Cities and states: Policymakers next door

State & Hill, spring 2025

Message from Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes

This edition of State & Hill focuses on the profound impact that policy professionals make at the state and local levels. Read about alumni and students making a difference in places like San José, South Bend, and New York City. Like so many in our community, they work to improve government effectiveness and create safer, more vibrant communities across the United States.

Policymakers next door

Stories of Ford School alumni and students who advocate, innovate, analyze and facilitate—who make governments work better and create vibrant, safe places we call home.

Photo collage of Rick Scott and members of the Michigan NROTC unit with a road, landscape, and steamroller

Rick Scott's (MPA ‘12) data driven approach

Photo collage of Katrina Wheelan, an example budget, and screen shots from the conversion tool

Katrina Wheelan's (MPP ‘25) new tool to modernize municipal financial reporting

Collage of Jessica Gillooly with a smartphone dialing 911

Jessica Gillooly (PhD ‘20) helps cities develop alternative public safety systems

Collage of Ben Eikey with West Virginia’s State Capitol building

Ben Eikey (MPP ‘19) helps state legislatures improve their capacity to conduct bipartisan, fact-based oversight

Collage of Taryn Macfarlane with an outlined map of select Michigan and Indiana counties, a saxophone, and a turbine

Taryn MacFarlane (MPP/MBA ‘08) unites local officials, business leaders, educational institutions, and community organizations

Collage of Emma Renzi Wise with an oyster shell, manhole cover, and recycling bin

Emma Renzi Wise (BA ‘19) partners with a coalition of nonprofits to divert waste from landfills

Collage of Vincent Pinti, seated in his wheelchair speaking into a microphone with a stack of books and reading glasses

Vincent Pinti (MPP/JD ‘27) challenges conditional access and fights to improve disability care

Three individuals wearing lanyards smiling at a conference event.

Lessons from the summit, a reminder of the power of sharing ideas across campuses and our collective mission to serve the public good

The Ford School's Science, Technology, and Public Policy program provides ethical STEM training that prepares students for the big picture

Susan Collins smiling and talking to a student.

Susan M. Collins shares insights into her transition from academia to the Boston Fed

Policy matters

Ford School faculty have been among the experts helping the public make sense of some of the key questions about political developments in DC: What actions are the new Administration taking? What do these actions mean for various stakeholders? What steps might come next among the complex set of players in our political system? How can we put the Administration's actions in historical and international context?

Jennifer Niggemeier retires from the University of Michigan

Person speaking at a podium with the University of Michigan and Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy logos in the background.

Ford School’s Director of Career Services Peter Vasher gives the lay of a challenging landscape.

Class Notes

Faculty News

Spotlights

The Last Word

The last word: Elisabeth Gerber

Jack L. Walker, Jr. Professor of Public Policy

The inaugural faculty director of the Ford School’s new Online Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program discusses how new program will build on Ford School strengths.

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Dean: Celeste Watkins-Hayes; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs: Kathryn Dominguez; Associate Dean for Research and Policy Engagement: Jeffrey Morenoff; Director of Marketing: Quanda Hunter; Managing Editor: Rebecca Cohen (MPP ’09); Senior Editor: Laura K. Lee (MPP ’96); Art Lead: Madison Brow; Contributors: Julia Brownell (BA '25), Lauren Fuller (MPP/JD '27), Sheri Hall, Daniel Rivkin, Tracey Van Dusen; Multimedia contributors: Chris Myers, Joe Payovich, Jordan Wilson; Class Notes Editor: Elisabeth Johnston; Photographers: Amy Beck Harris, Christian Alonzo, Andrew Mascharka, Christopher Billick, Dave Brenner, Michael Clark, Greg Dohler Photography, Mark Gjukich, Jon Hanson, Michigan Photography, Christina Merrill, Hilary Nix, Luke Shaefer, Allison Shelley, Scott C. Soderberg, Matthew Stephens, Leisa Thompson, Claudia Vera, Peter Vasher; Design: Savitski Design, Lisa Ito (front cover); Printer: University Lithoprinters, Inc.

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Cities and states: Policymakers next door

Message from Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes

Policymakers next door

City streets in San José

Tech to support small towns

Reimagining 911 responses

Improving legislative oversight

Building futures in South Bend’s regional economy

A cleaner NYC

Fighting for disability care

In addition

Lessons from the Big Ten Democracy Summit

A pile of parts

A view from the Fed with Susan M. Collins

Policy matters

Faculty experts unpack key issues

Import tariffs and their effects

Rescuing state capacity

Trump in international comparative context

Civic courage in an age of executive action

Parting advice

Policy job market trends

And more...