Pictured above top row (from left to right): Laura Bishop (MPA ’99), Tyler (BA ’19) and Meghan Coady, Cristian Casanova (MPP ’21). Bottom row (from left to right): Jim Hudak (MPP ’71) with Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Dr. Gladys Mitchell-Walthour (MPP ’02), Eric (MPP ’87) and Kaye Norenberg.
David Rivait (MPP ’84) was appointed by Governor Pritzker to the State of Illinois’ eight-member Budgeting for Results Commission. The Commission advises on an annual performance-based budget and provides oversight and guidance for assessments of state programs.
With guidance from the Ford School’s Kellen Epstein, Jeff Ebihara (MPP ’86), transitioned from telecom consulting to senior advisor with Impact Foundation, a non-profit organization helping donors use charitable capital to make investments in companies generating social, spiritual, and economic returns.
Eric Norenberg (MPP ’87) retired in June after a 37-year career in local government, serving communities in Michigan, Arizona, Ohio, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. To celebrate, he and his wife, Kaye, visited Portugal to help stomp grapes during the recent harvest.
Tom Thornburg (MPP/JD ’90) wrapped up 34 years (but who’s counting) as faculty and administrator at UNC Chapel Hill. Now into the nonprofit board membership and leadership phase of his career, he is enjoying life with fewer obligations. “Life in Chapel Hill remains good.”
Cary Coglianese (MPP ’91), Edward B. Shils Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and director of the Penn Program on Regulation, was elected to the National Academy of Public Administration 2023 Class of Academy Fellows.
In January, Craig Diamond (MPP ’93) became the co-chair of the Braver Angels Alliance of Connecticut.
Susan McLauglin (MPP ’93) reports that one year into retirement, she is busier than ever. She became chair of the board of directors for the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, an organization that is pioneering new ways to feed the growing number of food-insecure people in NYC. To learn more (and, should the mood strike you, to donate), visit www.wscah.org/mission-and-history.
Pam Joshi (MPP ’94) and Alison Earle (MPP ’92) appeared on a podcast hosted by the Boston University School of Public Health. They discussed policies to support women in the workforce and shared where their research and collaboration began. They spent most of the introduction talking about the Ford School!
Laura Bishop (MPA ’99) received the prestigious Women in Sustainability Leadership Award. She currently serves as a corporate board director at Ecovadis, an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, and leads her own consulting firm.
Dr. Gladys Mitchell-Walthour (MPP ’02), the Dan T. Blue Endowed Chair of Political Science at North Carolina Central University, co-edited and published Black Lives Matter in Latin America (Palgrave MacMillan, 2024).
Ferzana Havewala (MPP ’03) recently joined Points of Light as vice president, research and insights, where she will design and execute a research agenda to build a global evidence base on the impact of volunteerism and civic engagement.
Brodie Killian (MPP ’03) joined PFM Financial Advisors as a director in the Ann Arbor office.
Lisa Langdon Koch’s (MPP ’04) book, Nuclear Decisions: Changing the Course of Nuclear Weapons Programs (Oxford University Press, 2023), received the Robert Jervis Best International Security Book Award from the American Political Science Association.
Valerie Brugeman (MPP ’07) accepted a new position at Airspace Link, a drone management software startup. She loves that the role is still transportation-related but also offers her the opportunity to learn a new and exciting space. She wishes everyone well!
Andreas Hatzigeorgiou (MPP ’08) recently became the president and CEO of Projektengagemang Inc., a leading Swedish technical engineering and architecture company listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
Taurean Brown (MPP ’11) gave birth to her second child, Taylor Kai Brown, on June 20, 2024.
Nina Bhattacharya (BA ’12) graduated in May with her MSW from the Boston College School of Social Work. After obtaining her licensure, she will provide culturally affirming psychotherapy as a clinician at And Still We Rise.
Kate Saetang (MPP ’12) and Michael Robert Yates (MPP/MBA ’13) recently welcomed their daughter, Ariya Kiattanong, into their family. Her older (dog) brother Zuko and (human) brother Luca are thrilled!
Tina Wei Smith (MPP/MA ’13) is the new AVP of policy and mobilization for Partners for Rural Impact. She was also nominated by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to the eight-person Commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture.
In May, Bilal Baydoun (MPP ’17) testified before the Senate Banking Committee on price gouging and technology at a hearing titled, “Higher Prices: How Shrinkflation and Technology Impact Consumers Finances.”
Jeongmin Oh (MPP ’18) joined the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Cincinnati. He is also a faculty fellow with the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy within the school.
Tyler Coady (BA ’19) has had a busy few months! He married Meghan, the love of his life, in July, and in April, they bought a home just outside of Boston in the lovely and historic town of Walpole.
Alexandra Husted (MPP/MBA ’20) and her husband, Korin, were thrilled to welcome their son, Nolan Vincent Hasegawa, on January 11. They live in Boston, where Alexandra works for the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.
Cristian Casanova (MPP ’21), a data and AI strategy consultant at Accenture, has also taken a leadership role at the World Economic Forum as a curator for the Global Shapers Community in Palo Alto, CA.
Kristy King-Pritzl (MPA ’21) and her husband, Jon, started a new podcast for those who need a break from the policy world, Books I Make My Husband Read. It is exactly what it sounds like, and they share their thoughts in an open, conversational way. Find them wherever you listen to podcasts or at booksimakemyhusbandread.com.
Michael Hauser (MPP ’23) and his husband, Dehan, recently moved to Washington, DC to join the Foreign Service. Their first overseas assignment is in Mbabane, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), in Southern Africa. Let them know if you want to come visit!
Kimberly Sanchez’s (MPP ’23) family has grown with the arrival of Santiago Sanchez, born in April in Michigan. They are excited to welcome him into the Wolverine family and embrace this new adventure with an enthusiastic “Go Blue!” Kimberly looks forward to sharing more milestones with everyone!
Congratulations
Jim Hudak (MPP ’71) was recognized with the University of Michigan’s esteemed David B. Hermelin Award for Fundraising Volunteer Leadership. A dedicated member of the Ford School Committee for more than 20 years, Hudak is passionate about the mission of the school. He inspires others to get involved, learn more about the work of the school, and to give back.
In Memoriam
James L. McIntire (MPP ’78), who served two terms as Washington State Treasurer, passed away peacefully at home on August 16, 2024. He is remembered for his leadership, generosity, and dedication to public service. You can read more about Jim’s distinguished career here. You can read his obituary here.
Rasheed Malik (MPP ’16) passed away on May 31, 2024. He was a pioneering contributor to early childhood policy at the Center for American Progress, as well as a loving father, husband, brother, and son. Rasheed’s research focused on the economics of child care and discrimination in early childhood policy. His work highlighting the number of Americans who live in ‘child care deserts’ has been widely cited by academics, policymakers, and the media. Rasheed was a dedicated Michigan football fan and a beloved member of the Ford School community. Rasheed's family requests that donations in his memory be made to the National Brain Tumor Society.
More in State & Hill
Below, find the full, formatted fall 2024 edition of State & Hill. Click here to return to the fall 2024 S&H homepage.