Rob Cramer (MA ’92) was named Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at UW–Madison. Previously, Cramer has served as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning and Management and as vice president for administration for the University of Wisconsin System. Details are online.
Shayna Hetzel (BA ’07, MPA ’08) was recognized as one of Madison365’s most influential Asian American leaders in Wisconsin for 2022. Hetzel is a community builder focused on collective action for greater social impact with more than 15 years of experience in education, equity, and social justice. She leads teams focused on social innovation and community collaboration to close equity gaps in education and for our youth through investments, strategic partnerships, and community programs at the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact. Before joining AmFam, Hetzel worked at the Wisconsin State Budget Office on education policy and government operations and at UW–Madison’s Wisconsin Union on community building, capital project management, and stakeholder communications.
Jackson Parr (MS, MPA ’20) was featured in a Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies story about his work to improve flood resilience planning in Wisconsin. Parr became interested in pursuing an MPA while working as a journalist in northeastern Wisconsin, where he wrote about flooding and water quality issues and realized he would need to better understand policy to make a change. In addition to an MPA, Parr received an MS in Water Resource Management. He currently works as a fellow with Wisconsin Sea Grant, a program based at UW–Madison that does basic and applied research, education, and outreach that is focused on Great Lakes resources.
Hayley Barwick (MPA ’22) will start a new position as an assistant performance evaluator at the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau. Barwick became interested in pursuing an MPA while an undergraduate at UW–Madison, where she took courses towards the Certificate in Public Policy program. Her research interests include health and aging policy and fiscal policy and budgeting.
Selma Aly (BA, CiPP ’22) will start a position with Oakland, California-based Human Impact Partners, a consulting nonprofit bringing evidence-based equity to public health initiatives nationwide. In May, Aly received a bachelor’s degree in community and environmental sociology and a Certificate in Public Policy.
Mia Williams (BA, CiPP ’22) was recently selected to act as a graduate mentor for the Posse Program, an initiative to support diverse student cohorts as they succeed in undergraduate programs nationwide. Williams, who majored in psychology with a Certificate in Public Policy, will pursue dual MPA and MPH degrees with the La Follette School.
Natalie Zientek (BA, CiPP ’22) recently won the gold award in the Best Investigative Journalism Category at the Milwaukee Press Awards for co-writing a story for the Daily Cardinal about sexual assault survivors at UW–Madison. Zientek received bachelor’s degrees in environmental sociology and environmental studies and a Certificate in Public Policy.
Christeena Maria Jojo (BA, CiHP ’22) was highlighted as one of UW–Madison’s spring 2022 “notable graduates.” Jojo received a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and health equity with Certificates in Health Policy and Global Health, and soon plans to apply to medical school where she hopes to also study public health.
Yahvi Mahendra (BA, CiHP ’22) introduced the keynote speaker, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during the 2022 UW–Madison commencement ceremony as the senior class diversity, equity, and inclusion director. Mahendra graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and health promotion and health equity and completed Certificates in Health Policy, Global Health, and Leadership.