Student Directory
Student Organizations
Student organizations are an integral part of Ford School community life. Students organize groups to talk about common policy interests, to bring speakers to the School, to do community service, and to have fun. We encourage students to come together in these groups and the School often provides support for activities.
Here’s a listing of Ford School student organizations and contact information:
Student Affairs Committee (SAC)
Contacts:
Primary Contact Email –
fspp_sac
Hillary Davis – hedav
Peter Saling – psaling
Matt Schaar – mschaar
Melvin Gains – mgaines
The mission of the Ford School Student Affairs Committee is to assist student organizations at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy through funding and guidance and to facilitate their activities on campus to promote a positive student experience. SAC also serves as the primary liaison between Ford School students and the School's administration. SAC is also responsible for administering a yearly survey and reporting results to the school community.
Community Service Organization (Now part of SAC)
The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy Community Service Organization (CSO) strives to create opportunity for service for public policy students. We design days of service, on-going projects and fundraising events to support community organizations and to promote interaction between students, faculty and staff within the Ford School.
Association for Public Policy About Learning and Education (APPLE)
Contacts:
Steven Byrd – sdbyrd
Recognizing the growing contingent of students interested in education policy at the Ford School of Public Policy, APPLE was established in 2002 to promote the discussion of and provide additional resources for the study of education policy issues at the University of Michigan . APPLE brings in speakers on education-related topics, such as Dr. Kenneth Burnley who spoke about his perspective on large, urban school districts as the CEO of Detroit Public Schools and Dr. Susan Neuman who addressed her work in education policy on the federal level. APPLE also advocates for a deeper focus on education issues within the Ford School faculty and through career services. In addition, APPLE helps its members learn about the field of education policy by hosting events with alumni who currently work in education and by creating an extensive list of interesting organizations for internships or jobs upon graduation. The organization also participates in “hands-on” activities, such as attending local progressive high schools to see the effects of policy first hand.
Charity Auction Committee
Contacts:
Amanda Jones – amandamj
Douglas Horton – dmhorton
The Ford School Charity Auction Committee coordinates and executes the spring Charity Auction. This semi-formal event raises more than ten thousand dollars each year for a student-nominated and elected beneficiary. All members of the Ford School community attend to eat, drink, dance and bid on silent and live auction items. Committee member responsibilities include fundraising, donation, solicitation, decoration, and all other aspects of event planning. The Charity Auction is the major end-of-year event hosted by the Ford School.
Domestic Policy Corps (DPC)
Contacts:
Jessica Simoncelli – jmsim
Mark Strayer – mstrayer
Andrew Rogers – ajrogers
Domestic Policy Corps (DPC) provides a forum for student engagement and dialogue with current domestic policy issues. We foster and activate student voice on current and vital policy issues as they arise, as the Ford School of Public Policy should be a leader on campus in discussing and analyzing policy issues.
DPC advocates to expand current curriculum offerings to include practical and applied courses that employ experiential learning. We are working to build relationships with public and nonprofit sector entities that could benefit from graduate student policy assistance. These types of experiences will further our path to policy professionalism through practical, hands-on knowledge and a working ability to explore and express our views outside of the classroom.
In the past, DPC provided an opportunity for students to engage in an alternative spring break trip away from campus. As a departure this former iteration of DPC, we seek to engage with local communities and build long-term relationships with public and nonprofit sectors organizations in Michigan. This may take the form of a local, alternative spring break trip.
Environmental Policy Organization (EPO)
Contact:
Dave Thoman – dtho
Recognizing that many of the most pressing public policy issues in the coming decades are environmental ones, the Environmental Policy Organization (EPO) is a student-run organization that strives to raise awareness among the Ford School student body of these issues and their implications. EPO hosts regular brown bag meetings with professors and professionals involved in environmental policy issues, organizes local community clean-up projects and informative tours, and provides opportunities to network with other graduate students interested in the environment and public policy.
Ford School Queers and Allies (FSQA)
Contacts:
Linda Galib – lgalib
Josh Brammer – brammer
FSQA is a home for Ford School LGBTQ and allies. Its purpose is to promote a welcoming environment for the Queer community at the Ford School and advocate for awareness and action around Queer issues in the policy world and the Ford School.
