Dear friends,
We are days away from a momentous U.S. election, and members of the Ford School community are actively engaging with key issues, thereby embodying our democratic values. Many in our community are volunteering their time to boost voter registration and turnout. Our students are learning how to advocate for issues that matter to them. Faculty and students together explore these topics in classes, events, panels, art installations, performances, and dialogues. This semester we’ve hosted over 45 democracy-themed events featuring a diverse array of speakers. These include former governors John Kasich (R-OH) and Steve Bullock (D-MT), Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr., political strategist Chuck Rocha, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, Mike Ford (son of President Ford) and Jason Carter (grandson of President Carter), as well as celebrity and award-winning author Jonathan Van Ness.
And of course, voting is at the forefront of our efforts. UMICH Votes, the university’s non-partisan voting coalition, has significantly ramped up its activities this year under the direction of Ford School political scientist Jenna Bednar. The coalition assists students in registering to vote, understanding their ballots, and casting their votes through multiple sites on campus.
In true Ford School fashion, we are also prioritizing the well-being of our community members. In the days following the election, we plan to convene over comforting snacks to process and understand the unfolding dynamics together. Alumni can tune in on November 8 for an event where we will unpack the results.
In this edition of the Briefing, we introduce our new Policy Analysis Learning Lab, a learning support initiative offering centralized peer tutoring for quantitative courses. We also recognize the remarkable achievements of our students and faculty. You can read about how Katrina Wheelan (MPP ‘25) is working with CLOSUP’s Fiscal Health Project to digitize municipal financial reports.
We also share news of Professor Katherine Michelmore’s 2024 David N. Kershaw Award, which she will accept at the upcoming Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) Fall Research Conference. Many of my colleagues and I will be presenting at the conference. For those in the DC area, I warmly invite you to join us at an alumni reception on November 21.
Sincerely,
Celeste Watkins-Hayes
Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Founding Director, Center for Racial Justice
Jean E. Fairfax Collegiate Professor of Public Policy
University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor
Professor of Sociology
Research and Community Impact Fellow, Anti-Racism Collaborative
