Two Ford School alums receive PPIA emerging leader, achievement recognition awards

Two Ford School alumni, Karlo Marcelo (MPP '05) and Michael Pan (MPP '99) were honored in July with inaugural Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Alumni Recognition Awards as part of the program's 30th anniversary celebration.

Karlo Marcelo, a 2002 PPIA Fellow at the University of Maryland, was given an Emerging Leader Recognition Award for his work in training the next generation of security leadership at the Truman National Security Project; his work to understand and engage the Millennial generation—especially in voting issues; and his civic engagement with organizations such as Advocates for Youth, HeadCount, and myImpact.org. Emerging Leader award recipients are recognized for their commitment to public service, maturity and professionalism, and their potential for success.

An Achievement Award was presented to Michael Pan for his distinguished and impactful career in human rights work. Pan is the Senior Policy Advisor to Susan E. Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and was part of the Obama Transition Team after the 2008 presidential election. Previously, Pan served as D.C. Deputy Director for Human Rights Watch; First Officer for Human Rights in the Executive Office of then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the United Nations; and Senior Policy Analyst for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress. Pan was a PPIA Fellow at the University of Maryland in 1996 and gave the Ford School's commencement address in 2010.