Students and alumni who are available for prospective La Follette School graduate students to contact.
Richard Shrout, MPA ’72
"The big lesson that I can pass to current students is the knowledge that a masters degree is just a ticket to get you into the door. Life after that is a continuing process of learning new things and sharpening what you thought you already knew.”
Sabina Huseynova, MPA
"The La Follette School’s small class sizes and low teacher-to-student ratio allow for personalized learning and mentorship. The school’s strong emphasis on quantitative skills and its location in a capital city make it ideal for practical learning in public policy."
Corissa Uselmann, MPA ’20
"I think the biggest thing I learned at La Follette is that our job isn’t done until we have completed an evaluation stage on any given project or work product. I have taken this to heart and have actively worked towards implementing data-driven feedback loops in every role or project I have worked on professionally."
Mohammad Eshaghi, MPA, EAP
"I always had this passion of witnessing the result of my work and effort in the real world and making a tangible impact on society. I realized that through MPA I can achieve this goal and so far, I believe I am in the right place for that."
Morgan Pincombe, MIPA
"LFS has bolstered my analytical toolkit and provided invaluable professional experiences to advance my policy career."
Connor Smith, MPA
"La Follette gets into the weeds of policy work, and you can follow your values to learn how to address problems in policy areas you care about."
Luis Navarrete, MPA
"I was drawn by the La Follette School’s reputation, quality of education, program flexibility, and location."
Al Schultz, MPA
"Following a career in public affairs to me has always meant giving back to and having consideration for the larger communities we are nestled within."
Alivia Lindorfer, MPA
"Central to my career goals is the desire to effect positive change and empower individuals through the formulation and implementation of impactful public policies."
Minjung Jun, MIPA
"My goal is to serve as a consultant for trade and economic policies of developing countries."
Brelynn Bille, MPA
"The accelerated MPA program drew me to the La Follette School."
Francie Fink, MPA, EAP
"It became clear that I could attend an excellent, renowned policy school while at the same time living in a fun, mid-sized city."
Tatiana Paula da Cruz, MIPA
"Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by a supportive and resourceful community!"
Caroline Riordan, MPA
"The most rewarding aspect of La Follette is the personal connections you can form."
Ryan Ring, MPA
"The most rewarding experience has been getting to know my cohort and the faculty. It truly is a community at La Follette."
Annalisa Solis, MPA
"The La Follette School has helped me define how I can create an impact in my policy interest areas while teaching me the technical skills I need in order to do so."
Erin Kennon, MPA
"We are encouraged to take everything that we’ve learned in our classes, use it in our professional lives, and spread that knowledge throughout the communities we engage in."
Awa Maïga, MIPA
"At La Follette, the unwavering support of the faculty and the plethora of networking opportunities further enhanced my educational journey."
Megan Westerman, MPA
"My research assistantship is just one example of how I am able to interact with faculty and professors in meaningful ways."
Madison Mehlberg, MPA
"La Follette has done a wonderful job of providing courses that show you multiple aspects of the policy world."
Caroline Corona, MPA
"I was drawn to the La Follette School’s curriculum, which focuses on the practical skills I was looking for."
Eli Tsarovsky, MPA-MPH
"I hope to use the skills I am gaining to lead real change in my community and empower it to make evidence-based and historically informed decisions."
Andrew VanderMeer, MPA
"The professors, students, and alumni of the La Follette School are part and parcel of so much of government here in Madison, which makes for a wonderful array of career opportunities"
Karina Virrueta Running, MPA ’17
"The workshop course was as challenging as it was rewarding. I also made lasting friendships with my peers and the professors."
Hilary Shager, MPA ’05
"La Follette is the epitome of the Wisconsin Idea. And it’s certainly not just about Wisconsin—the staff and faculty have done so much to connect students with alumni and new, real-world opportunities."
Sophia Rogers, MPA ’19
"La Follette has prepared and empowered all of us to do amazing things."
Muhammed Fofana, MPA ’22
"The client-based project was one of my favorite experiences at La Follette. I worked with a great team of faculty, client, and classmates."
Jess Rutstein, MPA ’20
Alum Jess Rutstein works as a FoodShare Program and policy analyst for the WI Department of Health Services.
Ryan LeCloux, MIPA ’18
"The small cohort size really allows you to get to know your classmates and interact with the faculty."
Yixuan Cheng, MIPA, MPH ’21
"The small class size and ability to gain quantitative skills also drew me to the La Follette School since I had limited experience with them as an undergraduate."
Nikolai Kapustin, MIPA ’19
"The La Follette School has a professional-oriented curriculum that focuses on giving you an applicable skillset and list of experiences that will make you a desirable candidate in future applications."
Mark Moralez, MPA
"The coursework alone is top-tier, but talking to my peers and hearing their stories was a surprisingly invaluable source of knowledge and growth for me."
Victor Escalona Aldana, MPA ’21
"My client-based projects gave me useful real-world experience that can be transferred to other settings."
Sukhvir Singh, MPA-MPH
"I hope to contribute to criminal justice reform by analyzing and advocating for policy changes surrounding the health of currently and formerly incarcerated individuals."
Gillian Giglierano, MPA
"The access to resources and connections you receive when you’re a La Follette student is incredible!"
Kao Lee Yang, MPA, PhD in Neuroscience
"The wonderful partnership between the La Follette School and the Neuroscience Training Program allows students in the combined program to simultaneously develop skills in science and policy."
Nova Tebbe, MPA, MPH, Energy Analysis and Policy Certificate
"I went to a small school for my undergraduate studies, and I wanted to keep this tight-knit community while also having the resources of a large and world-renowned research university."
Jackson Parr, MPA ’20
The breadth of coursework I completed at the La Follette School provided me the opportunity to approach challenges through an interdisciplinary lens. Flood events trigger many different social and institutional dynamics that all must be considered when identifying solutions.
Lauri Luosta, MIPA
I recommend (that prospective students choose their) courses carefully and ask for plenty of advice from faculty, alumni, etc. You may realize you could use certain kinds of skills for your future career, and if you learn about them early, you can pick appropriate courses. You have only four semesters at the La Follette School, so every course counts.