News & Events

May 6, 2025

The Moynihan Center at The City College of New York (CCNY) is pleased to announce its 2025–2026 cohort of Moynihan Public Scholars. This distinguished group represents diverse fields including academia, journalism, and public service, united by their commitment to substantive dialogue across difference and engagement with pressing public issues.

The 2025–2026 Moynihan Public Scholars are:

• Gregory Conti, Associate Professor of Politics, Princeton University
• Jonathan Derbyshire, Executive Opinion Editor, Financial Times
• Amana Fontanella-Khan, Opinion Editor, The Guardian US
• Manjari Mahajan, Associate Professor of International Affairs, The New School
• Dan Mathis, Senior Advisor for Policy and Sustainable Housing, NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development
• Brittany Montgomery, Senior Advisor of Special Projects & Initiatives, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Naomi Riley, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
• Harry Siegel, Senior Editor, The City; Columnist, New York Daily News
• Tevi Troy, Senior Fellow, Ronald Reagan Institute

“Our Public Scholars cohort for 2025–2026 represents the cornerstone of our 'society of fellows' model, through which mid-career scholars, journalists and public service practitioners engage in intellectual exchange across ideological viewpoints together with our undergraduate fellows," said Carlo Invernizzi Accetti, Executive Director of the Moynihan Center. "This approach creates a unique learning environment where our undergraduate fellows benefit from direct engagement with leading thinkers while Public Scholars gain fresh perspectives from our diverse student body. Together, they exemplify the Moynihan Center's commitment to bridging academic research and civic leadership development.

The cornerstone of the fellowship is the weekly Moynihan Public Scholars Seminar, which creates a rare space where intellectual rigor meets open dialogue, bringing together fellows, faculty, and invited guests from diverse professional and ideological backgrounds.

"What makes this fellowship unique is its ability to create meaningful exchanges across professional and ideological boundaries," said Michael Miller, Managing Director of the Moynihan Center. "Our Public Scholars bring perspectives from conservative think tanks, progressive media outlets, government agencies, and academic institutions. In the Moynihan seminar, diverse viewpoints aren't merely tolerated—they're actively engaged with, challenged, and refined through rigorous discussion."

Daniel DiSalvo, Chair of the CCNY Political Science Department and Chair of the Moynihan Public Scholars Advisory Committee, noted: "This cohort exemplifies the kind of boundary-crossing work that Senator Moynihan himself modeled throughout his career. By bringing together scholars, journalists, and practitioners who can analyze pressing public issues from multiple angles, we're not just fostering intellectual diversity—we're developing more nuanced approaches to governance challenges facing New York City and beyond. These perspectives will inform not only our scholarly discourse but potentially influence concrete policy solutions."

The Public Scholars Fellowship takes inspiration from Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan's celebrated career, which exemplified the vital connection between rigorous research and broad public engagement. Fellows receive a $30,000 unrestricted stipend for the academic year.

Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, Executive Director of NYU McSilver Institute and member of the Public Scholars Advisory Committee, emphasized the fellowship's impact: "The Moynihan Public Scholars program plays a vital role in our broader mission of cultivating future civic leaders. By connecting established scholars and practitioners with promising undergraduate fellows, we create intergenerational mentorship opportunities that help diversify pathways into public service. This approach ensures that tomorrow's civic leadership reflects the full diversity of perspectives needed to address our most pressing challenges."

Roya Hakakian, independent journalist and current Public Scholar, reflected on her experience: "The seminar is a monument to diversity: students and faculty, academics and public servants and journalists, each engaged with an intriguing project, representing a wide spectrum of political and philosophical views, sit side-by-side and break proverbial bread. The conversations never stop when they're supposed to because the questions never end. I find myself looking forward to the weekly sparring to keep me sharp–and humble, too!"

Incoming Public Scholars expressed enthusiasm about joining the program:

"I'm honored to be part of an intellectual community of Public Scholars that meets weekly to discuss the most urgent political questions facing us as a society today," said Amana Fontanella-Khan. "We are living through a tumultuous and unprecedented moment in our history. Deep reflection, listening, and debate are essential to help us chart a path forwards toward a future where all can flourish. I'm excited to see the work that this cohort produces in our year together."

"I couldn't be more thrilled to become a Moynihan Public Scholar at CCNY, one of New York City's unique and essential institutions, and to engage with the community of scholars, practitioners, and students inside the fellowship and throughout City College," said Harry Siegel. "I'm looking forward to the weekly seminars and exchange of ideas, mentoring undergraduates, and the opportunity to consider and express to the broadest possible audience fresh new answers to tough old questions about how to align safety, fairness, and basic human decency in a free society."

For more information on the 2025–2026 Public Scholars cohort, click here.