MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
WE ARE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE ANOTHER YEAR OF GROWTH AND ACCOMPLISHMENT AT THE LA FOLLETTE SCHOOL.
With our 40th anniversary well underway, we have begun the process to launch UW–Madison’s first Major in Public Policy. This program will allow us to train thousands more future leaders to conduct evidence-based problem-solving and tackle policy challenges for the public good. In these increasingly divided times, we know that civility in public policy has never been more important. La Follette is committed to becoming a leader in the civil discourse space. All our faculty are completing training to better teach across difference, and civility in problem-solving will be a cornerstone of the new Major.
We are also continuing to plan for a new home for the La Follette School at the heart of campus. Campus leaders have been enthusiastic as we pursue the renovation of Music Hall; in the coming years, we hope to see this building transform into a gathering place for our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community to think through the most pressing policy issues of our times. Securing the investment needed to fund a new home for La Follette is the School’s top priority.
As we keep our sights on the building and the Major, we also want to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of this past year that are pushing La Follette forward every day. To highlight just a few of our many victories: we are proud to announce the recruitment of four new world-class faculty, record enrollment in our certificate programs, and an incredible Day of the Badger campaign that broke records across the College of Letters and Sciences. Our events with former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and New York Times columnist and podcast host Ezra Klein gave the La Follette School and the broader community a chance to have solutionbased discussions around policy issues and bridging political divides. Much of this would not have been possible without Professor Greg Nemet’s tremendous leadership as Interim Director for the spring semester.
We are grateful for the leadership of our entire La Follette community in helping our School reach the next level. As La Follette delves into another 40 years of excellence in policy education, we cannot wait to see what happens next.
ON, WISCONSIN!
Susan Webb Yackee Director and Professor
MESSAGE FROM STUDENT LEADERSHIP
This past year, the La Follette School entered its 40th year of engaging in research, public service, and educational activities to advance the knowledge of public affairs and the application of that knowledge to the needs of Wisconsin. Yet, what perhaps was not imagined 40 years ago was the tremendous growth and strength of our La Follette community. Our students, faculty, staff, and alumni impact people and communities throughout the state of Wisconsin, across the United States, and around the globe.
I would like to highlight my colleagues, for it is La Follette students who help to innovatively and resiliently push our School forward. As students learn and train to become future policy leaders, we also strive to improve the La Follette School. It is essential for our community to support and uplift one another. Moreover, it is crucial to not ignore nor overlook diverse and marginalized voices—after all, good public policy is rooted in evidencebased policymaking that is inclusive of diverse and equitable perspectives.
SIEMPRE,
This past year, La Follette students programmed events that ranged from professional to social for our entire community. Notably, we were able to hear from Representative Shelia Stubbs and alum Wesley Sparkman through our Elevating Equity in Policymaking initiative. We also held nine LFS Community Gatherings throughout the year which allowed our community to come together and learn about our faculty’s work. Finally, students, faculty, and staff worked together this past year to advance our community through the initiatives and implementation of our inaugural DEI standing committee.
It is up to our LFS community to become the change we would like to see in the world. I encourage all La Follette students and alumni to become involved with our activities and opportunities at the School. The La Follette School Student Association strives to serve as a resource and improve the experiences of all students and I encourage all to become involved and attend our events throughout the upcoming year.
Carlos Puga
La Follette School Student Association President
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF LA FOLLETTE
2024 marks the La Follette School’s 40th anniversary of training future policy leaders and inspiring evidence-based solutions to society’s issues. We celebrated this huge milestone with several events throughout the year, including a reception for alumni and supporters at the Madison Club in April.
LA FOLLETTE RANKED #1 AMONG SMALL PUBLIC AFFAIRS SCHOOLS
La Follette is proud to be ranked in the top 10% overall by the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings.
SPRING SPOTLIGHT: EZRA KLEIN
New York Times columnist and podcast host
Ezra Klein joined the La Follette School’s 40th anniversary celebration, followed by a talk on his book, “Why We’re Polarized”, to nearly 1,000 people.
