Megan Foster comes to the Ford School from the United States Senate, where she served as a legislative aide for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), supporting her work on a number of legislative issues and committees. Prior to this, Foster was development manager of the Women's Campaign Fund, a nonpartisan organization that works to increase the number of women in elected office who support reproductive health choices for all. During her time at Georgetown, Foster interned for the chairman and executive director of the Democratic National Committee and worked as a field manager for Grassroots Campaigns. In 2010, Foster graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a bachelor's in international politics. She is a member of the National Political Science Honors Society and the National Slavic Honors Society and originally hails from the Detroit metropolitan area. She is passionate about health policy, gender equality, and community development.
Brittney Foxhall received her bachelor's degree in international business with a focus on emerging nations from Howard University in 2013. As the 52nd executive president of the Howard University Student Association, Foxhall managed a staff of 50 students to organize programs and initiatives to enhance the student experience. Her activities included coordinating a university-wide Lobby Day on the Hill to engage students in the policymaking process as well as organizing a series of initiatives to generate student interest in the 2012 Presidential election (including registration drives that resulted in registering 75 percent of the student body). Foxhall graduated magna cum laude, and spent time in Shanghai, China, teaching English as a foreign language to middle and high school students. She is passionate about advocating for policy implementation that adequately responds to the needs of the low-income African-American community.
Zach Ormsby earned his bachelor's degree in history and political science from the University of Washington, Seattle. While there, he competed at state and national levels in speech and debate, consistently made the dean's list, was a member of the Mortar Board Honor Society and the Young Democrats, and served as chapter president of his fraternity. Following graduation, Ormsby moved to Detroit, Michigan, as a Teach for America corps member, and taught 7th and 8th grade social studies. From 2012-2014, he co-led the founding of University YES Academy Elementary, a charter school with 25 staff members and 250 students. Ormsby served as manager of school operations, keeping the school and charter management organization in compliance with state and federal laws, overseeing internal and external communications, and planning and facilitating school events. Ormsby is passionate about U.S. politics, urban policy, and urban development.
This is the fifth year that the David Bohnett Foundation has partnered with the Ford School to award this highly competitive fellowship. The foundation supports similar fellowships at New York University and the University of California, Los Angeles. Foster, Foxhall, and Ormsby will receive in-state tuition support and a 2015 summer internship with a leading group executive within the City of Detroit's Mayor's Office or the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. We look forward to reporting on their experiences next fall.
David Bohnett is a University of Michigan alumnus (MBA '80) and entrepreneur. The foundation that bears his name is committed to improving society through social activism. Read more about David Bohnett in "To the City and the World."