State & Hill

Inspired by the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the sophomore issue of our magazine, State & Hill, has a special section dedicated to stories about environmental research, green student innovations, and more. The magazine also highlights a rich mix...

After his last "International Security Affairs" class of the fall semester, Bob Axelrod graded student papers, then hurried to the airport to catch a flight to Damascus, the capital city of Syria. His goal: to interview Middle East leaders to better...

A conversation with Professor Barry G. Rabe, the first social scientist ever awarded the prestigious Annual Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. States and regions have quietly emerged as hotbeds of innovation...

In the fall of 2007, the Ford School launched a bachelor's degree program in public policy. "One of the questions that has come up consistently—from the first time that we went public with this—is, 'So what does somebody do with a bachelor's in...

Doug Brook is the first to say the University of Michigan changed his life. "I am the Michigan story," he says. The University may have changed his life, but he credits the Ford School for having shaped his career. After completing a bachelor's in...

In 2000, it was Costa Rica. In 2005: Ethiopia. This spring: the Philippines. Each of these developing countries has been the focus of the International Economic Development Program (IEDP), a three-credit Ford School course that allows University of...

One hundred paper airplanes ascend the grand staircase at Weill Hall. What do they mean? They mean that "Don't Let the Ford School Fly Solo," a $20,000 campaign organized by the school's 2010 Class Gift Committee, has been soaring—literally. Each...

Mounting evidence suggests that an economic recovery is in view. Unemployment isn't rising as quickly as it once was. Consumer spending has increased for four consecutive months. Household net worth is growing. While the economy may be turning...

When students, staff, and faculty members at the Ford School take a seat, it's Jim Hackett (BGS '77) they should thank. A general studies major who played center on the football team under Bo Schembechler, Hackett never took a class on public...

In winter 2008, five Ford School MPP students assessed alternative scenarios for consolidating emergency dispatch efforts within Washtenaw County. The students constructed a sophisticated economic model, interviewed multiple actors to produce...

With teammates from across the University of Michigan, Matt Schaar, a dual MPP and MBA student, finished third in the 2009-2010 Clean Energy Prize competition, winning $10,000 to commercialize a new, environmentally friendly device for manufacturing...

Greetings! We are off to an extraordinarily busy and exciting fall at the Ford School. The incoming classes of MPP, PhD, and BA students have already made a mark on the community with their enthusiasm and engagement. A record number of students...

National Poverty Center surveying effects of recession and federal stimulus on Southeast Michigan workers and families Long affected by the loss of well-paid manufacturing jobs, workers and families in Southeast Michigan have been hit especially...

This year, we celebrate the Ford School’s 95th anniversary. We're proud of the school's contributions to public policy research and education – proud that through our program, the University of Michigan has trained so many generations of committed...

The Obama Administration implements Susan Dynarski's research on financial aid Stretched family incomes, fewer private sources of credit, and rising tuition costs–while still a key predictor of lifetime earnings, a college education has become...

Margaret Ann (Ranny) Riecker (HLLD '05) is the Ford School's single most generous supporter of students. Her philanthropy through the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation (where she is president), the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation...

Welcome to State & Hill, the magazine of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. With this new publication, we seek to deepen already strong ties with our alumni, provide a window into the policy research and education we foster, and show how...

The Ford School will launch a new research center this fall, a first-of-its kind initiative designed to shed light on how public policy can most effectively navigate the opportunities and challenges posed by societies that are becoming increasingly...

John D. Ciorciari is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy. His interests include public international law, the theory and practice of international relations, and international finance. His current research projects focus primarily on Asia and...

A lot has changed over 95 years…the program's name, core curriculum, size, physical location, the student body nickname (anyone else miss 'IPPSters'?), and more. But our graduates share a commitment to public service and a belief that first-rate...

Applied Policy Seminar Evolves With Student Interests In the shadow of the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge, Mexicantown's authentic restaurants and bakeries delight tourists and locals. Every year, millions of Midwesterners drive through the...

Ford School graduates tackle cost/benefit analysis of repairs to Ann Arbor's Argo Dam Ann Arborites live for summer's long days, ripe cherries, and sunny afternoons at the Huron River. The river is a quiet place for locals to "get out of the...

Frank Szollosi (Annenberg Intern) came to the Ford School to 'sharpen his policy chops.' He joined the MPP class of 2010 with experience as a congressional press secretary, a political consultant, and a seven-year member of the Toledo City...