With a generous $500,000 commitment from Nancy and Arn Tellem, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan will establish the Nancy and Arn Tellem Fellowship. The fellowship will provide financial support to graduate students enrolled in the Ford School’s new Online Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program, with a preference for students with connections to Metro Detroit through residency, work history, or public engagement.
“We are deeply grateful to Nancy and Arn for their generosity and dedication to public service,” said Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes. “Their support for the Ford School’s Online MPA program will help expand access to a world-class policy education for professionals rooted in the communities they serve.”
The Online MPA will launch in January 2026 and is designed for seasoned professionals with policy-related experience looking to strengthen their leadership, analytical, and communication skills without pausing their current careers.
“We are so pleased to be able to support the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy and its online MPA program," said Nancy Tellem and Arn Tellem. "This gift represents an investment in the next generation of public leaders, and we are gratified knowing it will expand opportunities for students—many from communities like Detroit and beyond—who aspire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
The Nancy and Arn Tellem Fellowship is part of a larger $1 million commitment to the University of Michigan, including a $500,000 contribution to Michigan Law, where Arn earned his JD in 1979.
About the Tellems
Nancy and Arn Tellem are influential leaders in media, sports, and philanthropy with strong ties to the University of Michigan and Detroit. In addition to Nancy’s service on the Ford School Committee, the couple are active in Detroit’s civic and cultural life.
Nancy is the executive chairperson of Eko and previously served as president of Xbox Entertainment Studios and CBS Network Television Entertainment Group. She is included in the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and was named on Forbes’ list of “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.” She co-founded BasBlue, a Detroit nonprofit for women’s leadership and community building. Arn is the vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons basketball franchise and a former top sports agent representing 500+ athletes. A Michigan Law grad, he began as a sports attorney and was once named Forbes’ most powerful basketball agent. In 2022 Arn served as the chairman of the Mackinac Policy Conference.