JACK SALZWEDEL DISTINGUISHED FACULTY CHAIR IN BUSINESS AND REGULATION
A generous $3 million donation from American Family Insurance honored the company’s former chair and CEO and will allow the school’s faculty to expand the reach of their groundbreaking research in important policy areas, informing critical public policy and governance debates.
“More students will have the opportunity to be educated in public policy issues and help develop innovative solutions that will benefit all of society.”
- Jack Salzwedel
VIEW THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO
ENHANCING EDUCATION THROUGH CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES
Over the past year, students had many opportunities to learn directly from policy experts through classroom visits and networking events.
• Senator Ron Johnson and Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin
• Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
• Author Sam Freedman
• New York Times journalist Ezra Klein
• Former Governor Jim Doyle and Board of Visitors Chair Roger Ervin
• Former Culver’s CEO Craig Culver and former American Family Insurance CEO Jack Salzwedel
• Environmental Policy Eat and Greet
• Visit to Epic Systems
INITIATIVE IN SOCIAL GENOMICS
This year, La Follette gained one of the world’s largest and most innovative collaboratives in the emerging field of social genomics. La Follette’s faculty members Jason Fletcher and Lauren Schmitz are two of the five core members of the initiative.
In June 2024, La Follette hosted The Advances in Social Genomics Conference, which included a public event that explored the opportunities and challenges the field of social genomics presents to policymaking and public health.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
In the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea, La Follette brought people together at four public events with over 1,400 total attendees for thoughtful conversations around important policy issues .
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
La Follette is a go-to source of policy expertise in Wisconsin and beyond. The school’s outreach work resulted in over 1,400 media mentions in over 800 outlets during 2023-2024.
DAY OF THE BADGER
202 donors gave $101,000 during this year’s Day of the Badger, an all-time high that broke records on campus.
“In light of new big data tools and a growing awareness of what contributes to longevity during critical periods of life, we can look back at a massive policy intervention like Prohibition to address important public health concerns of today.”
-Professor Jason Fletcher in a December 2023 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel op-ed explaining how Prohibition led to longer life spans
READ MORE
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF LA FOLLETTE (CONTINUED)
THE BOTTOM LINE: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL WELLBEING OF WISCONSINITES
The La Follette School presented a Family Impact Seminar briefing for state policymakers at the State Capitol in February. La Follette Professor J. Michael Collins presented initial findings from his current work to understand how policy impacts financial decision-making.
DEI COMMITTEE
In fall of 2023, students, staff, and faculty established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee within the school, the top priority recommendation from students after a year-long series of DEI strategic planning sessions in 2022-2023. Over the year, the DEIC crafted recommendations around the themes of community and belonging, inclusive learning environments, and applying a DEI lens to public policy training.
Students also invited La Follette alum and director of the Dane County Office for Equity and Inclusion, Wesley Sparkman (MPA ’00), and Representative Shelia Stubbs as Elevating Equity in Policymaking event speakers.
MAIN STREET AGENDA
The La Follette School and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel collaborated to share insights on how Wisconsinites feel about important policy topics through a year-long project called the Main Street Agenda. Drawing on survey results from voters across the state, every month our faculty are sharing key findings on issues like inflation, family finances, gun violence, and climate change.
PAUL RYAN VISITS THE LA FOLLETTE SCHOOL
La Follette School Director Susan Webb Yackee spoke with former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan during an event in front of an audience of several hundered community members at the Memorial Union. “For all of our country’s problems — the solutions are within our own power to solve,” Ryan said.
YACKEE NAMED TO BRAVA’S WOMEN TO WATCH LIST
La Follette Director Susan Webb Yackee was selected as one of ten influential women from around the Madison area for her leadership and vision that have helped La Follette grow considerably in the last few years. The award also recognizes her work to rebuild civility and trust in America. She is spearheading a new major platform for La Follette around civil discourse, and some of Yackee’s latest research aims to assess the effectiveness of civil dialogue strategies that may help reduce polarization.
FINDING COMMON GROUND IN A POLARIZING POLITICAL CLIMATE
DAY OF THE BADGER
“Elevating
civility at this moment in time is one of the clearest ways we believe the La Follette School can embody the Wisconsin Idea.” - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel op-ed by Director Susan Webb Yackee and Board of Visitors member and businessman Curt Culver
$101,000 was raised during this year’s Day of the Badger, an all-time high that broke records in the College of Letters and Science.
