Elisabeth Gerber is the Jack L. Walker, Jr. Professor of Public Policy and the inaugural faculty director of the Ford School’s new Online Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program, which will launch in January 2026. A two-time recipient of the Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize, Gerber is the architect of ViewPoint, a platform for creating, facilitating, and participating in educational role-play simulations.
Why is this the right time for the school to launch the Online MPA program?
We face a really challenging moment in the world. We need people with technical and analytical skills and with leadership and management skills to run organizations— in government, nonprofits, philanthropy, and the private sector—that are going to be facing a lot of pressures in the coming years. The skills that we teach are increasingly valuable, but not everyone can quit their jobs and complete a full-time residential master’s degree in Ann Arbor. The Online MPA is similar to our other programs, but it gives us a broader reach to a new set of learners who are not able to come to campus.
During COVID, students took classes online. What are some of the lessons learned?
The pandemic taught us a lot about online education. We learned that we cannot directly replicate the in-person experience online. 90-minute Zoom lectures and Socratic discussions do not work very well. Instead, what works are short bursts of recorded content, followed by lots of engagement with course material. The learning experience will extend across time and space. It’s a lot more fluid. Students will view videos and read independently, then engage with one another on collaborative group projects, in synchronous Zoom sessions, through sharing ideas in a chat platform, and more.
One of the things that makes the Ford School so special is that it’s small enough to have a strong sense of community and allows everyone to get to know each other. We want to replicate that as much as possible."
How does the new program build on Ford School strengths?
From the start, we’ve talked about doing this program in a Ford School way.
One of the things that makes the Ford School so special is that it’s small enough to have a strong sense of community and allows everyone to get to know each other. We want to replicate that as much as possible. We’re going to have small cohorts where the students will, for the most part, all take classes together. They will also complete two in-person residencies, which will encourage more class bonding and collaborative learning.
Our engaged and accessible faculty is one of our greatest strengths. In many online programs, faculty record their lectures and teach asynchronously. Not so here. All of our courses are going to have weekly synchronous activities or discussion-based classes with faculty, and faculty will be involved with students through discussion boards, office hours, etc.
And finally, we will offer lots of student support to help our students successfully navigate our rigorous curriculum.
Who is a good fit for the program?
We are looking for seasoned professionals in the U.S. with at least five years of policy-related experience. These are people who want to continue the great work they’re doing in their communities and who have the potential to be really significant leaders.
One of the things we know about online programs is that even though people from anywhere could enroll in them, most are likely to come from within 50 miles. That means we have an important opportunity to help train a new generation of leaders in southeast Michigan who have the skills to lead organizations in their communities.
What role can alumni and friends play?
There are three things you can do:
- Give us feedback. We’re eager to hear from you about what skills are needed in the field to help us continually improve our program.
- Be a mentor. Just like with our other programs, there will be opportunities for alumni to engage as mentors to our students.
- Help us with recruiting. If you know of people in your professional world or in your networks who would benefit from this program, please send them our way!
» Learn more: fordschool.umich.edu/online-mpa
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