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Mario Vazquez (MPP '27) grew up on the U.S.–Mexico border in El Paso as the first in his Mexican-immigrant family to be educated in the U.S., a background that fuels his commitment to underserved communities. After earning degrees from Stanford and UT Austin and working in K–12 education, admissions, brand marketing, and higher-ed outreach, he came to the Ford School to prepare for a career in local government. He plans to return to El Paso after graduation and, outside of school, enjoys triathlons, reading, and movies.

Rebecca Griswold is a third-year dual-degree student, pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Ford School and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning in the Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning. Originally from Three Rivers, California, you can find her riding her bike, taking yoga classes, exploring Michigan, and learning to sail when not in classes. Rebecca is interested in housing policy, climate change adaptation, adaptive reuse, urban parks, and the development of green spaces. After graduation, she aspires to work at a regional or state-level planning department, focusing on climate change adaptation, adaptive reuse, and park development, while empowering rural communities.

Luke Dillingham is a Master of Public Policy student with interests in environmental policy and quantitative policy analysis. Prior to the MPP program, he was an environmental justice organizer, and he researched factors that affect social movement mobilization and policy outcomes. Luke holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Kayla Guzman is a dual MPP/MPH student and both a Rackham Merit Fellow and Dow Sustainability Fellow whose work centers on sustainable development, food systems, and equitable policy design. With experience in rural Latine communities, food insecurity research, and international development, she is committed to creating community-driven, long-lasting policy solutions.

Saravuth Vong is a Fulbright Scholar from Cambodia pursuing a Master of Public Policy at Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, where he is also completing the Science, Technology, and Public Policy (STPP) certificate program. His interests center on AI governance, digital policy, and the intersection of technology and education, particularly in advancing digital and AI literacy. He is passionate about promoting evidence-based technology policy that supports innovation while empowering communities to navigate emerging technologies safely and effectively.

Grant Bradley, from Lansing, Michigan, received his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in Political Science and History, with a minor in Asian Studies, in 2016. Following graduation, Grant launched a campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives. In the intervening years, he has also held roles with the Ingham County Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Boards of Directors as Secretary and Treasurer. His interests are focused on transit policy, urban development, sustainable energy, and domestic politics. Outside of the Ford School, Grant enjoys spending time with his three young sons, playing video games, and camping.

Renee Sahatdjian is a Master of Public Policy student and Rackham Merit Fellow whose research and advocacy center on domestic violence, human trafficking prevention, traumatic brain injury, and survivor-informed policy. As a researcher in the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory, she works on national projects focused on strengthening prevention and response systems. She is committed to advancing evidence-based policies with global impact that support marginalized communities affected by violence.

Zhangxu (Janice) Kang is a dual-degree master’s student at the University of Michigan studying Public Policy and Higher Education. Her research examines equity-oriented education policy, with a focus on financial aid, faculty diversity, and institutions’ adoption of emerging technologies. She serves as a Graduate Student Instructor for undergraduate linguistics and social science courses and contributes to multiple research teams investigating student learning, faculty climate, and institutional decision-making.

Hasan is a Master of Public Policy student from Indonesia and currently serves as the Co-President of the Indonesian Student Association at UofM, with policy interests in education, leadership, and sustainable development. He is passionate about developing innovative approaches that promote economic mobility and address educational disparities, particularly in expanding access to higher education. He hopes to bridge research, community needs, and policymaking to create meaningful impact.

​​Chiante Hamilton is an accomplished nonprofit executive and community leader dedicated to advancing racial equity, public policy, and opportunity for underserved communities. As Executive Director of the Society for History and Racial Equity and Co-Founder of Her Untold Stories Heard, she champions storytelling, advocacy, and public service across Michigan. She is also pursuing a Master of Public Affairs at the Ford School.

John is a third-year dual degree masters student at the Ford School and at the School for Environment and Sustainability, specializing in data analysis, energy policy, and environmental justice. He is also a research assistant with the Center of Local, State, and Urban Policy and with the Science, Technology, and Public Policy program.

Ellie is a first year student at the Ford School. Originally from Massachusetts, she graduated from Dartmouth College in 2020 with a degree in sociology and geography and then worked at MDRC, a social policy research organization. At Ford, she works as a research assistant at two Ford research centers, Poverty Solutions and CLOSUP. She is most interested in domestic issues, specifically family and criminal justice policy

Dixie is a first-year MPP student and Rackham Merit Fellow with a background in local government, government relations, and campaigns in California. Dixie is a proud first generation college graduate, alumna of California State University Fullerton and the Public Policy International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute.

Alice Kinney, a former federal employee and Peace Corps Volunteer from southwest Michigan, returned to graduate school after eight years of public service to strengthen her skills in state and local policy leadership. Prior to beginning her MPP at the Ford School, she worked at the U.S. Department of Education as a Grants Analyst. With interests in sustainability, rural development, and education systems, Alice aims to advance evidence-based policies that enhance climate resilience and expand educational opportunity across Michigan and beyond.

Svetla is the Assistant Director for Privacy and IT Policy at the University of Michigan, pursuing the Ford School's MPA degree. Svetla is responsible for leading operations that weave privacy, policy, and data governance in the university's teaching, learning, and research missions. She joined the University of Michigan after a successful IT career spanning Fortune 500 companies in the consumer goods, wholesale, retail, and finance sectors.

