Student Organizations

Student organizations are an integral part of Ford School community life. Students organize groups to talk about common policy interests, to bring speakers to the School, to do community service, and to have fun. We encourage students to come together in these groups and the School often provides support for activities.

Here’s a listing of Ford School student organizations and contact information:

Student Affairs Committee (SAC)

Contacts:
Primary Contact Email – fspp_sac@umich.edu
Chair – Tina Wei – ytwei@umich.edu
Director of Internal Communications – Andrew Ridgway – ridgandr@umich.edu
Director of Student Organizations – Panha You – syou@umich.edu
Treasurer – Anne Zerbe – azerbe@umich.edu
Director of External Communications – Layne Scherer – scherela@umich.edu
Director of Student Engagement – Kelvin Vuong – kelvinv@umich.edu

The mission of the Ford School Student Affairs Committee is to assist student organizations at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy through funding and guidance and to facilitate their activities on campus to promote a positive student experience. SAC also serves as the primary liaison between Ford School students and the School's administration. SAC is also responsible for administering a yearly survey and reporting results to the school community.

Community Service Organization (Now part of SAC)

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy Community Service Organization (CSO) strives to create opportunity for service for public policy students. We design days of service, on-going projects and fundraising events to support community organizations and to promote interaction between students, faculty and staff within the Ford School.

Association for Public Policy About Learning and Education (APPLE)

Contacts:
Chair – Alma Moedano – moedano@umich.edu
Vice Chair – Samantha Lopez – sjlopez@umich.edu
Treasurer – Kanika Shields – kdshield@umich.edu
Events – Stephanie Zamorano – zamsteph@umich.edu
Alumni Engagement – DawnLynne Kacer – dlkac@umich.edu
1st-Year Representatives:
Sarah Anderson
Anna Chan
D'Wayne Bell

Recognizing the growing contingent of students interested in education policy at the Ford School of Public Policy, APPLE was established in 2002 to promote the discussion of and provide additional resources for the study of education policy issues at the University of Michigan . APPLE brings in speakers on education-related topics, such as Dr. Kenneth Burnley who spoke about his perspective on large, urban school districts as the CEO of Detroit Public Schools and Dr. Susan Neuman who addressed her work in education policy on the federal level. APPLE also advocates for a deeper focus on education issues within the Ford School faculty and through career services. In addition, APPLE helps its members learn about the field of education policy by hosting events with alumni who currently work in education and by creating an extensive list of interesting organizations for internships or jobs upon graduation. The organization also participates in “hands-on” activities, such as attending local progressive high schools to see the effects of policy first hand.

Charity Auction Committee

Contacts:
2nd-Year Co-Chairs:
Christina Hajj – chajj@umich.edu
Caroline Meehan – cjmeehan@umich.edu
1st-Year Co-Chairs:
Ink Zheng – inkzheng@umich.edu
Rebecca Cassidy – cassidrea@umich.edu
Gillean Kitchen – gckitch@umich.edu

The Ford School Charity Auction Committee coordinates and executes the spring Charity Auction. This semi-formal event raises more than ten thousand dollars each year for a student-nominated and elected beneficiary. All members of the Ford School community attend to eat, drink, dance and bid on silent and live auction items. Committee member responsibilities include fundraising, donation, solicitation, decoration, and all other aspects of event planning. The Charity Auction is the major end-of-year event hosted by the Ford School.

Domestic Policy Corps (DPC)

Contacts:
Chairman – Haven Allen – haven@umich.edu
Vice-Chairman – Ben Curtiss-Lusher – benlush@umich.edu
Treasurer – Daniel Trubman – dtrubman@umich.edu
Secretary – Sara Stevens – sobriens@umich.edu
Undergraduate Liaison – Matthew Mejia – msamejia@umich.edu
Committee Chair, Education – Lauren Sheram – shlauren@umich.edu
Committee Chair, Poverty and Inequality – DawnLynne Kacer – dlkac@umich.edu
Committee Chair, State and Local Gov – Nikki Love – nicolelo@umich.edu
Committee Chair, US Economy – Vanessa Kargenian – kargeniv@umich.edu
Director of Statistics/Facts – Nathaniel Smith – ntsmi@umich.edu
Director of Student Engagement – Erin Sullivan – easull@umich.edu

The mission of Domestic Policy Corps (DPC) is to provide a forum for academic engagement and dialogue on current domestic policy issues. DPC plans to foster and activate students’ voices on current and vital policy issues as they arise; as the Ford School of Public Policy should be a leader on campus and among our academic peers in discussing, analyzing and promoting domestic policy solutions.

