MPP students

News

Peterson and Pawar win 2026 Ali Family Memorial Writing Prize

Jun 4, 2026

Sarah Peterson (MPP/MBA ‘28) and Juhi Pawar (BA ‘26) have won the Ford School’s 2026 Ali Family Memorial Writing Prize for written work examining health-related policy concerns.

Two headshots side by side of smiling people.

News

Can protest art shape policy?

May 26, 2026

Devin Judge-Lord's winter course tasked students with examining the role of movement art in policy debates while addressing a central question: what constitutes a "successful" protest movement?

State & Hill

Policy under autocracy

May 7, 2026

A refreshed Ford School course equips students with tools to  analyze authoritarian practices and political structures worldwide

Professor Ann Lin teaching class standing in front of blackboard

News

Wolverines put policy to work

May 7, 2026

State & Hill spotlights student internships around the world.

Collage of students with photos out in their internships

State & Hill

This winter, 12 students stepped into paid consulting roles, working on three projects that support local governments in Michigan and beyond. Morenoff shares what the pilot initiative means for government partners and student professional development...

Policy Matters

A West Coast perspective: How Dixie Samaniego (MPP ‘27) transitioned from college in California to the Ford School

Apr 23, 2026

Dixie Samaniego (MPP ‘27) talks about finding community at the Ford School and her transition from the West Coast to the Midwest.

A student smiling in the crowd at a college football game

Policy Matters

Poverty Solutions RA convenes peers for hands-on workshop to redesign government services

Apr 13, 2026

Lauren Parker (MPP '26) discusses her experience helping develop the Public Policy Lab's workshop about human-centered design, which provided students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to learn about service design and how human-centered design proc...

News

Service Design Weekend allows students to re-imagine government

Apr 8, 2026

Departments across campus came together on March 27 and 28 for an interdisciplinary weekend focused on public service design – how people, processes, and tools come together to deliver effective government services.

Conference attendees in the Great Hall talking

News

Students present research and service projects at 2026 Gramlich Showcase

Mar 27, 2026

On March 20, 2026, the Becky Blank Great Hall was filled with posters and people as students presented their research and service projects at the 19th Annual Gramlich Showcase of Student Work. This year, 16 outstanding student projects were nominated...

Overhead view of 2023 Gramlich Showcase of Student work

Policy Matters

Why I chose a dual MPP/MSW degree

Mar 20, 2026

Samira Kimo (MPP/MSW ’26) shares her experiences as a dual-degree student in the Ford School’s MPP program and the School of Social Work’s MSW program, reflects on her summer internships and coursework, and gives advice to students considering a dual...

Policy Matters

Featured Fordie: Elisa Méndez Silva (MPP '27)

Mar 9, 2026

Elisa Méndez Silva (MPP ‘27) shares how supporting World Bank operations in Honduras shaped her approach to policy, why she chose the Ford School, and how she hopes to strengthen public institutions through a career in international development.

News

“He was a force of nature”: Remembering Sean Casey (MPP ‘82)

Mar 2, 2026

Sean Casey (MPP ’82) passed away in December 2025. To honor his legacy, Ford School alumni, friends, and colleagues have established the Sean Casey Memorial Fund, providing tuition and internship support to Ford School Master of Public Policy student...

Policy Matters

Bohnett Fellows recount their experience at the 2026 U.S. Conference of Mayors

Feb 25, 2026

Over a snowy weekend in January, Anneke Craig (MPP ‘27), Madeleine Gibbons-Shapiro (MPP ‘27), and Emma Schwartz (MPP ‘27) traveled to Washington, D.C. for the annual U.S. Conference of the Mayors (USCM) as part of the David Bohnett Foundation Leaders...

Headshots of Craig, Gibbons, and Schwartz

Policy Matters

My experience as a dual degree student (Ford/SEAS)

Feb 2, 2026

Second-year student Danielle Levy discusses her experience as a dual-degree candidate at the Ford School and the School for Environment and Sustainability

Policy Matters

A southerner’s perspective: Why I moved north for grad school

Feb 2, 2026

Cara Clay (MPP '26) explains why she decided to come to Michigan for graduate school after having lived in the South her whole life

Policy Matters

Why I chose a dual MPP/MPH degree

Feb 2, 2026

Delaney McDermott (MPP/MPH '27) discusses why she chose to be a dual Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Health student

Policy Matters

My experience as a dual degree MPP/MPH student

Feb 2, 2026

Amber Garcia explains what it is like to be a dual degree student pursuing a Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Health

Policy Matters

An inside look at the Integrated Policy Exercise

Feb 2, 2026

Alimatou Sarr (MPP '27) discusses her experience at this year's IPE that was focused on Michigan's hazardous waste disposal policy

A panel discussion in progress inside a university lecture hall with multiple attendees seated and one person standing at the podium.

