Dear friends,
This semester has offered powerful reminders of what public service can look like—ideas tested in public and leadership practiced in real time.
We saw it in Washington, DC, as more than 80 Ford students participated in Career Exploration Days, which culminated in a policy talk on congressional authority and the power of the purse delivered by Professor Samuel Bagenstos. Bagenstos, the Arlene Susan Kohn Professor of Social Policy and Frank G. Millard Professor of Law, was also honored with the 2025 U‑M President's Award for Public Impact for translating research and expertise into public service.
We also saw it here at Michigan through the leadership of Ford student Amr Brown (BA '27), who received the University of Michigan's Central Campus Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award for establishing the Conflict-Affected and Refugee Education Scholarship. This initiative expands support for refugees and displaced students at U‑M.
No matter where the work of policy takes us, I'm reminded that lasting public service is built in part through shared learning, candid conversations, and the relationships that sustain our work over time.
We're also investing in the people and pathways that make public service possible, including expanded access for Detroit-area professionals. A generous $400,000 commitment from the Skillman Foundation will provide expanded financial support for Detroiters who enroll in the Ford School's Online Master of Public Affairs (MPA), enabling them to pursue a world-class public policy education while continuing to lead in their communities. The application cycle for fall 2026 is now open until May 1— please help spread the word!
And as our students prepare for their next chapters in public service, I'm delighted to share that U.S. Senator Gary Peters will deliver the keynote address at the Ford School's 2026 commencement ceremony on May 3. Commencement is always a highlight for our community, and I look forward to honoring the Class of 2026 and welcoming their leadership into the policy world.
Thank you for being part of the Ford School community. I look forward to all the ways we can continue to advance the public good, together.
Warmly,
Celeste Watkins-Hayes
Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Jean E. Fairfax Collegiate Professor of Public Policy
University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor
Professor of Sociology