The DPC advocates the deliberation of ideas between today’s current policy leaders and tomorrow’s future leaders. In an effort to engage these debates, the DPC will coordinate bi-weekly discussions, policy briefs, research, annual Domestic Policy Review publication, debates, keynote speakers, workshops and training seminars. These experiences will further the path to policy professionalism through practical, hands-on-knowledge and a working ability to explore, learn and express views outside the classroom.

In the upcoming 2012-13 calendar year, the DPC will have the following standing: Poverty & Inequality, Economy, Education, State & Local Government, and Social Issues. In addition, there will be a sub-committee focusing on the Election.

Health Policy Student Association (HPSA)

HPSA website

Contacts:
Co-Chairs:
Sarah McHugh – sarahmcq@umich.edu
Marisa Weisel – marisaw@umich.edu
Vice Chair – Rayva Virginkar – rayvvirg@umich.edu
Chair of Global Health Policy & Professional Development – Ine Collins – ine@umich.edu
Social Chair & Treasurer – Nicholas Shiel – nshiel@umich.edu

The Health Policy Students Association (HPSA) is an organization whose purpose is to provide and support educational and professional development opportunities for all students interested in health policy. Our members come from all disciplines and degree programs, including public health, public policy, law, social work, business, medicine, dentistry, and nursing. HPSA is a place for students to participate in a number of health policy related events including, guest speakers, local and national level meetings, panel discussions, and a variety of social activities. Our organization provides opportunities for career enhancement, skill development and networking in the health policy world. We are also a student chapter of AcademyHealth, a professional health services and policy research organization located in Washington, D.C.

International Policy Students Association (IPSA)

IPSA website

Contacts:
Chair – Emad Ansari – heansari@umich.edu
1st-Year Chairs:
Jon Keesecker – jonkees@umich.edu
Caitlin Goddard – caitgodd@umich.edu
Treasurer – Rachel Jacobson – rijacob@umich.edu
Undergraduate Chair – Julie Sherbill – jsherbs@umich.edu

IPSA was established to give students in international policy an informal setting for the discussion world events and to work with faculty in organizing the annual mid-winter study tour of a developing country. Much of our current work focuses on the trip and the related course (Public Policy 674) including selecting a country to study, planning the trip, and raising funds to support the trip.

Jewish Policy Student Association (JPSA)

Currently Inactive

The Jewish Policy Student Association is a student-run organization charged with exploring historical and contemporary policy issues related to and affecting Jewish constituencies.

Michigan Journal of Public Affairs (MJPA)

MJPA website

Contacts:
Co-Editors-in-Chief:
Eboni Wells – wellse@umich.edu
Joshua Vermette – vermetjo@umich.edu

The Michigan Journal of Public Affairs (MJPA) is the student-run academic journal of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. The MJPA promotes dialogue on a wide range of public policy issues by publishing a diverse group of contributors, ranging from students to public policy professionals.

Nonprofit and Public Management Center (NPM)

Contacts:
Student Advisory Board President – DawnLynne Kacer – dlkac@umich.edu
Student Advisory Board Members:
Jeff Kessner – jkessner@umich.edu
Caroline Meehan – cjmeehan@umich.edu
Vibha Mehta – mehtavi@umich.edu
Matt Papadopoulos – papadopm@umich.edu

Participation in the Nonprofit and Public Management Center (NPM) and its activities is open to students from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, School of Social Work, and Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, each of which is perennially among the top-ranked schools in its field. NPM’s mission is to equip future leaders in the private, public and nonprofit sectors with interdisciplinary insight that can help them operate more effectively when working for or collaborating with nonprofit and public institutions. NPM student programs open to Ford school students include the Student Advisory Board, Board Fellows, Social Impact Challenge, internship funding, lectures, networking events and monthly NPM student programs.

Out in Public

Contacts:
Chair – Jeff Kessner – jkessner@umich.edu
Vice Chair – Brian Wesolowski – wesolowb@umich.edu
Public Relations Liaison – Pooja Bhatt – poojab@umich.edu
Event Coordinator – Belinda Sirha – sirha@umich.edu

Out in Public is the LGBTQ and ally group at the Ford School of Public Policy. We seek to create a welcoming space for LGBTQ people at the Ford School, engage the wider Ford School community in dialogue about LGBTQ issues and connect with other LGBTQ groups across campus. Bachelors students, Masters students, PhD students, faculty and staff are all welcome.