Policy Matters

A Fordie’s guide to Michigan life in all seasons

Feb 2, 2026

Megan Connors (MPP '26) gives advice to incoming students on what they should do throughout the year in Michigan

Panoramic photo of a full Michigan Stadium from the Michigan-Ohio State game in 2011

Policy Matters

Behind the scenes: Connecting a record number of alumni and students

Jan 29, 2026

Every October and March, the Ford School network comes to life with Alumni Office Hours Month, a program that pairs current students and alumni for one-on-one career conversations. It's simple in structure but powerful in impact, and this fall, it re...

News

Students simulate waste policy reform

Jan 26, 2026

Acting as legislators, local government officials, business and environmental stakeholders, and journalists, more than 100 graduate students simulated Michigan House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee deliberations on significant legislative ref...

A group of people engaged in a discussion in a lecture hall. One person is standing and gesturing while speaking, another is holding a laptop and looking at the speaker. Several attendees are seated, listening attentively.

Policy Matters

The making of IPE

Jan 19, 2026

GSI Pedro Eymael (MPP/MS ’27) shares behind-the-scenes preparation for the Ford School’s policy simulation.

Policy Matters

Why I chose the MPP/JD

Dec 8, 2025

One of the main reasons I decided to come to the University of Michigan for graduate school was so that I could pursue both a master’s in public policy and a law degree at a school that excelled in both.

News

Ford School names first James McIntire Fellow

Oct 27, 2025

The Ford School recognizes Grant Bradley (MPP ‘27) as the first recipient of the James McIntire Fellowship. The newly endowed fund provides tuition support for Master of Public Policy students who have a strong interest in public infrastructure and s...

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News

Ford School names 2025 Weiser Diplomacy Center Fellows

Oct 17, 2025

The Ford School is pleased to announce the 2025 Weiser Diplomacy Center (WDC) fellows: Tooba Bilal (MPP ‘27), Annie Citron (MPP ‘27), Claire James (MPP ‘27), and Sowmya Raman (MPP ‘27).

Weiser Fellows Tooba Bilal, Annie Citron, Claire James, and Sowmya Raman

News

Students share policy lessons from their summer internships at 2025 Policy Pitch Competition

Sep 18, 2025

Thirteen graduate and undergraduate students shared takeaways from their summer internships at the Ford School’s 8th Annual Policy Pitch Competition. In a TEDTalk style presentation, students gave three minute speeches highlighting their policy impac...

Group photo of pitch competition participants

News

Ford School names 2025 Weill Scholars

Sep 18, 2025

Five outstanding master’s students have been named the 2025 Weill Scholars. Weill Scholars Adiah Bailey (MBA/MPP '28), Norma Gay (MPP '27), Mario Vasquez (MPP '27), Love Lundy (MPP '27), and Jenuel Camacho Rivera (MPP '27) are recipients of the prest...

Headshots of Bailey, Camacho-Rivera, Gay, Lundy, and Vazquez

News

Introducing the 2025 David Bohnett Foundation Leadership and Public Service Fellows

Sep 18, 2025

The Ford School is pleased to announce our 2025 David Bohnett Foundation Leadership and Public Service Fellows: Anneke Craig (MPP ’27), Madeleine Gibbons-Shapiro (MPP ‘27), and Emma Schwartz (MPP ‘27).

News

Ford School names Mericel Mirabal as 2025 Kohn Scholar

Sep 18, 2025

The Ford School recognizes Mericel Mirabal (MPP ‘27) as the 2025 Kohn Scholar. Kohn Scholars are chosen for their outstanding qualifications and commitment to public service and advancing social policy. The fellowship is a Ford School Rackham Master'...

News

Jasdeep Kler wins the 2025 Ali Family Memorial Writing Prize

Jun 17, 2025

Jasdeep Kler (MPP ‘26) has won the Ford School’s Ali Family Memorial Writing Prize for his work, “Michigan’s Re-entry Healthcare Waiver is a Start, Now it Needs Real Reform.” The student writing prize recognizes written work that researches, analyzes...