Principled leaders | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

For principled leaders

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We prepare policy leaders of high character, for challenging times

Students enter the Ford School with a passion for solving our world’s biggest problems. They see a world on fire, and they’ve chosen to become firefighters. We teach our students how to think analytically, and how to use evidence to make policy decisions. We teach them how to write and speak clearly and persuasively; how to combat misinformation; and how to lead with self-awareness, a strong ethical code, and a comfort with communicating and working across differences.

Our curriculum is rigorous and relevant: students do while they’re learning, through policy consulting projects, internships, and study trips around the world. Ford School graduates leave Weill Hall transformed, ready to be the leaders we need—equipped to make a positive impact on their diverse communities at a significant, structural scale.

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to help us provide the best policy education to the most promising future leaders.

 

 

 

Jordan Matsudaira (PhD '05), Deputy Under Secretary at the U.S. Dept. of Ed

An economic eye on equity in higher ed

Matsudaira served as the first-ever Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Education. He brought economic analysis and quick-turn data analyses to help design higher education regulations and executive actions related to loan repayment, higher education accountability, data disaggregation, and student debt relief. Ford School professor Kevin Stange held a one-year appointment alongside Matsudaira.
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Yasmine Elkharssa (BA ‘24)

Truman Scholar seeks to defend low-income communities

Yasmine Elkharssa (BA ‘24) was chosen as one of 62 Truman Scholars selected nationwide in 2023. She spent the summer post-graduation as an Immigration and Legislative Policy Intern at the Center for Law and Social Policy. Elkharssa aims to pursue a JD and defend low-income communities in federal housing and civil rights discrimination cases.
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Julie Schneider (MPP/MUP ’12), Director of Housing and Revitalization for the City of Detroit

$1 billion invested in affordable housing in Detroit

Within the last 5 years, $1 billion has been invested in affordable housing in the City of Detroit to create and preserve 12,000 housing units. Schneider facilitated the planning process and is now overseeing its implementation. Her Ford School education was funded by a gift from the David Bohnett Foundation.
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