As the 2025 PPA JSI program wrapped up, José Rafael Escalante Vásquez (Rutgers University) and Joanne Chung (Carleton College) shared about their summer experiences. For 44 years, the Ford School has hosted top undergraduates from across the country for seven weeks of intensive coursework, policy exploration, and community building to prepare students for graduate study and public sector leadership. From alumni panels, to trips to South Haven and Detroit, to movie nights at the State Theatre in downtown Ann Arbor, the 24 undergraduates had a busy summer full of memorable highlights.
Who inspired you this summer?
“Jason Morgan was the first openly gay elected official that I’ve ever met. It was deeply impactful to see how he cares about his job and the intersection between his identity and work as a representative.” -Rafael Escalante
“Stephanie Leiser's research with CLOSUP was really insightful. She showed us in-depth survey data and how different types of information factor into the research. It reinforced my passion for research and motivated me to explore future opportunities in the field.” -Joanne Chung
What courses challenged or excited you?
“I never studied political psychology or counterterrorism. I was always far away from that because it looked so complicated. Professor [Javed] Ali made it digestible and very interesting. I felt like I could sit with him for hours and talk about his experiences.” -Rafael Escalante
“Professor Jonathan Hanson made statistics so enjoyable. Although I had taken it before, the accelerated pace of the course pushed me to grasp complex concepts more quickly and apply them in greater depth. That class sparked a real sense of excitement for me." -Joanne Chung
How did your policy interests shape your research project?
“We looked at the connection between free school lunch eligibility and college enrollment in Minnesota, and recommended policies like state-sponsored mentorship programs. I personally have experience mentoring first-generation high school students on their way to college, and I have found that to be a very effective way to mitigate those disparities.” -Rafael Escalante
“With my interest in housing, we decided to look into the factors that are influencing rent in New York from 2005 to 2025. I really enjoy practicing my statistics and applying it. So this was the perfect opportunity to do that in a field that I enjoy.” -Joanne Chung
What was your favorite moment outside the classroom?
“I found my spots in Ann Arbor. My friends enjoy going to Molly's Cupcakes and I love watching movies, and have gone to the State Theatre downtown several times. It was nice to have that sense of home here.” -Joanne Chung
“We went to a Tiger’s game! It was my first time at a baseball game and it was a lot of fun.” -Rafael Escalante
What advice do you have for future PPIA JSI students?
“As future policymakers, we cannot expect everyone to have the same point of view. We have to be open to understanding other people's points of view based on their backgrounds and assume that they're making their point in good faith. We have a deeply polarized society, and you have to be able to listen.” -Rafael Escalante
“Engaging with the teaching assistants was incredibly valuable. In a one-on-one conversation with John Blake, I asked about the dual degree program and his experience entering straight from undergrad. It was encouraging to connect with someone on a similar path and hear his perspective.” -Joanne Chung
“This year's group was full of students deeply committed to making the world a better place, whether on a global scale or in the communities where they were raised,” said Ford School writing instructor Molly Spencer. “They came from a range of backgrounds and had interests spanning foreign policy, electoral politics, agricultural policy—my hope for the future is always renewed by our PPIA students. ”
The PPIA Junior Summer Institute will begin accepting applications for the summer 2026 cohort in mid-September. Students interested in applying can find the application here once it has opened.
2025 Ford School PPIA fellows:
- Alejandro Bracero, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
- Jared Castaneda, University of California, Irvine
- Joanne Chung, Carleton College
- Aries Cole, University of California, San Diego
- Rafael Escalante Vasquez, Rutgers University - New Brunswick
- AJ Galluzzi, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- Nivea George, Mercer University
- Ahreum Ham, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- Warisha Khan, Carnegie Mellon University
- David Leal, University of Hartford
- Johnathan Martir, Williams College
- Spencer Metz, University of Arizona
- Noah Mojda, College of William and Mary
- Nicole Pantoja, University of Florida
- Michael Pozos, University of Texas at San Antonio
- Geralynn Razo, Temple University
- Mehr Sohal, Middlebury College
- Samaria Taylor, The University of Texas at Austin
- Brianna Washington, The University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Jo Wise, Seton Hall University
- Ian Wright, Rice University
- Georgia Youngblood, The University of Wisconsin - Superior
- Ainsley Zapata, Santa Clara University
- Jorge Zarco Jr., Dominican University
