Alumni news and profiles
Alumni News
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La Follette alum and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Lisa Ellinger, retires
In May 2026, Director of Strategic Initiatives Lisa Ellinger (MPA ’03) retired from La Follette after an illustrious career as a public servant that spanned a variety of public policy sectors.
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Alumni return to the classroom with real-world insights
This spring, the La Follette School welcomed a wide range of alumni back to campus, not as students, but as teachers.
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La Follette alumni-student collaboration highlights policy research
This spring, La Follette alum Kevin Dospoy partnered with current MPA student Jacob Anderson to co-author the latest Forward Analytics Spotlight, “Affordability: More than Wages vs. Prices.”
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Love stories from La Follette
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re looking back at just a few examples of love stories built at La Follette.
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La Follette alumni bring their graduate research to the courts
A cornerstone of a La Follette graduate education is the opportunity for students to partner with real-world organizations to tackle real-world policy problems. Much more than academic exercises, these client-based projects make…
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The policy players behind higher education
Alumni Tim Casper (MA ’99) and Jen Klippel (MPA ’06) share their experiences working in higher education and how their La Follette School training helped them.
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Connecting the classroom to local government
Master’s student Travis Austin (MPA ’26) and alum Theola Carter (MA ’91) discuss their involvement in local government.
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2024-25 Highlights Report showcases an exciting year for La Follette
The 2023-2024 academic year is a momentous one for La Follette as we celebrate 40 years of training future policy leaders.
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Kulig wins College of Letters & Science Academic Staff Mid-Career Award
The La Follette School’s associate director received the award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and service to the university.
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Stephen Webster named 2025 Alum of Distinction
Webster has demonstrated a profound dedication to advancing social justice and disaster resilience, leaving an enduring impact on both local and global scales.
Alumni Profiles
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Ethan Dickler, MPA ’23
“Since starting at the Reference Bureau, I have only grown in my appreciation for the Wisconsin Idea and see the La Follette School as part of that original mission.”
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Gillian Giglierano, MPA ’23
“Having the flexibility to dig into topics that interested me as I grew each semester was very rewarding.”
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Kate Austin Stanford – Alumni in the Spotlight
“My approach to managing federal funding during the COVID‑19 response was shaped by a strong sense of stewardship, a value reinforced during my time at La Follette.”
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Adam Smith, MPA ’11, Urban & Regional Planning
“I’m excited to help welcome a group from La Follette to the Twin Cities in January, and I believe the trip will provide a unique chance for students to explore some of…
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Tim Casper — Alumni in the Spotlight
Tim Casper (MA ’99) serves as the executive vice president at Madison Area Technical College.
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Pamela Ritger de la Rosa — Alumni in the Spotlight
Ritger de la Rosa (MIPA’13) serves as environmental sustainability program manager and deputy director for the City of Milwaukee Environmental Sustainability Office.
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Theola Carter, MA ’91
“The one thing about policy is that every profession uses them to govern procedures and to meet goals and objectives.”
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Exploring La Follette’s State Capitol career connections
This story is part of a series that highlights La Follette’s employer connections and the career opportunities available to students after they graduate. On September 26, an Eat & Greet will bring…
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Awa Maïga, MIPA ’24
“The challenges you face do not define your future — they prepare you for it.”
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Andrew VanderMeer, MPA ’24
“In short, the core set of skills La Follette teaches were identical to what my employer was looking for!”