La Follette’s conversation with Paul Ryan resulted in high-profile national media coverage including an Associated Press article that was picked up by 67 total news outlets in 20 states.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
2023-24 MASTER’S COHORT
43 master ’ s program students
40% of graduate students were from underrepresented populations
28 master of public affairs (mpa )
15 master of international public affairs (mipa )
This year, the La Follette School Student Association debuted monthly community gatherings where students, staff, and faculty engaged in lively discussions about policy issues over lunch. Governor Jim Doyle was one of the fall 2023 presenters.
STUDENT AWARDS
Tatiana Paula da Cruz — Director’s Achievement Award for an outstanding academic record, initiative, and professionalism as a La Follette School student.
Zaher Akl — Penniman Prize for the best paper demonstrating the school’s writing and analytic tools. Nominated by Assistant Professor Denia Garcia for the class, Inequality, Race, and Public Policy.
Alexis Madson and Lauren Rhodes — Piore Prize for the best paper in science and public policy. Nominated by Professor Greg Nemet for their paper, “Analysis of Privacy Regulation Adoption in the U.S.”
- Luis Navarrete, MPA
“I was drawn by the La Follette School’s reputation, quality of education, program flexibility, and location. I wanted to pursue my degree while continuing my work at the local and state levels to help Wisconsin be more effective, efficient, and equitable.”
LA FOLLETTE SCHOOL STUDENT ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS 2023-2024
Carlos Puga President
Luis Navarrete Vice President
Matthew Akins Treasurer
Josh Owens Secretary
Dominique Villaseñor and Summer Mitchell Diversity and Inclusion Coordinators
Jalayna Miles and Brelynn Bille DEI Standing Committee Representatives
Johanna Schmidt Community Service and Outreach Coordinator
Andrew Zaiser Social Coordinator
Amelia Lowe and Erin Kennon Graduation Coordinators
Lauri Asbury and Julia Sikowitz Lee Fundraising Coordinators
WHERE OUR RECENT GRADS WORK
In May, the La Follette School’s master’s degree graduates, including 35 MPA students and 11 MIPA students, celebrated their graduation in the Wisconsin State Capitol’s Assembly Chamber.
Over the past three years, an average of 96% of La Follette School MPA and MIPA graduates have found employment in their field within six months of graduation.
POST-GRADUATION STATISTICS, CLASS OF 2023
“I hope you know that it’s the way you go through this world that matters.”
- Student speaker Mary Baumgartner (MPA) during the 2024 master’s degree graduation ceremony
STATE GOVERNMENT PRIVATE SECTOR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUING FURTHER EDUCATION
NGO/NONPROFIT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
READ MORE, SEE PHOTOS, AND VIEW THE CEREMONY HERE.
PROGRAMS
EXPANDING UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
La Follette’s undergraduate certificate programs (which are like minors at other schools) have grown tremendously since the certificate in public policy was launched in 2019 and the certificate in health policy was added in 2021.
In the spring, the La Follette School awarded more undergraduate certificates than ever before.
“Learning from colleagues with decades of experience in the American healthcare industry is an invaluable experience, and I hope to grow the professional relationships I started this summer.”
Real-world learning experiences, such as internships and client projects, are a cornerstone of the certificate programs.
- Health policy certificate student Nick Charlton, who interned with the Centene Corporation in
Washington, D.C.
Certificate students in classes like PA 274: Workshop in Health Policy gave the final presentations of their semester-long projects aimed at helping real-world clients.
THE FUTURE OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AT LA FOLLETTE
La Follette is taking part in several initiatives to support its undergraduate certificate programs, research best practices in experiential learning, and develop the school’s new Major in Public Policy.
VOLCKER ALLIANCE NEXTGEN SERVICE INITIATIVE
This year, La Follette joined the NextGen Service Initiative, a national network of universities and colleges training undergraduates for careers in public service. The program is funded by the Volcker Alliance.
