Student DirectoryThe Women and Gender in Public Policy (WGPP) Alumnae Network
Who We Are
The Women and Gender in Public Policy (WGPP) Alumnae Network is a professional and social networking group organized by and for women alumnae of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. A volunteer organization, it is affiliated with the Ford School’s student WGPP group.
Founded in 2003, the non-partisan group is designed to connect Ford School alumnae, and support and promote their professional development and empowerment.
Our Mission
The WGPP Alumnae Network seeks to empower its members both professionally and personally. Our mission includes:
- Provide networking opportunities for both professional development and social/community purposes, plus leadership experience and training;
- Share mutual support and empowerment strategies;
- Connect and strengthen ties among Ford School alumnae;
- Promote members and their careers; Advocate for fair policymaking workplaces for all women, as well as for all women’s concerns in regards to the impact of public policies;
- To have fun doing all of the above.
Why Join
Joining the WGPP Alumnae Network is easy and provides many avenues for networking, building community, and supporting and promoting Ford School alumnae. Join for yourself; join for other women. By building a strong network, everyone benefits.
Benefits include
- Networking opportunities, for professional and social purposes, both at the regional and national level, and both in-person at events and on the web. Currently, organizers are putting together local and national listservs, which members can use to do everything from swapping job opportunities, to finding a good doctor or housing through a professional and social network when arriving to a new city.
- A newsletter to share news, highlight alums’ careers and other interests, and training and other opportunities. If you have ideas for the newsletter and/or want to contribute, let us know.
- Also in the works: a website where members can connect directly. More on this to come. (Note: members will not automatically be signed up for this networking site. Rather, it will be left up to each individual to decide whether they would like to be part of it.)
- As the network further develops, professional development and leadership training and policy conferences are envisioned.
How to Join
Joining the WGPP Network is easy. Simply send an email to wgppalumniboard@umich.edu.
How to Get Involved
The WGPP Alumnae Network is a volunteer-run, grassroots group. New ideas, leaders, activists, party throwers, martini-mixers – you name it -- are encouraged and welcomed.
If you would like to start a regional network or get involved in any way, contact the WGPP Network board by email at wgppalumniboard@umich.edu. Board members can provide any information you need or link you to other members in your area.
Current volunteer needs also include:
Event planning and hosting;
Organizing regional networks;
Contributing to the newsletter, including writing profiles of members and contributing job listings; Testing out a planned, interactive website that will allow members to network and contact one another directly. (Please note: joining the Network does not automatically make one involved in the interactive website; all members will be left to join the site if they so choose.
To get involved in any way, email: wgppalumniboard@umich.edu.
Our History
The network grew out of a student-led women’s professional development group at the Ford School at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Founded in 2002 by and for Ford School women, WGPP (commonly pronounced as “whip”) began as a student organization; the idea for a alumnae networking group soon followed. WGPP’sters – commonly known as “whipsters” – have been active in creating opportunities for women policy students’ professional and academic development, providing welcome environments to discuss women’s professional and gender policy issues, as well as organizing public service and social networking opportunities.
WGPP has grown rapidly due to the energy, leadership and activism of its members. New ideas, leaders, events and grassroots activism are encouraged and welcomed.
Why Women Alumnae
The network was in part inspired by the story of the Clinton administration’s nominating process for the U.S. Secretary of State. Originally, the administration’s list of potential nominees lacked any women candidates, despite the fact that a number of highly qualified women candidates were available. Women activists successfully protested and leaders added a number of women candidates to the nominee list, including Madeline Albright. The rest, as they say, is history.
Despite the former Secretary of State Albright’s success, her story shows women policymakers often face a different climate and set of hurdles than male policymakers. Recognizing this difference, WGPP Alumni Network members seeks to support one another, share empowerment strategies, and continue the WGPP tradition began at the Ford School of combining networking, activism, community service and socializing for fun and growth.
Donations
The WGPP Network is currently being supported and run by volunteers, alumnae and current students alike. Presently, the student WGPP group is providing the little financial funding the group has for organizing events, invitations, website design, etc. If you would like to donate, please email: wgppalumniboard@umich.edu.
For More Information
Email the WGPP Alumnae Network board at: wgppalumniboard@umich.edu.
Useful links
The following links may be of interest to network members:
The Center for the Education of Women, a division of the University of Michigan, provides career counseling, scholarships, leadership training and other career resources for women.
The Institute for Women and Gender at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, encourages research that explores differences and commonalities among and between women and men in the multicultural United States and internationally.
The White House Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public awareness campaign to change the political climate so that women can launch successful campaigns for the U.S. presidency and other key positions. The project is committed to raising awareness of women’s leadership in American politics and mobilizing Americans of all ages to participate in civic life.
The Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy provides education, research and online resources to advance women's participation in the public life of Massachusetts, the New England region, and the nation.
Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, CAWP is a leading authority in its field and a respected bridge between the academic and political worlds.
Women’s eNews covers women’s perspectives on public policy issues of particular concern to women. Launched in 2000, the non-profit organization covers women’s issues globally. It also runs the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century awards.
Women and Gender Resources in the United Nations system website provides links to research, events, global trends and other news of interest on women and policy matters.
Contact Us
Nationwide/Japan: To join the network and receive event information, the newsletter and other updates – and for all listserv issues -- email Carrie Hammerman at: cba@umich.edu
Michigan:
For events ideas and general questions, email Peri Stone-Palmquist
at stonequist@excite.com or Olga Savic at osavic@umich.edu
Washington D.C. area: For general questions about WGPP in the D.C. area, contact Shannon Wheeler at shwheeler2@gmail.com For events ideas and questions, email Susan Ziff at sziff@hotmail.com and Julie Granof at juliegranof@yahoo.com
WGPP Network: Board Bios
Carrie
Hammerman handles listserv and technology issues, and is involved
in overall planning for WGPP. Carrie does policy development with the
Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, an Ann Arbor-based policy
organization that focuses on workforce development in Michigan and
nationwide. Email Carrie at: cba@umich.edu
Amber Arellano, MPP, is one of the Network’s co-founders. A journalist who is working on the development of an organization dedicated to helping the Midwest emerge in the globalization era, she also teaches some semesters Reporting on Public Affairs at Michigan State University, among other activities. Previously she was the Race Relations Reporter for the Detroit Free Press, and she has reported on politics, education policy and immigration in Mexico and California. Contact Amber at: AThanasP3@aol.com
Sarah Farkas is a newsletter editor and one of the Ford School students who has served as a liaison between the Ford School and Network. Sarah is particularly interested in social policy and any issue (i.e. health care, welfare) that affects low-income women. Her favorite book is “Beloved” and her favorite cheese is goat. Sarah has thoroughly enjoyed working with the WGPP Alumnae Network as a student -- and looks forward to participating on the alumna side soon! Email Sarah at: safarkas@umich.edu
Originally
from the Hudson Valley, NY, Allison Schwartz (MPP 2007) is one
of the student-alumnae liaisons for the WGPP Alumnae Network. At the
Ford School, her studies focus on international politics and
development, particularly with respect to human and women's rights.
Previously, Allison had worked for three years at the Department of
Justice in Washington, DC, helping to enforce federal criminal civil
rights statutes nationwide. Email Allison at: aschwar@umich.edu
In California
Bulbul Gupta, ('04) is one of the WGPP Network's co-founders, the current editor of the WGPP alumni newsletter, and the San Francisco Bay Area contact. A former policy analyst in DC on and off Capitol Hill, and Presidential Management Fellow at USAID, she is still getting used to life on the West Coast since moving last year. She is currently working as a Research Associate for the Packard Foundation's Population program focusing on Asia and international programming, furthering her interest in international development. Contact Bulbul at: bulbulgu@hotmail.com, and submit ideas for the newsletter!
In Michigan
Peri
Stone-Palmquist, MPP '04, MSW '05, is one of the
co-coordinators for WGPP Alumnae events. Peri
is Coordinator for the Education Project for Homeless Youth through
the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. Previously she had been
the Director of Policy and a Child Advocate for the Michigan
Association for Children with Emotional Disorders. Peri earned a B.A.
in Communication Arts from North Park University in Chicago and
worked as a daily newspaper reporter for 5 years. For
information about events, email Peri at: stonequist@excite.com
Olga Savic (MPP'99) is co-coordinating WGPP events in Michigan. Since 2003, she has been Chief of Staff to State Representative Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit) handling legislative and policy work and overseeing office operations. Previously, Olga worked as an assistant to Mayor Dennis Archer for economic development and as a project manager at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. Reach Olga at: osavic@umich.edu
In Washington D.C.
Julie Granof lives in Washington, D.C. and is a consultant for the global strategy and technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton’s organization change management team. She primarily works with government agencies addressing public management and human capital issues. Julie is working on how to make WGPP alumnae more accessible and connected to one another -- on the web and otherwise. Get in contact with Julie at: juliegranof@yahoo.com
Shannon
Wheeler is leading communication and overall planning in D.C. She
works for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where she is a
Presidential Management Fellow doing a rotation with the Office of
Citizenship. Email Shannon at: shwheeler2@gmail.com
Susan
Ziff (’05) is co-coordinating WGPP D.C. events and
activities. A Presidential Management
Fellow at the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) in Washington, DC., she works in the
Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs,
which manages the Continuum of Care homelessness grant program. Contact Susan at: sziff@hotmail.com
WGPP Alumnae Network Newsletter:
