The Ford School is sending two students, Chelsea Davis (MPP ’19) and Benjamin Eikey (MPP ’19) to Capitol Hill this winter as the Riecker Fellows in the offices of U.S. Senator Gary Peters and Congressman John Moolenaar.
The Riecker Michigan Delegation Fellowship launched in the winter of 2016, sending one graduate student to work with a senator or representative from the state of Michigan for six months. Beginning in 2019, two fellows will be selected annually.
Davis will be the Riecker Fellow for U.S. Senator Gary Peters on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Before enrolling in the Ford School, Davis worked in Washington, D.C. at the American Bridge 21st Century: Bridge Project. While in her undergraduate career, also at the Ford School, and after graduation, she interned for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Gary Peters’ Senate campaign, and CARE. As a Riecker fellow, she will support the Senator’s work with the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.
Eikey will be serving in the office of Congressman John Moolenaar, who represents the 4th District of Michigan including Midland and Cadillac. Eikey, who also received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, was most recently serving as the legislative director for State Representative Dave Pagel. He also has state legislative experience as a campaign manager and legislative assistant. During the fellowship, Eikey will support the Congressman’s work on the House Appropriations Committee.
Davis and Eikey began their fellowships in early January.
The Riecker Michigan Delegation Fellowship, a permanently endowed fellowship at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, was established in 2015 through an estate gift from Margaret Ann “Ranny” Riecker, a longtime friend and generous benefactor of the Ford School. A supplemental gift from the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation will allow the Ford School to extend the opportunity to additional fellows in the years ahead.