La Follette School staff joined the NextGen partner universities in Atlanta last year to strategize about how to increase the number and diversity of undergraduate students entering public service.
With help from La Follette and its other partners, the Volcker Alliance launched the Constructive Dialogue Curriculum Initiative in February to help schools of public service implement innovative curricula that prepares the next generation of public service leaders to bridge divides and work collaboratively across differences.
SKYROCKETING GROWTH MAKES NEWS
The Cap Times in Madison highlighted the work the La Follette School is doing to address skyrocketing interest in public policy education. The story also details the school’s developing Major in Public Policy, which will address political polarization by incorporating instruction in talking across differences. Current student demand projections suggest La Follette could serve a total of 4,000 students annually in another five years.
ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP
Thanks to a $500,000 grant from Ascendium Education Group, La Follette is one step closer to meeting the high demand for public policy education while preparing more students than ever for careers in public service.
“The La Follette School offers so many learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Just this year, I have been able to attend a health policy career panel, travel to the headquarters of Epic, and attend Access Community Health Center’s Celebration of Service. I have learned so much from the amazing professors as well as built strong connections amongst my peers in the certificate.”
- Lexi Schauls,
PARTNERSHIPS
PARTNERS
La Follette’s strong partnerships—including on-campus partners, co-sponsors, internship hosts, project clients, and special guests—enhance the educational experience for our students and enable us to share the school’s research more widely.
Also: UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies; UniverCity Alliance; Division of Extension
CAPSTONE AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY STUDENT TEAMS
Graduate students in La Follette’s Workshop in Public Affairs, Workshop in International Public Affairs, and Cost-Benefit Analysis classes work in teams to complete projects that address realworld challenges on behalf of clients from the public, non-governmental, and private sectors.
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6
189
180
THANK YOU TO THIS YEAR’S CAPSTONE AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
• Alliant Energy
• City of Madison
• City of River Falls
• International Rescue Committee
• Legal Action of Wisconsin
• Madison Metropolitan School District
• Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management
• Public Service Commission
PROJECT CLIENTS
• Slipstream
• U.S. Agency for International Development
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• WI Department of Children and Families
• WI Department of Corrections
• WI Department of Health Services
PARTNER EVENTS
WISCONSIN WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP SEMINAR
In March 2024, the La Follette School and Wisconsin Women in Government brought together 24 women who work in state and local government throughout Wisconsin to discuss leadership in public service during the annual WWIG Leadership Seminar. This year’s participants came from Milwaukee, Appleton, Fort Atkinson, Port Washington, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Burlington, Wind Lake, and Madison and included two La Follette School alumni.
LA FOLLETTE IN CHICAGO
Students learned from alumni and their colleagues working at the American Institutes for Research and other private and nonprofit organizations during a two-day trip to Chicago in January.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY EAT AND GREET
La Follette partnered with the Nelson Institute to introduce students interested in public service to professionals at State of Wisconsin agencies.
UW DAY AT THE CAPITOL
La Follette students presented their research at the Wisconsin State Capitol during the 2024 UW–Madison Day at the Capitol.
