Inspiring evidence-based policymaking
Whether she is helping upgrade public transit for Wisconsinites around the state or empower women who pursue public service, Smith puts her La Follette degree to work for positive change.
Director Yackee and Barbaro’s conversation touched on a wide range of issues, from polarization to being a journalist during the Trump presidency.
"I think the chance to study policy as an undergraduate has opened my eyes to how present it is in everyday life, and the courses within La Follette have given me the opportunity to discuss my opinions with others and learn how to convey my perspective to those who have opinions that differ from my own."
Hometown Tucson, Arizona Educational/professional background Economics and Public Policy, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor Previous position Postdoctoral Associate, Better Government Lab, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University What types of questions do you address in your research? I study how U.S. safety net programs mitigate or exacerbate economic instability using administrative data. In …
"My ultimate goal is to work for the Institute for the Study of War on the Russia and Ukraine Team, where researchers collect open-source data and produce daily intelligence estimates that include movements of the front lines."
"I did my research and absolutely fell in love with the program: the faculty expertise, the cohort size, being in the capital city, everything. I am beyond glad to now be in the MPA program and working with amazing students to learn from exceptional professors."
"Something that excites me about the public policy certificate is that I am gaining applicable skills that I will use in my post graduate studies and future career. I've done this through the course Public Affairs 200. In this course a part of my final was to research and write a testimony to an office at the Madison capital in regard to an issue of your importance."
"I am passionate about reducing the administrative burden of receiving assistance and improving food systems through evidence-based policy."
You’ve heard his distinctive voice reporting “the biggest stories of our time” in your headphones, now see him live on stage. Michael Barbaro is the founding host of The New York Times’ hit podcast, The Daily, and an award-winning journalist. On October 20 he will sit down with Susan Webb Yackee, director of the La …
Hometown I’m from Independence, Missouri, on the eastern side of the Kansas City metropolitan area, home of Harry S Truman. Educational/professional background My PhD is in Political Science, and I completed it at the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Missouri. Previous position I was a PhD student at Mizzou …