Students of Color in Public Policy (SCPP)

Contacts:
SCPP E-Board:
Eboni Wells – wellse@umich.edu
Adam Becenti – abecenti@umich.edu
2nd-Year Chair – Stephanie Zamorano
1st-Year Chair – Imah Effiong – ieffiong@umich.edu
Executive Secretary – Eboni Wells
Social Chair – Kanika Shields
2nd Year Pipeline Initiative Co-Chair – Adam Becenti
2nd Year Pipeline Initiative Co-Chair – Sandra Garcia
1st Year Pipeline Initiative Chair – Luis Contreras Diaz
3rd Year Alumni Chair – Marisol Ramos
2nd Year Alumni Chair – Nayda Avalos
1st Year Alumni Chair – Esperanza Martinez Maldonado

The mission of SCPP is to create an environment at the Ford School and within the University of Michigan campus community in which public policy students of color can succeed emotionally, academically, and professionally. SCPP meets regularly to provide a place for discussion of policy and personal issues and to organize activities. The organization, which welcomes all interested students.

Interested in applying to the Ford School MPP or MPA program? We are happy to announce the SCPP Pipeline Initiative. The program pairs prospective applicants with current students who act as mentors providing guidance during the application process. If you would like to participate apply no later than November 30th, 2012. For more details please visit http://goo.gl/NgKW8

For more information about SCPP, please visit our website.

Women and Gender in Public Policy (WGPP)

Contacts:
Co-Presidents:
Janani Ramachandran – rjanani@umich.edu
Cynthia Rathinasamy – crathina@umich.edu

Formed in 2002, Women and Gender in Public Policy engages the Ford School community in a dialogue about gender and related domestic and international public policies. WGPP promotes professional development activities by facilitating communication and networking among current students, Ford School alumni, faculty, and working professionals to form a lasting community of policy professionals.

Intramural Sports (IM)

Contacts:
Co-Chairs:
Ben Curtiss-Lusher – benlush@umich.edu
Sophia Kittler – skittler@umich.edu

Intramural sports is a fun way to meet some great people and enjoy Michigan. For those of you interested in a bit more competition, we offer a slate of competitive teams in all of the major sports; for those who want to come out and simply enjoy your evenings, we will also offer recreational teams.

Undergraduate Student Organizations

Undergraduate Council

Contacts:
Primary Contact Email – – fspp-undergrad-council@umich.edu
Senior Representatives:
Monica Cerrezuela – mgcerrez@umich.edu
Gabrielle LeFlore – grleflor@umich.edu
Andrea Taverna – andietav@umich.edu
Junior Representatives:
Zohir Al Ghriwati – zalghrei@umich.edu
Amy Roggenburg – asroggen@umich.edu
Madeline Mcllhon – MMCILHON@umich.edu

The Ford School Undergraduate Council is an elected board of undergraduate public policy students. The council consists of 3 senior class students who are elected in the spring of their junior year and 2 junior class students who are elected in the fall of their junior year. The students elected in their senior year will serve a total of 2 semesters, while the students elected in their junior year will serve a total of 4 semesters. The Ford School Undergraduate Council is responsible for planning social events for the undergraduate class, organizing community service opportunities and acting as the liaison to the Ford School Administration. The council meets on a weekly basis.

Gamma Rho Phi

Contacts:
President – Bridget Callahan – bdcall@umich.edu
Vice President – Caroline Titan – ctitan@umich.edu

Gamma Rho Phi, named in honor of Gerald R. Ford, is a professional "fraternity" formed by the B.A. Class of 2010. By taking advantage of the Ford undergraduate community's small size, GRPhi works to increase opportunities for undergrads outside of the classroom. These opportunities broadly fall within GRPhi's four pillars–social bonding, professional development, athletics, and community service. In the past, GRPhi has hosted and organized: a "PubPol Progressive," a welcome BBQ for newly admitted undergrads, a trip to Detroit to volunteer at an organic farm, and a mentorship program with a local high school (among other events). GRPhi participates in many IM sports, and was recently runner-up in the Co-Ed Volleyball league. Coming soon is a database that will allow Ford undergrads to take advantage of the Ford School network by reaching out to graduates or current students with which they share an interest.

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