FACULTY
FACULTY
Susan Webb Yackee
Director and Professor of Public Affairs
Mariel Barnes
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
Menzie Chinn
Professor of Public Affairs and Economics
J. Michael Collins
Fetzer Family Chair in Consumer and Personal Finance
Mark Copelovitch
Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science
Christine Durrance
Associate Professor of Public Affairs
Morgan Edwards Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
Jason Fletcher Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Public Affairs
Denia Garcia
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
Sarah Halpern-Meekin
Professor of Public Affairs and Human Development and Family Studies
Lindsay Jacobs
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
Tana Johnson
Associate Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science
Reed Lei
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science
Ross Milton
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
Gregory Nemet Professor of Public Affairs
Jon Pevehouse
Vilas Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs
Héctor Pifarré i Arolas
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
Lauren Schmitz
Assistant Professor of Public Affairs
Timothy Smeeding
Lee Rainwater Distinguished Professor of Public Affairs and Economics, Emeritus
Manuel Teodoro Professor of Public Affairs
Yang Wang
Associate Professor of Public Affairs
David Weimer
Edwin E. Witte Professor of Political Economy
Barbara Wolfe
Richard A. Easterlin Professor of Economics, Population Health Sciences, and Public Affairs, Emeritus
FACULTY FOCUS
We are thrilled to welcome four new faculty to the school this coming academic year:
SOCIAL GENOMICS
Silvia Barcellos , University of Southern California SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Jason Delborne, North Carolina State University
Myriam Grégoire-Zawilski, Syracuse University
LEADERSHIP
Amber Wichowsky, Marquette University
NOTABLE FACULTY AWARDS
Mariel Barnes – Vilas Early-Career Investigator Award
Christine Durrance – Vilas Associates Competition Award
Morgan Edwards – Vilas Associates Competition Award
Manuel Teodoro – Robert F. and Sylvia T. Wagner Distinguished Faculty Award
Manuel Teodoro was recognized at a College of Letters and Science investiture ceremony in December. From left to right: College of Letters and Science (L&S) Associate Dean Greg Downey, L&S Dean Eric Wilcots, Professor Manuel Teodoro, and La Follette School Director Susan Webb Yackee
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 KOHL
COMPETITION AWARDEES
The annual Herb Kohl Public Service Research Competition was launched in 2016 to support non-partisan research that policymakers can use to make evidence-based decisions when shaping public policy.
Jason Fletcher: How conditions and policies in early life during the early 20th century continue to shape U.S. longevity
Greg Nemet: Technology policy to address climate change
Susan Webb Yackee: A remedy for polarization? Citizen conversations across partisan differences
PANEL ON REAL-WORLD EFFECTS OF TAX CREDIT POLICIES
As part of the Kohl Competition, in October Professors Bobbi Wolfe and Yang Wang hosted nearly 60 scholars, legislators, and community leaders to learn about the latest research on the social impacts of tax credits.
LA FOLLETTE FACULTY, ALUMNI CO-AUTHOR LANDMARK REPORT ON CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL
Professor Greg Nemet and Assistant Professor Morgan Edwards served as lead authors on the 2024 State of Carbon Dioxide Removal report. La Follette alumni Jenna Greene (MPA ’22) and Andrew Zaiser (MIPA ’24) contributed to the report as co-authors along with Zachary Thomas, a PhD student with the Nelson Institute.
FACULTY BOOKS
Dog Economics: Perspectives on Our Canine Relationships by Professor Dave Weimer
International Organizations: Policies and Processes of Political Governance by Associate Professor Tana Johnson
FACULTY IN THE NEWS
New York Times:
Greg Nemet on the future of clean energy, August 2023
Wisconsin Public Radio: Mariel Barnes on domestic violence-related deaths in Wisconsin, October 2023
LA Times:
Manny Teodoro on how rising prices stifle affordability of an essential right: water, March 2024
Assistant Professor Edwards publishes two climate technology studies
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Nature Energy, the papers could provide insights into the development of technologies to meet the needs of the warming planet and the 2015 Paris Agreement established to limit global temperature increases.
“I had the absolute privilege of taking Dr. Morgan Edwards’ course on evidence-based policymaking. Her course reignited my passion for public policy, and to apply for this certificate.”
student
La Follette
GREG NEMET
MARIEL BARNES
MANUEL TEODORO
MORGAN EDWARDS
ALUMNI IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The 2023 winner of the Alumni of Distinction Award, Wesley Sparkman (MPA ’00), right, presented Tom Loftus (MA ’73), left, with the 2024 award at the school’s 40th Anniversary Celebration in April.
Alumni and other friends of the school submitted memories and hopes for the future to be saved in the school’s 40th anniversary time capsule.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Jill Karofsky (MA ’92), right, and MPA student Johanna Schmidt, left, shared highlights from the school’s history as they introduced a talk by New York Times columnist Ezra Klein in April.
ALUMNI INFLUENCE
To celebrate La Follette’s 40th anniversary, we are highlighting alumni who influence policymaking at the highest levels in government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations across the country and abroad.
