Greetings Ford School alumni,
The Ford School Alumni Board gathered for a hybrid board meeting on April 8, with half of its members joining virtually and the rest joining in-person at Weill Hall. The meeting coincided with Spring Preview, the day when admitted MPP and MPA students visit the Ford School. Board members had the opportunity to meet and interact with approximately 80 admitted students and encourage them to attend the Ford School and also chat and offer professional advice to current students during alumni office hours.
Among the key topics covered at our meeting was learning more about the Leadership Initiative from its faculty director, Morela Hernandez, the Ligia Ramirez de Reynolds Collegiate Professor of Public Policy. Professor Hernandez shared about how the program began, the development of the leadership coaching component for students, and what is next for the program - engaging alumni in the initiative, something I am personally excited to be a part of. More details are coming soon about how we as alumni can be a part of the Leadership Initiative, so stay tuned!
Dean Barr shared with us the renewed energy and enthusiasm for the return to in-person learning and events at Weill Hall. We also engaged in a robust conversation about ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the Ford School, including evaluating and learning from our first 5-year DEI strategic plan. The school has made significant strides in influencing diversity among students and faculty and what is taught, and demonstrating a strong commitment to research related to DEI. As a follow-up, the board will continue the conversation about the Ford School’s priorities for the next two years with Stephanie Sanders, the Ford School’s DEI officer, and Dominique Adams-Santos, associate director of the Ford School’s Center for Racial Justice.
Finally, our alumni board committees took time to plan upcoming events like Worldwide Ford School Spirit Day, which will return to in-person networking events this year. It will include ways for everyone to get involved and encourage giving that is vital to student support initiatives!
As always, if you have ideas about how you'd like to be involved and support the Ford School students and alumni, faculty, and staff, please be in touch: [email protected].
Warmly,
Naomi Goldberg, MPP ‘08
Alumni Board chair