There’s a lot to love about the La Follette School – engaging classes, knowledgeable faculty, and even the chance to find your soulmate. Over the years, La Follette has been the start of many love stories, and in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re looking back at just a few of them.
Avneesh & Hannah Chandra
MIPA class of 2019 & MIPA + URPL class of 2021
“We first met at a La Follette-sponsored book club, early in 2019! Over a summer together with friends, where we played frisbee, board games, and taste-tested cheese curds, we started dating. There are too many campus memories to pick a favorite, but in the fall of that year, we would bring each other lunch in between classes, finding new spots from Bascom to the Observatory every week. Definitely a time we won’t forget.”
Today, they are married and living in DC, close to many other La Follette alumni.
Karina & Mitch Running
MPA class of 2017 & MPA class of 2017 + MPH class of 2018
“Mitch and I met during our first year of La Follette. We got to know each other when we were paired as partners on a project for the policymaking course. What started as project planning quickly turned into countless hours together — doing homework, studying, and brainstorming project ideas at the library. Those long sessions naturally led to the conversations that mattered most: our life philosophies, faith, family upbringings, and our values. We lived just around the corner from each other and often walked to and from class together. He even joined me for Group X fitness classes, which definitely impressed me! Some of our favorite campus memories include camping with our La Follette class, playing together on the La Follette volleyball team, hanging with friends at the terrace, cheering at Badger games, and working side by side as LSSA officers. One of the most meaningful moments was graduating together at the Capitol — a full-circle ending to the place where our story began.”
Now, they are married with two kids, a dog, and a cat, and live out in the country, close to family. They both work in the health policy field and enjoy home and garden projects, traveling, and spending time together whenever they can.
Jessica & John Holland
MPA class of 2020
“We first met at Hillfest and through conversations in class and getting to know one another through Mandatory Fun Time (MFT). We shared a love of public policy conversations. We completed our capstone project in the same group, too. We both did internships in DC between our first and second years. We got married in the summer of 2021 with many LFS friends in attendance. We’re grateful La Follette brought us together!”
They are both currently living in the Madison area and working at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Connections built from late nights on campus often extend far beyond the classroom. As these alumni reminisce, their stories reflect the impact of the La Follette community and the connections that form during one’s time here.
– Written by Digital Content Coordinator Ellie Clark