Stony Brook University and New York Law School launched a new program series titled "Civic Leadership, Law and Social Welfare" on November 25 at New York Law School in Manhattan. The event featured Mandy Cohen, MD, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who participated in a conversation moderated by Anthony Crowell, Dean and President of New York Law School, alongside Shari Miller, Dean of Stony Brook School of Social Welfare.
This collaboration between Stony Brook's School of Social Welfare and New York Law School aims to bring high-profile speakers to discuss challenges faced by institutions working towards public trust and responsible law and policy making. The inaugural session focused on the CDC's efforts in public engagement, strategies for building trust, future agency work, misinformation impact, public well-being, civic engagement promotion, and strengthening government-civil society partnerships.
Miller emphasized the current societal challenges: “As a society, we find ourselves at a significant crossroads... Systematic exposure to misinformation and disinformation not only threaten the health and well-being of the public but also undermine... public health, social welfare, and justice systems.”
Crowell highlighted the partnership's focus on fostering public trust: “A recent example is a book project... where I coined the phrase ‘civic anemia’ to describe a deficiency suffered in civics readiness by many in the American public.”
Richard McCormick, Interim President of Stony Brook University, provided opening remarks via Zoom. He noted Cohen as an ideal speaker to address integrity within social media and misinformation consequences: “Today offers a great opportunity how government... can truly foster trust with one another.”
Cohen is recognized for her leadership during the COVID crisis while leading North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services. She serves as both director for the CDC and administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).