Justin Thompson is a nontraditional first generation college student in his 3rd year pursuing a dual MS/MPP program through SEAS and Ford with additional certificates in Science, Technology, and Public Policy (Ford); Healthy Cities (Taubman); Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Engineering); and, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Rackham).

Hi there, my name is Jannes, and I’m a first year MPP at Ford. I’m an international student from the Netherlands and did my undergrad in Amsterdam. Alongside my MPP, I’m doing a concentration in Social Policy and a certificate in Healthy Cities.

Veronica is a first-year Master of Public Policy student at the Ford School, concentrating in environmental and energy policy with a strong research interest in rural state and local governance. Originally from Mechanicsburg, PA, Veronica graduated from UMBC in May 2025. At Ford, she is a research assistant for CLOSUP, an editor for MJPA, and a board member of WGPP. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, attending concerts, reading, and cheering on the NY Mets and NY Rangers.

Hey everybody, I’m Ke’Asha, a first generation college student that came from a small undergrad university and a Detroit native! I have previously interned and worked in state & federal offices in Michigan and Capitol Hill so I have a good foundation of knowledge/experience of government. And lastly, I am really excited to finish my last semester and willing to share everything I have learned thus far in my grad school journey!

Isaac Alferos is an education equity researcher whose work centers Black students’ experiences and advances policy rooted in community wisdom and asset-based research. He has worked across government and nonprofit roles in California’s education sector, developing data tools, policy analyses, and research that inform legislative action, guide funding decisions, and strengthen support systems for student parents. He is pursuing his MPP with a goal of using research to build institutions worthy of Black student success.

Mary Macleod came to Ford after five years as an attorney in Washington, D.C., where she worked with prosecutors nationwide on innovative and trauma-informed responses to gender-based and other violent crimes. At Michigan, she's developing the policy analysis skills to complement her legal background and help build a more fair, empathetic, and effective criminal justice system. When she's not wrestling with R code, you can find her recharging on the basketball court or with a cup of tea on her couch.

DawnLynne Kacer (MPP ‘13), as Executive Director-Opportunity Network, leads the School District of Philadelphia team with the primary mission to support Philadelphia’s current and former opportunity youth. This work includes supporting 23 multiple pathway programs and the School District’s Re-engagement Center. Her work is centered around ensuring pathways to graduation for Philadelphians who have become disconnected from education, are over-aged and under-credited, or are seeking to return to school while needing personalized support with barriers including housing instability, child care, and mental health. Previously, she led the School District’s Charter Schools Office which as the sole charter authorizer for Philadelphia charter schools, monitors, supports and evaluates the more than 80 brick and mortar charter schools in Philadelphia.

Before joining the School District in 2015, DawnLynne led the Charter Schools Office for the NYC Department of Education. Before her career in urban public education, DawnLynne was a Senior Consultant for public sector clients in healthcare policy and information technology. She also served as a juvenile court officer hearing cases of abuse/neglect and foster care permanency in Georgia. DawnLynne has a Masters of Education from The Broad Center for the Management of School Systems, a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia. DawnLynne is a foster parent, voracious reader, loves to travel, and enjoys taking and printing black and white darkroom photography.

Sam Conchuratt (MPP ‘21) is a senior policy advisor on the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, where he advises Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on issues related to the Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs. An elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance, Conchuratt focuses on developing and advancing solutions to make it easier for seniors, people with disabilities, and their families to live and work with dignity. Conchuratt received his BA from Xavier University where he was a 4-year member of the men's Division-1 swim team. Conchuratt resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife, Sophie (MPP ‘20), and their dog, Bennett.

Pablo Velázquez (MPP ‘14) completed his Master's Degree in Public Policy in 2014. In addition to this degree, he obtained a university degree in Industrial Engineering in 2009 and, in 2014, a PhD in Economics from the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City. He has worked in the housing, credit, hydrocarbons, and education sectors in Mexico. Since 2020, he has been part of INFONAVIT, the largest mortgage lender in Latin America. Velazquez is Mexican and has lived in Mexico City since 2010. He is married and expecting his first child in June 2026.

Safiya Merchant (MPP ‘21) works on the policy team at the City of Detroit's Housing & Revitalization Department, where she focuses on strategy development, policy research and analysis, and community engagement on affordable housing and homelessness issues. Before starting her public policy career, she worked in higher education communications and as a journalist. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 2014, she worked for newspapers in the Chicago area and Calhoun County, Michigan, where she developed a passion for community-centered policymaking. Born and raised in Chicago, Merchant is a proud graduate of Chicago Public Schools.

Michael T. Cahill (MPP/JD ‘99) is a professor of law at Brooklyn Law School, where he was also
President and Dean from July 2019 to July 2023. He was previously on its faculty from 2003–16, leaving from 2016–19 to serve as Co-Dean and professor of law at Rutgers Law School. Cahill’s scholarship focuses primarily on criminal law; he has also written and taught courses about health law and policy, as well as teaching the introductory property course. Before joining the Brooklyn faculty, he was involved as staff director and consultant, respectively, for major criminal code reform projects in the states of Illinois and Kentucky. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife Rosalyn Scaff (whom he met at the University of Michigan, from which she received two master’s in 1999) and their two children.