Event | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Showing 1 - 30 of 31 results

Civic Action Training - Election 2026

Oct 6, 2026, 11:45 am-12:45 pm EDT
Annenberg Auditorium, Weill Hall
Join the Ford School community for lunch and resources from election experts on nonpartisan opportunities to take civic action for the November 2026 elections, such as serving as a poll worker or a nonpartisan election observer. We will hear from the Ann Arbor City Clerk, Jackie Beaudry; Plymouth Township Clerk, Kim Gaedeke; Michiganders for Civic Resilience; and members of the Ford community who have volunteered in the past. Lunch provided.

What is an constitutional convention

Oct 8, 2026, 6:00-7:30 pm EDT
Bentley Historical Museum
Every 16 years, Michigan voters are asked whether to dig into the state's constitution and make edits in what's known as a Constitutional Convention, or Con-Con. But what would a Con-Con actually look like? And what can voters understand about past Con-Cons that will help them say yes or no on this year's ballot?
Aid & Development

Writing winning grant proposals

Oct 9, 2026, 1:00-3:50 pm EDT
/
Oct 23, 2026, 1:00-3:50 pm EDT
Weill Hall 3240 (10/9); Weill Hall 1230 (10/23)
This year's Aid & Development series will focus on drafting compelling grant proposals. Students will explore key strategies that help grant proposals stand out and will practice applying them to a real-world case.

Shifting Tides: The U.S.-Africa Relationship Amid Global Competition

Oct 12-13, 2026, All Day
Weiser Hall Room 1010
Two-day conference exploring how African states and global powers are navigating shifting geopolitical, economic, and legal dynamics. Bringing together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, the event will examine African perspectives on global governance, economic growth, and security while identifying actionable pathways to strengthen U.S.–Africa engagement in a multipolar world.
Admissions

Master's Information Session (MPP/MPA)

Oct 13, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
Meet representatives from our admissions team and learn more about the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Affairs (MPA) programs.
Conversations Across Differences

Middle East in focus: U.S. strategy in a changing region

Oct 14, 2026, 11:45 am-12:50 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Auditorium (Room 1110)
Aaron David Miller and Rosemary Kelanic examine the interests, costs, and limits shaping U.S. strategy in the Middle East, in a conversation moderated by the Ford School's Javed Ali.
Real-World Perspectives on Poverty Solutions

Beyond Silos: An Inter-Institutional Framework for Understanding Poverty and Advancing Social Change

Oct 16, 2026, 12:00-1:30 pm EDT
School of Social Work B780 (basement)
Kess Ballentine, assistant professor at Wayne State University School of Social Work and a research affiliate with Labor@Wayne, will present on her community-engaged research, which examines how labor policy and working conditions shape the well-being of low-wage workers and their families.
Watch live from this page

2026 Homecoming

Oct 16, 2026, 3:30-6:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Great Hall
Welcome HoMe, Fordies! 
Admissions

Public Policy Major Info Session: Meet Your Network

Oct 21, 2026, 4:00-5:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Betty Ford Classroom (1110)
Join us for our Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy information session, which will include a panel of representatives from our core faculty, Career Services office, and academic/peer advising.

Diplomacy and the Indian Subcontinent

Oct 21, 2026, 4:00-5:30 pm EDT
Annenberg Auditorium (1120)
The 2026 Ambassadors Forum will examine U.S. diplomacy and strategic interests in South Asia, with a focus on evolving relations with India and Pakistan, regional security, Kashmir, and the broader geopolitical dynamics shaping the subcontinent.
Watch live from this page
Aid & Development

Writing winning grant proposals

Oct 9, 2026, 1:00-3:50 pm EDT
/
Oct 23, 2026, 1:00-3:50 pm EDT
Weill Hall 3240 (10/9); Weill Hall 1230 (10/23)
This year's Aid & Development series will focus on drafting compelling grant proposals. Students will explore key strategies that help grant proposals stand out and will practice applying them to a real-world case.
STPP Lecture Series

The promise, perils, and policy options for AI in health care

Oct 26, 2026, 4:15-5:45 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Room 1110
Please join the Science, Technology, and Policy Program (STPP) in welcoming visiting scholars Katerina Sideri (Panteion University of Social and Political Science) and Andreas Panagopoulos (University of Crete), alongside UM Law Professor Nicholson Price, for a engaging panel discussion moderated by STPP Faculty Director Shobita Parthasarathy. 
Vandenberg Lecture

American diplomacy in a divided era: A conversation with Jeff Flake

Nov 16, 2026, 4:30-6:00 pm EST
Annenberg Auditorium (Room 1120), Weill Hall
Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to Türkiye Jeff Flake will deliver the eighth annual Arthur Vandenberg Lecture, exploring the role of bipartisanship in American foreign policy. Drawing on his experience in Congress and diplomacy, Flake will discuss how cooperation across political divides can advance U.S. interests, strengthen alliances, and address complex global challenges.
Watch live from this page