Dear friends:
The Ford School’s Weiser Diplomacy Center, a dynamic hub for the study and practice of diplomacy, formally launched this fall with much activity, including an incredible series of visits from an all-star lineup of leaders. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Samantha Power, Stephen Hadley, Steve Biegun, and more--each meeting with students and faculty, delivering public talks, and inspiring future generations of leaders. Read more about the Weiser Diplomacy Center launch series and find videos and pictures here.
Plenty of other high-impact work is happening at the Ford School too. Here are a few of the highlights from this fall edition of ‘the Ford School feed’:
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A new $5 million gift from Joan and Sanford Weill will create workforce opportunities and bolster education for young people in and around Detroit.
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In faculty news, we’re incredibly proud that Sue Dynarski was named one of nine inaugural recipients of U-M’s Distinguished Diversity & Social Transformation Professorships. The recognition will allow Dynarski, a longtime champion of reducing inequality in education, to further her work.
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With a $984,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, Robert Hampshire and colleagues are exploring how Americans’ quality of life can be improved by transportation innovations such as ridesourcing and driverless vehicles.
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We partnered with the Bentley Historical Library to celebrate the legacy of U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, who joined our faculty last year after decades in Congress serving the people of Michigan.
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Paul Weech (MPP ‘81), who has tirelessly served on our Alumni Board off and on for decades, was awarded the 2019 Neil Staebler Distinguished Service Award.
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We hosted a moving U-M retirement celebration for the distinguished Robert Axelrod.
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In student news, the first cohort of students pursuing our powerhouse new Master of Public Affairs program are so impressive. You can meet a few of them here.
Plenty of exciting activity is on the horizon, as well--including the fact that the University of Michigan was selected to host one of the 2020 Presidential Debates next October.
Alumni, it was a thrill to welcome over one hundred graduates back to Ann Arbor last month for our Homecoming Reunion. View pictures from the day’s events here. You all can and do play such a big role in our work. Nominations are currently open for seats on our Alumni Board: eager to work with the Alumni Board to drive forward our mission and initiatives? Learn more and put your name forward for service here.
Best regards,
Michael S. Barr
Joan and Sanford Weill Dean, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Frank Murphy Collegiate Professor of Public Policy
Roy and Jean Humphrey Proffitt Professor of Law
University of Michigan