FEATURED ALUMNI INCLUDE
STEVEN LITTLE (MPA ’91)
Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PETER BARCA (MA ’82)
Former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
KIM PLACHE (MPA ’05)
Deputy Executive Director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
ALLISON CARLSON (MPA ’05)
Executive Director at Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition
“La Follette didn’t tell me what to think. It helped hone my approach to how I think about finding solutions to public policy challenges.”
- Randy Romanski (MA ’95), Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection
THANK
ROGER ERVIN AND DEBORAH KELLER
KEVIN HAYDEN AND LINDA WANKERL
TERRY LIERMAN
KATHARINE LYALL
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
JACK AND SARAH SALZWEDEL
MICHAEL AND JOANN YOUNGMAN
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE (GIFTS $500 & ABOVE)
Jennifer and Christopher Abele
George Austin and Martha Vukelich-Austin
Hilary and Ian Benedict
Alexander and Caitlin Conant
Daniel and Paige Conley
Lee Dresang and Kari Bloedel
Christopher Dyson
Donne Eggert
Chad and Lisa Farley
Paul and Janice Ferguson
Jason and Alison Gerlach
Shayna and Mark Hadley
Carolyn and Kurt Heinrich
Carolyn Hill
Leslie Howard and Rick Stulgaitis
Kenneth and Christine Johnson
Lisa and Corey Keyes
Patricia King
Robert Lang
League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Thomas Levi and Jude Christensen
James and Julie Lynch
Kim Marggraf
Donna and John Montgomery
Robert and Nancy Nikolay
Molly Offner
Luther Olsen and Joan Wade
William and Judith Penniman
Michael Pitzen
Martin and Lynn Preizler
Charles Pruitt
Katie Sanders
Eric and Jody Schutt
Sarah and Don Schutt
Timothy Smeeding and Marcia Carlson
John Sorenson and Theresa Wiklund
Eric Stanchfield
C. Eugene Steuerle
Myra Taxman
Vaughn Vance
Glenn and Jane Watts
David Weimer and Melanie Manion
John and Mary Witte
GIFTS $499 & BELOW
Maria Alvarez Stroud
John Anderson and Alison Turner
Jessica Ard
Lauri and Corbin Asbury
Samuel and Kerstin Austin
Patrick Baca
David Baden
Joseph Balles and Therese Durkin
Andrea and Michael Banks
David and Cassandra Behler
Lawrence and Melissa Berger
Jason Bittner and Sarah Kissel
Breann Boggs
Brian Boland
Kendra Bonderud and Kenneth Parsons
Alisha Bower
Alice Boyle and David Shepard
Barbara Brand and Douglas Brandl
Jonathan and Patricia Burg
Mary Burke
Matthew Burr
Andrew Busker
Mikhaila Calice
Kathleen Callen
Elizabeth Campbell
Kathryn Campbell
Allison and Michael Carlson
Ana Carricchi Lopez
Theola Carter
Timothy Casper and Jennifer Gotto
Menzie Chinn
Cynthia and Chad Chrisbaum
Emma Cleveland
Alan Cohen
Julie Cohen
Dennis and Janice Collier
Edward Cubero
Brian Cwerenz
John and Judith Day
Steven and Kathryn Derene
Michele Dickinson
Elizabeth Doyle
Johannes Dreisbach
Christine Durkin
Karen and James Eben
Richard Eidlin
James Eisner
Elizabeth and Michael Elgar
John Elliott
Benjamin Emmel
Chesley and Nancy Erwin
Victor Escalona Aldana
Erin Fath
Natalie Feggestad
Don Ferber
Mikaela Figueroa
Andrew Fisher and Lindsay Garber
Jason and Erika Fletcher
Dorinda Floyd
Melanie Fonder Kaye
Steven Frye and Nancy Goyings
Olive Gale and Daniel Mullet
Katherine Gehl
Danielle Giese
Rebecca and Peter Granger
Walter Gray
Marianne Griffin and Seth Porciau
Lael Grigg
Kirsten Grinde
Jane and Jon Grinde
Richard and Sara Halberg
Hannah and Andrew Harris
HealthX Ventures
Amber Heffner
Eric Hepler
Craig Higgason
Kelsey Hill and Jeremy Henning
