Dear Fordies, IPPSters, and friends,
This year, State & Hill has unfolded a bit differently—literally and figuratively! While our fall issue adopted a compact, fold-out design to highlight impact, our spring magazine returns to our full format, offering the space to dive deeper into the stories and scholarship that define the Ford School’s impact.
Yet, our theme remains constant: exploring the “policy-academic ecosystem,” where universities collaborate with the public, nonprofit, and private sectors for the public good. In both issues, we’ve sought to illuminate how those partnerships—and the work of Ford School faculty, staff, students, and alumni—continue to shape policy conversations and outcomes at every level. Whether in the classroom, in city halls across the country, or through research and analysis, our collective work resonates far beyond campus, bridging theory and practice to solve pressing challenges.
The past months have underscored the importance of adaptability while staying true to our mission. Even as we navigate new budget realities in higher education, our commitment to scholarship, service, and community remains unwavering.
In January, we proudly welcomed the first cohort of students into our Online Master of Public Affairs program—an accomplished group of mid-career professionals aiming to develop the analytical and leadership skills needed to make a lasting impact for the public good.
In this edition of State & Hill, we showcase Fordies connecting research to real needs and serving communities with creativity and care both close to home and around the globe.
Read about the ways the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) has connected with Michigan's communities for the past 25 years. Luke Shaefer answers questions about what he hopes to accomplish in his new role as Chief Executive of Health, Human Services & Poverty Solutions for the City of Detroit. We also go beyond the media headlines to share perspectives from energy economist Catherine Hausman and aging expert Michael Costa (MPP ’82) on policy issues you should know about.
I am continually inspired by all the ways our community brings policy to life—through evidence-based research, dynamic partnerships, and a steadfast desire to make a positive difference. Thank you for traveling this journey with us, for your resilience, engagement, and support. As always, let’s keep the conversation going, and let’s keep forging pathways to better policy and a brighter future.
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
← Read all stories in the spring 2026 edition State & Hill
