Summer vacation is never long enough—whether you're working an internship, reading a great book on the beach, or hanging out in Ann Arbor.
Nevertheless, fall semester is upon us. As Weill Hall fills with the sound of returning Fordies, here's a look back at a few highlights from the summer of 2013:
The Ford School welcomed Susan Guindi, the new director of Student and Academic Services, who comes to the school after 18 years at U-M Law. Distinguished health economist Sharon Maccini, who has taught courses in public health and finance, as well as social welfare policy at the Ford School, became the new director of the undergraduate degree program.
On June 1, Dean Susan Collins became president of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), after two years as vice president.
The annual Worldwide Ford School Spirit Day gatherings are a great way to show school pride and honor the legacy of President Ford who would have been 100 on July 14. On July 11, Fordies turned out in force in 11 cities, including Ann Arbor, Detroit, Seattle, and Tokyo.
The 2013 Class Gift Campaign, 100 Gifts from 100 Fordies, surpassed its goal, raising more than $7,000, which includes matching funds from the Ford School.
In July, the U-M Regents voted to extend in-state tuition rates to undocumented students in Michigan. In the same decision, the regents extended in-state tuition to honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. armed forces. Veteran and Ford School alum Jeff Barnes (MPP '09), who is director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, penned a letter applauding the decision to the editor of the Michigan Daily.
As you may know, the Peace Corps was "born" at the U-M. As of May, the University ranks No. 7 in the nation as a Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows university in the 2013 rankings of top Peace Corps Master's International and Coverdell Fellows graduate schools.
Finally, in case you missed them, check out these stories about Ford School alumni who are using their policy educations to make a difference: Tannistha Datta (MPP '09), a child protection specialist with UNICEF in Uttar Pradesh, India; Presidential Fellow and recent graduate Madelynne Wager (BA '13); Kay Kelly (MPA '05), whose career focuses on transportation policy, but who uses her Ford School skill set to advocate for newborn screening; and Lelia Gowland (MPP '11), who works for criminal justice reform in New Orleans.