Current work | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Current work

Updated February 2025

At the Ford School, we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all students, faculty, and staff feel a sense of belonging. Throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, our initiatives offer opportunities for connection, dialogue, and support.

Three graduates in academic regalia, smiling joyfully during a graduation ceremony. The person in the center wears a black cap and gown adorned with a colorful stole, flanked by two individuals, one also in cap and gown and the other in a formal blue outfit.

We’ve set out to build on Michigan’s commitment to democratic values by fostering dialogue across differences; meet the moment by seeking to understand our current global, national, and local political context; educate the next generation of leaders about the value and promise of global and civic engagement; and invest in cutting-edge research, pedagogy, and engagement opportunities to bolster our commitment to democracy.

-Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Joan and Sanford Weill Dean, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

What are we working on now?

From elevating student voice through CommuniTea to supporting veterans through Service to Service, the Ford School is dedicated to advancing inclusive policy education and opportunity. New courses tackle systemic challenges, and our Navigating Unsettling Times series supports student well-being—and more.

Books for Belonging shelf
AY 24-25

Books for Belonging

As part of our efforts to foster a culture of belonging, the Ford School opened a Books for Belonging mini-library in Weill Hall. The Ford School community donated over 60 books to the library and provided dozens of additional book suggestions on key topics of interest.
students of color in public policy graduation celebration
AY 24-25

CommuniTea

This academic year we are supporting CommuniTea, a student-led series of informal gatherings on current policy topics. These gatherings offer a space for open dialogue, reflection, and healing among students. Topics range from local and national policy issues to global concerns, with discussions shaped by our student organization leaders.
Gerald R. Ford as an eagle scout
AY 24-25

Service to Service initiative

The Ford School is proud to be part of Service to Service, a national pilot program by the Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans. This initiative supports veterans and military-connected families in pursuing public service careers through graduate degrees in public policy and administration.
Learn more
1220 Weill Hall classroom photo
AY 24-25

Enhancing our curriculum

We support our faculty in their efforts to integrate a deeper understanding of structural forces that shape policy outcomes, including but not limited to structural racism, economic inequality, and governance challenges. The Ford School’s new courses for the 2024-25 academic year reflect this broad approach, offering students opportunities to engage with pressing policy issues through diverse analytical lenses.
students working together in classroom
Winter 2025

Navigating Unsettling Times series

This Winter 2025 series is designed to help Ford School students manage stress, find stability, and thrive amidst uncertainty. Facilitated by Dr. Paige Ziegler, the Ford School's embedded psychologist, in partnership with Dr. Stephanie Sanders and Dr. Dom Adams-Santos, each session offers a space for reflection, connection, and personal growth.