Ford School

Voting rights activist Stacey Abrams will address the challenges to American democracy, her work to guarantee voter access, and other civil rights battles facing the United States in 2024. 

Democracy around the world is both robust -- two billion people will be able to cast a ballot in 2924 -- and fragile, as threats to the voting process, to the structures of democratic society, and to the voters themselves afflict many nations. 

In this session, five successful academicians from a variety of disciplines will discuss their work and perspectives regarding racial justice and public policy.  

A wide-ranging discussion with technologist Alondra Nelson, reflecting on her time in the White House, her role as a social scientist involved in shaping science and technology (and particularly AI), her insights into the policy process, and specifically her work on the open access and AI Bill of Rights initiatives. 

Cecilia Muñoz will reflect on her long career in social activism and policymaking, and on the challenges the U.S. continues to face regarding immigration and refugee affairs, social inclusion, and the role of public interest technology.   

This session will examine innovative policies that promote direct cash transfers and tax credits to low-income families, new mothers, and other sectors of society. 

Spring Preview is designed to help admitted master's students get to know our faculty, staff, current students—and each other!

Two experts with long experience in Middle East policymaking discuss the violence in Palestine and Israel and its broader implications. This event is open to Ford School students, faculty, and staff, and will be streamed live and on-demand.

Each spring, Ford School faculty and staff nominate dozens of outstanding student research and service projects for recognition at the Gramlich Showcase of Student Work. Established in 2008 to honor internationally renowned economist and former Ford School dean, Ned Gramlich, this event features exceptional student work on a broad range of local, national, and international policy challenges.

This month's Food for Thought will be held on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Associate dean Jeff Morenoff will host a panel with staff from the Prison Creative Arts Project to discuss Unpacking Justice, Policy, and Artistic Advocacy.Please join us to share your thoughts and learn more! Pizza will be provided on a first-come first-served basis.

Our Food for Thought series is returning this Wednesday, January 31 from 11:30-12:50 in the Annenberg Auditorium. Our discussion topic will be “The Vital Role of Students in the Presidential Election,” and we will be joined by a panel that includes Abdul El-Sayed, Rusty Hills, Landon Myers, Erica Reilly, and Naomi Garcia. Food for thought attendance is limited to Ford School students, faculty, and staff. Pizza will be provided on a first-come first-serve basis.

Roughly once a month, we will convene community conversations to devour pizza and discuss burning issues in policy and politics. These off-the-record conversations will aim to foster frank and open dialogue among Ford students, faculty, and staff. Each session will feature one or more Ford professors or scholars with relevant expertise, but these will not be lectures. They will be guided conversations in which we share both comments and questions, listen and learn from one another, and seek to co-produce knowledge on policy issues in the United States and around the world. Please come to learn more and to share your ideas.

The Ford School community is invited to join for a community conversation on leadership with motivational coach Greg Harden. Parker Tracey, an ICF Associate Certified Coach who works with Ford School MPP students as part of our executive coaching program, will interview Harden on his work, leadership advice, and his new book: Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive.

Join the Ford School for a Conversations Across Difference event with U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and former U.S. Representative Fred Upton (R-MI) for a conversation on the State of the Union and the Congress, civil discourse, and democratic resillience. 

Join us for CommuniTea! A student-led series of informal, bi-weekly gatherings held in Weill Hall, focusing on key topics of interest to our community.

Ford School alumni - join us in DC for a book talk and reception with the authors of the book The Injustice of Place. Leading scholars on poverty, the three authors will share key insights from the book, followed by a networking reception and book signing. 

Detroit area alumni: Join us for a reception at the beautiful Detroit offices of Miller Canfield to meet the new Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of the Ford School, Celeste Watkins-Hayes.