans to leverage the skills he has developed in Brown’s Master of Public Affairs program to make life better in his native Vietnam.
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Celebrating the life and legacy of Mark Garrison
Mark Garrison, the founding director of Brown University's Center for Foreign Policy Development, a precursor to the Watson School, passed away peacefully in Haverford, Pennsylvania, at the age of 95 on January 1, 2026.
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Art at Watson’s exhibition, “Odisha Illuminated: A Celebration of Ritual in a Modern World,” features bold, colorful textiles from the Odisha region of India. It will run through the spring 2026 semester in Stephen Robert '62 Hall.
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Anarchy, Nature, and Innovation
In this invited review essay, published in International Studies Review, Jeff Colgan proposes three ordering principles as a framework for teaching and a guide for intellectual inquiry in international relations: anarchy, nature and innovation.
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Global Climate Politics after the return of President Trump
In this paper, published in International Organization, Jeff Colgan and co-author Federica Genovese explore how Donald Trump's second term has disrupted global climate politics.
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As the Watson Policy Mentor Network enters its third year, it has expanded to provide more one-on-one mentoring opportunities for MPA students, as the School continues to facilitate engagement between its students and highly successful public policy practitioners.
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Spring 2026 practitioner-led study groups
These not-for-credit study groups provide an opportunity for students to delve deeply into topics and apply theory and research to real-world challenges. Enrollment in each group is limited to 25 students.
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Student Spotlight: Nicole Nehiley ’26 MPA
Lifelong Rhode Islander Nicole Nehiley saw the Watson School’s MPA program as the perfect vehicle to help advance her career after working for nearly a decade in philanthropy.
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Deterrence, Reassurance and the North Korean Nuclear Standoff
Invited article written by Reid Pauly, "Deterrence, Reassurance and the North Korean Nuclear Standoff," published in GlobalAsia December 2025, Vol. 20, No. 4.
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Watson faculty book contributions in 2025
Watson faculty members published a range of books in 2025 on topics including democratic governance, inflation, global nonprofits, the illicit economy and international security. Their work offers new insight into the political and economic forces shaping today’s world. Explore 2025 titles from Watson scholars below.
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A recent paper published in Science Advances and co-authored by Han Zhang finds that nationalism on Chinese social media is fueled more by fan networks than by celebrity influence.
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Effective July 1, 2026, Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan will become director of the Watson School’s Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance, taking over for long-time director Mark Blyth.
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Student Spotlight: Neel Godbole ’25
Pre-med student Neel Godbole transferred to Brown University after his sophomore year, seeking a more flexible curriculum. He found the perfect match for his diverse interests in the Watson School’s undergraduate concentration, International and Public Affairs (IAPA).
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The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) Program offers two distinctive programs that enable students to build connections and deepen their MPA experience. The MPA Research Fellows Program emphasizes faculty engagement and hands-on research, while the Equity in Policy Scholars Program stresses interaction with policy practitioners and leadership development.
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Watson School Military Fellow, Hillery Anderson, a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Air Force, came to the Watson School of International and Public Affairs after serving at the Pentagon to research issues relating to artificial intelligence and education. According to Anderson, the Air Force must prepare now for how AI will impact future recruits to keep pace with China.
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Alumni Spotlight: Diana Perdomo ’13 MPA
While working as a global relations officer at Brown University, Diana Perdomo chose to take advantage of the University’s Employee Education Program to earn a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree. It was a decision that would accelerate her career growth, leading to impactful positions in government and the nonprofit sector.
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A new report from the Costs of War project finds that H.R. 1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” directs most of its $156 billion in military spending to contractors, setting a troubling precedent for bypassing the regular defense budget process.
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J. Brian Atwood honored with Henrietta Fore Development Award
Senior Fellow J. Brian Atwood has been awarded the American Academy of Diplomacy’s 2025 Henrietta Fore Award for Excellence in International Development for his leadership in global development.
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