Graduate Candidates
Cristian Casanova, MPP/MHI ‘21
Chicago, IL
Enterprise Data & AI Strategy Consultant, Accenture and Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP)
I currently serve as an enterprise data & AI strategy consultant at Accenture and Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP). Over my career, I have led data and AI strategy initiatives across healthcare, energy, and manufacturing, focusing on driving both business outcomes and social impact. I consult with global clients to apply AI and data to tackle critical issues such as sustainability and health equity. Additionally, I work with global NGOs and foundations to ensure technology serves as a tool to promote economic and social development.
With my extensive experience in data-driven transformation, particularly in healthcare and sustainability, I will bring valuable perspectives and insights on how to support Ford students' development and careers in the cutting-edge fields of technology, data, and responsible AI—across both the public and private sectors. Having engaged with fellow Ford students and attended numerous Ford School events, I am passionate about empowering Fordies' voices, representation, and skill sets as they seek to make an impact. I also hope to learn from students on how alumni can better support them on their journeys.
Tosha Downey, MPP ‘96
Washington, DC
Senior Program Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
I’ve worked at the intersection of education, policy, and philanthropy for the past 3 decades, and I believe that I could continue to add value supporting students as they transition to their careers. I’m committed to serving as a thought partner and advocate for the betterment of the students, staff, and faculty.
Ben Eikey, MPP ‘19
Detroit, MI
Manager State Training and Development, Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, Wayne State Law School
I have worked in the Michigan House of Representatives, the United States Congress as a Ford School Riecker Fellow, and now work at the Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy in Wayne State Law School.
My background as a Republican that adored my time at the Ford School and made lasting connections is a valuable experience. Previously I served as the Treasurer of the University of Michigan Alumni Association’s Lansing Chapter so I am experienced in working with the university as a volunteer in an elected position. My focus in this role is flexible but I would be interested in exploring how to feature more alum stories across Ford School communications.
There isn't another Ford School. This institution is so important as a place to learn, to discover new interests, and to build future public policy. Engaged alumni are part of what makes the Ford School excellent, and I believe my skills and background can help the Alumni Board fulfill its purpose.
Franklin Esson, MPP ‘08
Albany, NY
Government Affairs Coordinator, New York State Association of Realtors
The Ford School was incredibly supportive of me as an MPP student, and I want to continue to give back in a way that recognizes the support of our close-knit community. After graduating from the Ford School, I worked as a legislative budget analyst in the New York State Legislature. This gave me the opportunity to analyze and shape environmental, energy, healthcare, higher education and professional licensure policy. I then served as the Director of the State Senate’s Higher Education Committee, where I helped enact a law to address campus sexual assault. Over the last 6+ years, I have worked in advocacy and government affairs, on housing and real estate issues. In this role, I launched and manage a member-driven advocacy program for our state trade association of licensed real estate professionals. Given the opportunity to serve on the Alumni Board, I would draw on these experiences to offer a perspective that is sometimes overlooked – that of policy and advocacy professionals within or at the nexus of our “laboratories of democracy.”
William Lamping, MPP ‘16
Bethesda, MD
Intelligence Analyst, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
1. I focus on national security and defense policy, especially maritime and industrial security, having spent the eight years since graduating from the Ford School working at the Government Accountability Office, Navy Reserve, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence University, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence. My current work at ODNI focuses on safeguarding U.S. supply chains and building resilience in the maritime, telecommunications, and manufacturing sectors. I am also an adjunct professor at NIU, where I teach graduate courses on Russian geostrategic intelligence issues and the Russian military. I previously served at GAO and DIA, where I focused on policy and analysis related to defense acquisition, military readiness, and intelligence activities.
2. I am eager to contribute to the Alumni Board’s mission, especially student engagement, and leverage my experience to illuminate opportunities in national security and defense policy to Fordies.
3. Serving on the Alumni Board would allow me to give back by supporting the next generation of policy professionals, helping Fordies explore and connect with opportunities in defense and national security policy.
Safiya Merchant, MPP ‘21
Detroit, MI
Program Analyst, City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Detroit
I am a housing policy analyst and project manager at the City of Detroit, where I have overseen and successfully implemented strategic projects related to accessible housing, affordable housing, and homelessness. Through these projects, I managed the creation of Detroit’s systemic plans to improve its homelessness system and provide affordable housing options for its residents for the next five years. Before public policy, I worked as a journalist covering government, education, and crime. In the context of these experiences, I would bring strategy development, communications, storytelling, and partnership development skills to the Alumni Board. Each of these skills can contribute to the board’s efforts to develop effective programming, build partnerships, and recruit students. I want to serve on the Alumni Board because I want to help foster a sense of community, mentorship opportunities, and a culture of continuous learning between current students and alumni, where we can learn best practices in public service from each other. This will ultimately help us have a greater impact on the communities we serve.
Jim Potter, MPP '89
New York, NY
Executive Director/CEO, Coalition for Healthcare Communication
My interest in the Ford School’s Alumni Board is to help enhance and enrich the undergraduate and graduate student’s policy education experience, helping them excel in their subsequent chosen field careers of policy analysis and development to be able to positively and meaningfully impact the world around them. The “quantoid” skill sets and relationships gained at the Ford School have helped me have a blessed career as a healthcare advocate and association executive with my leadership and advocacy efforts recognized by the FDA and White House for developing consensus legislation and regulations to advance breast cancer detection and treatment, as well as the American Society of Association Executives for nationwide implementation of newborn hearing screening and intervention policies and funding. I have also received local awards for healthcare capacity building through rural mobile clinics, and increased immunization rates and treatment responses during the COVID pandemic. I believe that my experiences can help increase employment and internship opportunities available to students and graduates in the always changing healthcare policy arena, and attract philanthropic giving.