Ford School Consulting Club (FSCC)
Contacts:
Hilary Doe – dhilary
Claudia Munoz – ctmunoz
The FSCC is a club for Ford School graduate students with an interest in consulting. The club will help students find information, meet recruiters, navigate the interview process, and make connections with Ford School Alumni in consulting. The club will also provide resources and information on consulting in its many forms in for-profit, nonprofit, government, and international firms, agencies, and think tanks. Similar to consulting clubs in other schools, FSCC members will gather together to practice case interviewing and learn how to use analysis techniques learned at the Ford School to solve problems in different industries and sectors. The Ford School is unique among policy schools in that its highly quantitative curriculum and complex issue analysis techniques are extremely suitable for strategy, management, and operations consulting both in the private and public sectors. The FSCC aims to help students make the transition from student to consultant. The FSCC also endeavors to assist consulting firms in meeting interested students as well as in sharing new developments and unique or novel perspectives from the industry.
Future Leaders in Politics (FLIP)
Contact:
Jason Arrendondo – dondo
CJ Lee – cbleeii
Gideon D'Assandro – gideond
Future Leaders in Politics is a professional learning and networking group for Ford School students interested in a career in public service. We bring in speakers to enlighten students about the crucial skills and trends that may affect their future careers. In addition to workshops on negotiation, presentation, and analytical skills, Future Leaders in Politics also sponsors day trips that allow students to gain real-world training in the public sector and expand their network of contacts.
Health Policy Student Association (HPSA)
Contacts:
Krista Lambo – krlambo
Shelby Wolf – shwolf
Alanna Diamond – ajdiamo
The Health Policy Students Association (HPSA) is an organization whose purpose is to provide and support educational and professional development opportunities for all students interested in health policy. Our members come from all disciplines and degree programs, including public health, public policy, law, social work, business, medicine, dentistry, and nursing. HPSA is a place for students to participate in a number of health policy related events including, guest speakers, local and national level meetings, panel discussions, and a variety of social activities. Our organization provides opportunities for career enhancement, skill development and networking in the health policy world. We are also a student chapter of AcademyHealth, a professional health services and policy research organization located in Washington, D.C.
International Policy Students Association (IPSA)
Contacts:
Kristine Chong – khchong
Kyla Wall-Polin – kylawp
IPSA was established to give students in international policy an informal setting for the discussion world events and to work with faculty in organizing the annual mid-winter study tour of a developing country. Much of our current work focuses on the trip and the related course (Public Policy 674) including selecting a country to study, planning the trip, and raising funds to support the trip.
Jewish Policy Student Association (JPSA)
Contacts:
Zack Mabel – zmabel
Matt Borus – mborus
The Jewish Policy Student Association is a student-run organization charged with exploring historical and contemporary policy issues related to and affecting Jewish constituencies.
Michigan Journal of Public Affairs (MJPA)
Contacts:
Kathy Dasovich - dasokath
Egan Reich - eganr
The Michigan Journal of Public Affairs (MJPA) is the student-run academic journal of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. The MJPA promotes dialogue on a wide range of public policy issues by publishing a diverse group of contributors, ranging from students to public policy professionals.
Social Committee
Contacts:
Adam Cooper – adamjac
Joanna Lee – seungeun
The Social Committee organizes social outings for the Ford School community. The Committee tries to offer an array of events from sports activities to the graduate picnic to the orientation service day. Throughout the year, Social Committee Chairs create and keep students informed of opportunities to gather and get to know one another better.
Students of Color in Public Policy (SCPP)
Contacts:
Christina Sylvester – chrissyl
Rose Afriyie – sariyie
The mission of SCPP is to create an environment at the Ford School and within the University of Michigan campus community in which public policy students of color can succeed emotionally, academically, and professionally. SCPP meets regularly to provide a place for discussion of policy and personal issues and to organize activities. The organization, which welcomes all interested students, works closely with the School to develop programs for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Symposium held at the University of Michigan.
Women and Gender in Public Policy (WGPP)
Contacts:
Cortney Watson – wcortney
Alana Ward – wardaj
Formed in 2002, Women and Gender in Public Policy engages the Ford School community in a dialogue about gender and related domestic and international public policies. WGPP promotes professional development activities by facilitating communication and networking among current students, Ford School alumni, faculty, and working professionals to form a lasting community of policy professionals.
Women and Gender in Public Policy (WGPP) Alumnae Network
Contact:
wgppalumniboard
Stephanie Procyk - sprocyk
Aschley Schiller - aschleys
Elizabeth Talbert - etalbert
Amanda Jones - amandamj
Heidi Kaplan - hjkaplan
This is a professional and social networking group established by alumnae of the School. It meets frequently to host speakers interested in how gender issues impact and are impacted by policy. WGPP Alumnae Network also hosts social gatherings on a regular basis.
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