academic leadership

Barr is a governor and vice chair for supervision of the Federal Reserve Board, currently on leave from the University of Michigan. At U-M, Barr conducted research and wrote about a wide range of issues in domestic and international financial regulation, with a particular emphasis on financial services for low-income communities. He served in President Barack H. Obama's Administration as the U.S. Department of the Treasury's assistant secretary for financial institutions, and was a key architect of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

Parthasarathy studies the governance of emerging science and technology and the politics of evidence and expertise in policy in comparative and international perspective. Her current research focuses on equity in innovation and innovation policy. She co-hosts The Received Wisdom podcast.

Stephanie Sanders is a lecturer and diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at the Ford School. Her research focuses on the experiences of students transitioning from urban environments to rural, predominantly white college settings, with a…

Luke Shaefer serves as the inaugural director of Poverty Solutions, an interdisciplinary, presidential initiative at U-M that seeks to partner communities and policymakers to find new ways to prevent and alleviate poverty.

Marcella (Marcy) Brighton is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Since 2008 she has been managing the operations infrastructure of the school including finance, human resources, data analytics/business…

As Director of Student and Academic Services, Susan will oversee admissions, academic advising, fellowships/funding, and the Registrar. In addition, as a member of the Dean's management team, she will help provide strategic leadership. Susan will…

Sue Johnson is the chief development officer at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Sue joined the Ford School in February 2016 and oversees all fundraising and alumni relations efforts, coordinates with the dean and other members of the Ford…

An alum of the Ford School (MPP '96), Laura has decades of experience in strategic communications, public sector and academic advocacy, crisis communications, digital strategy, and leadership. Laura was the Ford School's first director of…

Jennifer Niggemeier brings 20+ years of experience in working with current and future policy leaders. Jennifer leads a global team of 20+ executive leadership coaches delivering individual and group coaching to masters students, and designs and…