Marc Holzer (MPA ‘68, PhD LSA ‘71) recently retired as distinguished research professor at Suffolk University in Boston. A founding dean and Emeritus University Professor at Rutgers University's School of Public Affairs and Administration, Marc is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and past president of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). His distinguished career has been recognized with the Dwight Waldo Award from ASPA and the NASPAA-APSA Distinguished Research Award.
Aidoo Osei (MPP ‘97) has taken on a new role as the deputy chief transformation officer for Global Payments, Inc., a Fortune 500 multinational company. In this role, he is leading a large-scale, complex, corporate transformation, noting: "Each day brings new learning and new problems to be solved. It's an exciting time to be in the change business."
L. Michael Costa (MPP '82) was appointed to the California Commission on Aging, joining 17 other diverse professionals in representing communities across the state. Throughout his 40-year career, Michael has advanced healthcare coverage and affordability for underserved populations in New York, expanded access to therapies for chronic conditions nationwide, and promoted integrated healthcare and social service delivery for older Californians. From 2021-2024, he served as executive director of the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging, helping to shape aging and disability services.
Nicole DeJeet Bartlett (MPP ‘98) earned her PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts School for the Environment in August 2025. Her doctoral research produced the CREATE Framework, which improves coastal management by bridging communication gaps between satellite data experts and practitioners and treats data literacy as a form of language learning. She notes that interventions may be tailored depending on user proficiency. Nicole also advocates shifting responsibility for training and product development from government agencies to regional and academic partners. She is now in her 25th year of federal service at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, where she works as a management analyst in Woods Hole, MA.
Jeremy Anderson (MPP ‘99) and his wife Michelle sold their brand and new product development business to their employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP). They now live in Berlin, Germany, having recently received temporary residency visas.
Beth Katz (MPP/MSW ‘03) successfully defended her PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Edinburgh in July 2025. Now a research scholar at the University of Connecticut's School of Public Policy, she continues her research on how governments opposed to immigration shape restrictive environments and how those approaches affect people working to welcome and include immigrants.
Franklin Esson (MPP ‘08) and his family welcomed daughter Guiliana Michaela Esson on December 22, 2024.
In May 2025, Andrew Renacci (BA ‘09) was appointed chief legal officer and corporate secretary of GrafTech International Ltd., an NYSE publicly listed manufacturer of graphite electrode products located just outside of Cleveland.
In 2024, Molly Maguire (MPP '11) and her family moved to Barcelona, Spain, where she founded Avenir Advisors, a consulting practice focused on policy design and fundraising for college access and completion non-profits.
Cezanne Charles's (MPA '15) design, tech, and policy firm, rootoftwo, received $500,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to convert a decommissioned electrical substation into a civic studio for participatory governance and design. The space will support civic tech labs, digital tools, and workshops aimed at co-creating just and innovative public solutions.
Nicole Auerbach (BA ‘11) married Jeff Kemp (an Iowa Hawkeye!) on May 17, 2025, in Cape May, New Jersey. Fordies in attendance included Christina Hart (BA ‘11), Ian Kay (BA ‘10), and Aniuska Rovaina (BA ‘11). That trio made sure to end the night with a rousing rendition of "The Gambler!" The newlyweds honeymooned in the Maldives before returning to the real world. Nicole is a sports broadcaster for NBC Sports, and Jeff is a host for DraftKings; the couple currently resides in Chicago.
Sam Gringlas (BA '16) is now covering Congress for NPR, following four years reporting on politics in Georgia.
Andrew Chinsky (BA ‘11) was elected to the Sandy Springs Georgia City Council (District 6), becoming the youngest person to serve in the city's government and the highest vote-getter in a council race. With 105,000 residents and several Fortune 500 headquarters, Sandy Springs is the largest city bordering Atlanta and is consistently ranked among the best cities in America. Andrew is excited to "do some good in the world" using his Ford School skills.
Christina Cross (PhD ‘19) published Inherited Inequality: Why Opportunity Gaps Persist between Black and White Youth Raised in Two-Parent Families with Harvard University Press. She discussed the implications of her research for social policy with PBS.
Gordon L. Rooney (MPA ‘20) started a new role with Dorchester County Economic Development as existing industry and workforce development project manager. In this role, Gordon will lead relationship building efforts with local industries and coordinate initiatives to strengthen the county's talent pipeline through partnerships with businesses, educators, and workforce agencies.
Allison Winstel (MPP/MBA '22) was selected as one of 44 distinguished leaders in the 2026 Class of Signature Fellows by Leadership Greater Chicago, the region's premier civic leadership development program. Allison serves as chief of staff at mHUB.
Clare Knutson (MPP ‘22) and Nathan Rinderer (MSE ‘21) welcomed their bundle of joy, baby boy Grant, on December 23, 2024.
Tim Stark (MPP ‘23) and his wife, Anna, welcomed daughter Amelia on June 1, 2025.
Nishant Malhotra (MPA/MBA '17), founder of The Middle Road, an upskilling platform for the social impact sector, published Global Development Impact. His debut book blends financial analysis, policy insights, and cultural reflections, exploring themes such as ESG, sustainable finance, blended and climate finance, structured products, and broader development topics.
Martha Fedorowicz (MPP '18) and her husband, Jared Strange, welcomed their first child, Jack, on July 19, 2025.
Zeinab H. Alhashemi (BA ‘24) is spending nine months in Albania as a Fulbright U.S. Student Fellow, teaching English and American culture while immersing herself in community-based projects that foster cultural exchange through the arts and entrepreneurship. Previously, she consulted for Guidehouse, advising on compliance and risk monitoring for federal recovery programs.
Marty Johnson (BA '25) is a 2025 Govern for America Fellow, working as a consolidation and infrastructure grant analyst for the Michigan Department of Education.
Harrison DeChant (MPP ‘25) and Nicholas DeChant (MPP ‘25) work at the City of Grand Rapids, supporting evidence-based practices for special projects under the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief of Staff. They express gratitude to the Ford School Career Services staff for guiding them through the employment process.
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Designing investment policies to strengthen economic resilience ← Read all stories in the fall 2025 edition State & Hill