Michael Willihnganz (MPA ’81) retired in May of this year following a 43-year career in public service. Willihnganz earned his MPA from La Follette in 1981, with an emphasis on human resources and labor relations. Over the course of his career, he worked for two state governments (Wisconsin and California), two California counties (Monterey and Napa), and two public utilities (Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Placer County Water Agency). Prior to his May retirement, Michael served as the director of administrative service for the Placer County Water Agency, a water and power utility in Northern California.
Frances Huntley-Cooper (MPA ’94) was a Wisonsin delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Huntley-Cooper served on the Rules Committee, which was co-chaired by Governor Tim Walz and Bishop Leah Daughtry. She is a retired worker’s compensation administrator for the State of Wisconsin.
Andrew Turner (MPA ’08) started a new position as assistant dean for the Academic Enhancement Program at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Since 2014, Turner has worked as a professor of legal research and writing and a program co-director at the Law School.
Avneesh Chandra (MIPA ’19) is starting a new position as a security engineer investigator at Meta. Previously, Chandra worked for Graphika in data analytics roles.
Jessica Holland (MPA ’20) started as an executive policy advisor at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Previously, she worked as a children’s services program and policy analyst for the department. She has also worked in Washington, D.C. at the Government Accountability Office and as an intern at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Sally Rohrer (MPA ’20) started a new position in August as associate director at Profitable Ideas Exchange, a Bozeman, Montana-based development consulting company. Previously, Rohrer worked as a development and operations manager at Bridger Ski Foundation.
Anna Barry (MPA ’21) started a new role in August as assistant director of social media at UW–Madison, where she will work closely with the Chancellor and the communications team to create content that engages the campus community. Previously, she worked in communications and research roles for the American Institutes for Research.
Sara Pabich (MPA ’24) wrote a blog post that was featured on the Dane County website titled “Learning from a Dane County Emission Inventory: A Journey Towards a Greener Tomorrow.” Pabich is the climate data assistant for the office, where she gathers county facility energy and water use data, assists with tracking fleet and fuel usage, and tracks energy production and use. She received bachelor’s degrees in economics and environmental studies from UW–Madison.
Cuauhtemoc Guizar (certificate in public policy ’24) won the Rosalie Amlie Morton Award given to community and nonprofit leadership graduating seniors recognized for their excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. Guizar graduated in May 2024 with bachelor’s degrees in community and nonprofit leadership and political science with certificates in public policy and Chicano and Latino studies. While at UW–Madison, he served as a cabinet student leader to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and worked as a policy analyst intern for Dane County.
Andrew VanderMeer (MPA ’24) began a new job in June as a fiscal analyst with the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau. As part of the Health and Family Services team, he will assist legislators and their offices in areas related to public health, Medicaid provider reimbursements, BadgerCare coverage and participation, child welfare, state social services payments to counties, and Supplemental Security Income.