Gordon Hintz
Grant and Jolene Huber
Jay Huemmer
Kathryn and William Huggett
Casey Hutchison
Nate Inglis Steinfeld and Anne Salomon
Kathy and Jeffrey Jacobson
Quintin and Kyle Jancola
Pat and Doran Jason
Adam Johnson
Kathryn Jones
Jonathon and Rebecca Kaiser
Glenn and Marta Karlov
Elgin Karls
Stephen Kean and Lauren Cohen
William Keenan
Catherine Kennedy
Tori Key
Robert King
Jennifer Klippel
Isabelle and Alex Knighton
Craig Knutson
Marie Koko
Sara Koliner
Ian Korpel
Michael Kraft and Sandra Simpson-Kraft
Christine Krings
Kavan Kucko
Steven Kulig
Anna and Daniel La Forte
Andrew Lambert
Patrick Landers
Bonnie Lane
Brian Lavoie
Ryan and Shaun Lecloux
Kevin Lee
Julius Lee
Charles Lehner
Vicki Lein and Daniel Hill
Donald Lindsay
Rachel Lionberg and Logan Garey
Steven Little and Cindy Torstveit
Susan Loiacono
Hedy Lukas and Robert Marshall
Stephanie Mabrey
Alexis MacDonald
Cindy Manthe
Daniel Marlin
Justin and Mariah Martin
Cheryl Martin
Jennie Maunnamalai
Corina Maxim
Susan Mazzone
Benjamin McBride
Drew and Anne McDermott
Mitchell McFarlane
Ruanda Mcferren
Lee Mehrkens
Dennis Melvin and Annette Kelley-Melvin
Christopher and Natalie Meyers
Anthony Milanowski and Jean De Muzio
Nathaniel Miller
Jacob and Christine Miller
David and Teri Mills
Theresa Mintle and Michael Toolis
Katherine Mitchell
Mary Jo Moch
Ben Monty
Gary Moore and Eileen Marshall
Sara Mooren
Susan Mudd and John Norquist
William Munger
Mia Nafziger
Paul and Pamela Neumann
Eric Nguyen
Ulrike Nischan
Eric Oberhart
Joseph O’Connell
Mo O’Connor
Molly Offner
Carol and Richard Oliver
Frederick Olson
Alan Paberzs and Cathleen Evans
Andrew and Katiuska Peppard
Shawn Pfaff and Monica Groves
Charlene Podolsky
Katie Pollock
Emily Pope and Chad Hanson
Margaret and Norman Portillo
Patrick Proctor Brown
Gene Qualmann
Kathleen Quinn
Justin and Jessica Rabbach
Abe Rabinowitz and Donna Wong
Sylvia and Zachary Ramirez
Katherine and John Rather
Muhammad Rehan
Emily Reynolds and Paul Creswell
Cody Rice
Andrew Richards and Lisa Ellinger
Adam Riley George and Mary Ann Rindelaub
Mary Beth Roberts
Alisa and Tim Robertson
Colleen Robson
John Rohrer
Sally Rohrer
Gary and Elisabeth Russell
Faith and John Russell
Ricki and Patrick Sajbel
Katie Sanders
Carrie Schneck
David Schodt
Kyle Schroeckenthaler
Michelle Schueller and Paul Huggett
Travis Schwartz
Amanda Schwinder
Michelle Scott
Terry Segal
Hilary and Erik Shager
Peter and Ruth Shively
Travis Shoemaker
Atiya Siddiqi
Karina Silver
Corey and Andrea Singletary
Jon and Cynthia Skavlem
Philip Sletten
Natalie and Karl Solverson
John Sorenson and Theresa Wiklund
Kristin Stout
Megan Stritchko and Thomas Robinson
Cheryl Stuart and Steven Kunst
Julia Styles
B Katherine Swartz and Frank Levy
Michael and Erica Sweitzer-Beckman
Farha Tahir
Bobette Takiff
David and Barb Tebo
Liliana Teniente
Gabriel Terrell
Jessica Thomasson
Kelly Thorngate
Kristi and Lee Thorson
Kurt and Jeanine Thurmaier
Yoshifumi Tokushige
Lenore Toser Aldaz
Peter Tropman and Virginia Graves
Katherine Unertl
Oindrila VanMeter
Kendall Vega
Mary Vincent
Kristen Voskuil
Matthew Voss
Angela Waltz
Hilary Waukau
Matthew Weber
David Weerts
Holden Weisman
Joan and James Westgard
Tommy and Wendy Winkler
Gregory and Patti Wise
Andrew and Leah Wiseman
Angela Witt
Barbara Wolfe
Mary Wunderlich
Renu and Eric Zaretsky
Claire Zautke
Robert Zeinemann
Mingxin Zhang
Christina Zordani
LOOKING AHEAD
La Follette faculty, staff, students, and board members gathered for a winter celebration in December.