JoMeca Thomas, MPA ‘21
Detroit, MI
Special Adviser to the President, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
Serving communities and building relationships have been my primary objectives throughout my career. From advocating on Capitol Hill, consulting at state and local levels, community organizing, and developing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies, I have remained committed to working toward solutions that improve social outcomes.
At nonprofit and private organizations, my work has addressed policy needs for cancer patients, survivors of sexual assault, the LGBTQIA community, returning citizens, individuals in recovery from substance use disorder, individuals who experienced suicidal ideations, veterans, unhoused people, and more.
Currently, as the special advisor to the president at Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, I am a thought partner in developing strategies, I oversee board member engagement and recruitment to improve transparency and increase contributions, engage with the mayor’s office, city council, community leaders, and diplomats around initiatives, and research opportunities to establish new sister cities and expand global relations.
As a member of the Ford School Alumni Board, I would offer my holistic lens and professional experience to contribute to an institution that extends premier opportunities to students.
Anna Walters (Zinkel), MPP '19
Detroit, MI
Associate Director, State & Local Government, Guidehouse
I have spent my career working with and for the public sector. Making a positive impact on the communities I work with is what drives me. In my current role, I work with state and local government leaders to help them reach their goals ranging from making sure that federal funds reach vulnerable populations, to creating equitable workforce and economic development strategy, to modernizing stakeholder engagement outreach. In addition to these areas, I have experience in event planning, fundraising and campaign strategy, which I’d love to put to use on the Board. It would be my honor to serve on the Ford School Alumni Board, and to support the Ford community that played such an important role in my personal and professional growth. Go Blue!
Undergraduate Candidates
Vineet Chandra, BA ‘18
Boston, MA
Associate, Kirkland & Ellis
During and since my time at the Ford School, my focus has been on economic policy and how private actors interact with government regulation. During law school, I conducted research on organizational dynamics, published work on beneficial ownership regulation, and taught a class in the economics department on the evolution of capitalism. Now, I am an investment funds attorney in Boston, working with some of the world’s largest financial institutions to navigate the complicated regulations around securities offerings. It has been an interesting window into how private actors think about, interact with, and shape public policy.
I am proud to call myself a graduate of the Ford School and I would be proud to serve on its Alumni Board. I am happy to be involved in fundraising, alumni engagement efforts, mentoring students interested in law school, and contributing in any other way I can be useful. The Ford School is a public policy powerhouse, and it is incumbent upon alumni to protect and grow the institution. I would be honored to do my part.
William Feuer, BA ‘19
Washington, DC
Director, DCI Group
Ford Fam,
After graduating from the Ford School, I threw myself into journalism, covering business and economic policy at CNBC, The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal. Looking to take a more hands-on approach to policy making, I joined DCI Group, a DC-based public affairs firm.
I’m expanding the firm’s presence to New York City with a focus on competition policy, financial-services regulation and energy. An avid cyclist, I’m passionate about transit policy that creates safe roads, and I’m excited to get more involved in NY politics in my new career.
As a member of the Alumni Board, I’d help students explore the various career paths available to them and think through with them policy focus areas that will position them to make a significant impact. I would tap my network across public affairs and strategic communications to cultivate career opportunities for students. The Ford School has always felt like my professional home. It’d be an honor to have the opportunity to give back and help bolster our community.
Go Blue!
Ilan Siegel, BA ‘18
Covina, CA
Chief of Staff to the CEO, SimpleClosure
I am a nontraditional Ford School alumnus. Since graduating, I’ve pursued several roles in startups, recently transitioning from a senior product manager at ZipRecruiter to chief of staff at a fast-growing AI startup, honing skills focused on building and scaling complex products.
I can add value to the Alumni Board by sharing how a Ford School education enhances non-traditional career paths, using my journey as an example. The Ford School taught me to write concisely, analyze assumptions, and work with complex data — skills crucial in business and technology.
Additionally, I bring insider knowledge of the challenges facing the tech industry and can contribute policy-driven solutions to address these issues. I want to serve on the Alumni Board to give back to the school and support students in their diverse career paths. Finally, by using my experience as an example, I can provide practical guidance — ranging from structuring interview responses using the rule of three to strategies for standing out during job application season—to be a valuable asset to the Ford School Alumni Board.
Kevin Sweitzer, BA ‘19
Washington, DC
Lead Business Development Analyst, Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation)
I am proud to have concluded my first three-year term on the Ford School Alumni Board and am running for re-election to continue to represent the voices and needs of the BA program, to connect with current students, and to support recent graduates and new alumni as they transition into the working world. I have five years of professional experience, starting in state and local government management consulting focusing on transit and housing, and now as a lead business development analyst for Amtrak. I am proud to be one of the few members of the Alumni Board focusing on transportation policy and seek to continue to add value to the Alumni Board as a BA alum and transportation and urban policy professional. I owe so much of any successes I’ve experienced in life to my experience at the Ford School, and I wish to continue to serve on the Alumni Board to support current students and recent alumni of the BA and Masters programs as they transition to the professional world.