On May 9, the La Follette School celebrated its 2025 master’s degree graduates in a ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol with 45 MPA and MIPA graduates.
Ceremony recordingCeremony photos
Ceremony speakers reflected on the hard work that brought graduates to this moment, the loved ones who supported them throughout their time in the program, and the ways that graduates can continue to use the tools they have learned at La Follette to solve problems and answer important questions.
“I won’t deny that these are uncertain times to be going into public policy,” said La Follette School Director Susan Webb Yackee, who kicked off the ceremony. “However, I believe that there’s an incredible silver lining to entering this field and at this time. You have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the immense value of modern cutting edge public policy expertise to showcase the positive impacts of policies that are driven by rigorous research and sound evidence and to model the civility in policymaking that we all yearn to see more of.”
Speakers recounted some of the positive changes that have come about because of good public policy. “The work that you do could change the arc of someone’s life,” said La Follette alum and Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Jill Karofsky (MA ‘92), who was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. “It could expand opportunity to a place thought unreachable, and it could give a voice to those whose voices are too often unheard. Now is not the moment to shrink from the challenge. Now is the moment to rise to the challenge.”
MPA-EAP student Francie Fink, who was chosen by students as the student speaker, discussed the importance of being present and the value of serving others. “Our world needs people who choose to show up with others in mind,” she said. “Good policymaking is asking better questions, not just about what works, but for whom and why. Rigorous analysis and consideration for the commons are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can be complementary. And for goodness’ sake, good policy starts with labeled axes and the right graph type.”
As the ceremony’s commencement speaker, Former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and Chancellor of UW–Madison Dr. Donna Shalala shared lessons she has learned through the course of her career such as the importance of flexibility, building a loyal team, and learning to work across the aisle. “I have not given up on public policy, I have not given up on politics,” she said. “And I certainly have not—will never—give up on a new generation of people who are committed to the public service.”
After sharing a story about how she used her public policy skills in solving a question posed by her young son, faculty speaker Tana Johnson implored graduates to “go out to solve problems, to answer questions, and to benefit our world. And when you do that, I hope you will use these tools that we’ve practiced here at the La Follette School.” She concluded: “There is so much work to do, and you are ready for it.”
LSSA graduation coordinators Erin Kennon and Jacklyn Alsbro helped staff organize the event, which was followed by a reception for graduates, family, and friends in the Capitol rotunda.
Graduation accolades
During the ceremony, several students were recognized for their academic achievements and presented with awards. Avery Bluey (MIPA ’25) was this year’s recipient of the Director’s Achievement Award for an outstanding academic record, initiative, and professionalism. Francie Fink (MPA, EAP ’25) won the Penniman Prize for the best paper demonstrating the school’s writing and analytic tools for her paper, “Addressing the U.S. Nursing Home and Childcare Workforce Shortage” for PA 873: Introduction to Policy Analysis, nominated by Professor David Weimer. Finally, Al Schultz (MPA ’25) won the Piore Prize for the best paper in science and public policy for his paper, “Wellbeing Among Older Populations: An Investigation into Social Interaction among Older Populations and its Affects concerning Wellbeing,” nominated by Assistant Professor Lindsay Jacobs.