MPP students

News

Ford School names 2026 Weiser Diplomacy Fellows

Oct 13, 2026

The Ford School is pleased to announce the 2026 cohort of Weiser Diplomacy Fellows: Tariq Fanek (MPA ‘27), Hayley Jewett (MPP ‘28), Anastasiya Miknovets (MPP ‘28), Adna Mohamed (MPP ‘28), and Saumya Nagar (MPP/MBA ‘29).

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News

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellowship Turns 10

Oct 12, 2026

As the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellowship celebrates its 10th anniversary, its nine recipients have built a legacy of leadership and service nationwide. Today, the Fellowship continues to nurture future policy leaders who exemplify academic excel...

Photo of a bronze statue of President Ford in Weill Hall's Great Hall

News

Ford School names 2026 Weill Scholars

Oct 12, 2026

Five outstanding master's students have been named the 2026 Weill Scholars. Nour Abdel-Ghani (MPP '28), Sadie Burnaine (MPP/MSW '29), Aries Cole (MPP '28), Kelsey Faranda (MPP '28), and Georgia Youngblood (MPP '28) are recipients of the prestigious F...

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State & Hill

Alumni impact: The people behind the numbers

Oct 7, 2026

Samuel Owusu helps Michigan strengthen early childhood data systems so leaders can see if public investments are reaching the children and families they are designed to serve.

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State & Hill

Student “data detective” untangles India’s rural wage-payment system

Oct 7, 2026

Through a paid research assistantship with the International Policy Center, Caroline Bach applied methods from her coursework to a study of how information could improve India’s rural employment program.

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News

Ford School students turn policy training into practical support for Michigan communities

Oct 7, 2026

For local leaders, extra strategic capacity matters. Teams from the Ford School's Consulting Clinic students took different policy challenges facing Michigan communities.

Six people stand together in front of a Wayne County Economic Development Corporation sign during a visit with Ford School Consulting Clinic students.

News

Zoe Vaughan named 2026 Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellow

Oct 2, 2026

The Ford School recognizes Zoe Vaughan (MPP '28) as the 2026 Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellow.

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Policy Matters

Policy Pitch Competition 1st Place Alimatou Sarr (MPP/MIRS ‘28) reflects on her summer internship at the American Immigration Council

Sep 23, 2026

9th Annual Policy Pitch Competition first place winner Alimatou Sarr (MPP/MIRS '28) reflected on her summer internship experience for the Ford School's Policy Matters blog

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News

Ford School names Tyler Mathieu and Courtney Moore as 2026 Kohn Scholars

Sep 23, 2026

The Ford School recognizes Tyler Mathieu (MPP ‘28) and Courtney Moore (MPP ‘28) as the 2026 Kohn Scholars.

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News

Ford School students explore food security and urban agriculture with OBSSAN in Bogotá

Sep 7, 2026

In March 2026, a delegation of graduate students from the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy traveled to Bogotá, Colombia, to learn about the practical realities of international development policy and programs from key stakeholder...

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News

Alice Kinney named 2026 Robert R. Robinson Memorial Scholarship recipient

Aug 21, 2026

The Michigan Townships Association named Alice Kinney as a 2026 Robert R. Robinson Memorial Scholarship recipient. The annual award aims to encourage students and other individuals to pursue or further a career in public service.

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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.

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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

State & Hill

Last Word: Jeffrey Morenoff

May 7, 2026

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...

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

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.

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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.

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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

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

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

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

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

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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