The Youth Policy Lab (YPL) at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research is proud to announce the 2025 Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE) cohort. This summer, Spelman students Ke'Zhiah Chapman, Chloe Fite, Angelica Pierce, Brooklynn Vesey, and Morehouse student Tyler Mathieu will spend eight weeks advancing their quantitative social science research skills, gaining a greater understanding of careers involving public policy research, and establishing connections at the University of Michigan.
“I had the pleasure of hearing about this experience from the Education Department at Morehouse College and by Jeremiah Lowther, ASPIRE 2024 Cohort Alumni,” said Tyler Mathieu, incoming ASPIRE participant and rising senior majoring in Sociology and Educational Studies at Morehouse College. “I aspire to become a superintendent and practice educational policy to close educational gaps for all students, and I was particularly drawn to ASPIRE’s emphasis on hands-on experience in applied quantitative social science research.”
With support from a PhD-level mentor and Youth Policy Lab faculty and staff, the students will complete a research project exploring one of YPL’s core policy areas: early childhood education, maternal and infant health, adolescent mental health, career technical education, or workforce development. Through weekly workshops they will develop effective strategies for communicating research findings and present their work in a culminating public seminar on July 25. Along the way, they will meet with university faculty and professionals across sectors, participate in community-building trips to Detroit, and connect with other summer program students.
“As ASPIRE embarks on its third year, the program continues to offer a dynamic environment for Spelman and Morehouse students to develop and carry out their own research projects, explore potential policy-related career paths and build connections in support of their future aspirations,” said Carrie Hammerman, director of strategic partnerships at the Youth Policy Lab. “We have been thrilled that the ASPIRE program has fostered strong relationships among previous participants - they continue to keep us abreast of their next steps in academia and the policy sector. We are eager to engage with this new cohort here at the University of Michigan and hope that it will be a meaningful and impactful experience for them as well!”
About the Youth Policy Lab (YPL)
The Youth Policy Lab, a joint research center of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research, envisions a world where partner-driven and policy-centered research fuels positive social change. Our mission is to inform public policy decisions that impact youth by analyzing data and evaluating programs to help society answer its most pressing questions.
