Updates from the Alumni Board chair

Spring 2024

Greetings fellow Fordies,

The Ford School Alumni Board convened in Ann Arbor on Friday, April 5 for our twice-annual meeting. Weill Hall was buzzing, not just because it was Spring Preview weekend, but also because we had the largest in-person attendance for an Alumni Board meeting since we shifted to virtual and then hybrid in 2020.

Ford School Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes updated the board on the state of the Ford School, including faculty hiring, curriculum updates, and the impressive speaker slate—Stacey Abrams, Cecilia Muñoz, Alondra Nelson, and others— for the Dean's Symposium.  We also heard from Dustin Castro, associate director of recruitment and admissions about the recently admitted class of BA, MPA, MPP, and PhD students. After, we discussed the Ford School's upcoming anniversary celebration of 50 years since Gerald R. Ford became President.

Alumni Board Members discussed business of the board itself, including new documentation about the purpose, roles, and responsibilities of the Alumni Board. The Board also considered adapting our current fundraising goal to more of a 'stretch' goal for the next fiscal year.

The day ended with Alumni Lightning Talks, where board members chatted with current and prospective students. Alumni answered questions and shared their experiences about going to school in Ann Arbor, their career journeys, and how they used their Ford School degree.  

Please reach out if you would like to discuss anything related to our most recent meeting and/or the Alumni Board.

Best,
Grace Evans Pedanou, MPP ‘16
Alumni Board chair