BOARD OF VISITORS
Roger Ervin, Board Chair Putnam Partners
Jennifer Abele VC 414
JoAnne Anton Herb Kohl Philanthropies
Theola V. Carter (MA ‘91)
Dane County Tamara D. Grigsby Office for Equity and Inclusion
Alex Conant (MPA ‘03) Firehouse Strategies
Curt S. Culver MGIC Investment Corp.
Jason Gerlach (MA ‘96)
JSG Capital/Sunrise Capital Partners
Kevin Hayden (MA ‘84) CVS, retired
Carolyn Hill (MA ‘96) MDRC
Leslie Ann Howard
United Way of Dane County, retired
Bob Lang
Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau
Terry Lierman (MA ‘71) Summit Global Ventures
David Lubar Lubar and Co.
Katharine C. Lyall Universities of Wisconsin, retired
Theresa E. Mintle (MA ‘91) FYS Ventures
Luther Olsen
Wisconsin Senate, retired
Chuck Pruitt AB Data, Ltd.
Jack C. Salzwedel
American Family Insurance, retired
Eric Schutt
SHINE Medical Technologies
Daniel Speckhard (MA ‘82)
Corus International
Susan Webb Yackee
La Follette School of Public Affairs
Michael Youngman (MA ‘82)
Northwestern Mutual, retired
STAFF
Page Bazan Communications Specialist
Dana Craig Director’s Assistant
Amy Ducy HR Generalist
Lisa Ellinger Director of Strategic Initiatives
Tracy Henning Funds Manager
Tommy Jaime Faculty Liaison
Angela James Outreach Manager
Marie Koko Director of Career and Employer Services
Steven Kulig Associate Director
Andrew Lambert IT Support Specialist
Catharine Langrehr Payment Coordinator
Mary Davis Michaud
Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Mo O’Connor Graduate Program Manager
Kelly Otto
Undergraduate Academic Advisor
Anne Oyamada
Department Administrator
Laura Peterson
Administrative Assistant
Erin Rose
Academic Program Specialist
Jennifer Unitan
Graduate Program Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator
Jennifer Wagner
Outreach Director
Mindy Walker
Outreach Coordinator
Lauren Weitkamp
Communications Manager
LOOKING AHEAD
2024 MASTER’S COHORT
The incoming MPA and MIPA class will include students from 9 states and 7 countries.
LA FOLLETTE’S 2024-25 GOALS
• Create a world-class educational experience for our graduate and undergraduate students
• Expand our research excellence and live the Wisconsin Idea
• Build a state-of-the-art teaching, learning, and working environment
• Strengthen La Follette’s brand as a leading public policy school
• Elevate employee satisfaction and improve organizational
SENATOR HERB KOHL LEAVES LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE
FEBRUARY 7, 1935 - DECEMBER 27, 2023
This past year, the La Follette School community mourned the loss of Herb Kohl, a champion of the University of Wisconsin and the La Follette School who was committed to public service. In 2019, Senator Kohl’s transformative $10 million gift to the La Follette School established the Kohl Initiative, which allowed the school to greatly expand educational opportunities to undergraduate students and increase outreach efforts.
“Senator Kohl’s legacy touched on many aspects of life — from business to politics to sports — but nowhere will it be more lasting than in his dedication to educating the next generation of leaders.”
- La Follette School Director Susan Webb Yackee
