This spring, La Follette students learned how Wisconsin state government representatives use evidence, research, and expertise in their positions during two visits to Walter Steingress’s class PA 240: Evidence-Based Policy Making.
In March, State Representative Travis Tranel, chair of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, offered his perspective on how he and his staff balance the information they receive from constituents, advocacy organizations, and nonpartisan legislative service agencies in drafting legislation. He emphasized that legislators rely on experts to help them understand the best pathways to addressing their constituents’ concerns.
The following month, Randy Romanski (MA ’95), Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, joined the same class for a conversation about the nuances of working in Wisconsin’s executive branch. As the head of an agency full of technical experts including veterinarians, geologists, lawyers, and accountants, Romanski draws heavily from their expertise when making decisions.
Both policymakers encouraged students to concentrate on their communication skills to help improve their ability to influence policy, and each encouraged students to pursue careers in the public service. The visits cap off a successful series of spring site and classroom visits.
La Follette Connection
The La Follette School offers students hands-on experiences and opportunities to make connections with alumni and other friends of the school who work in important policy roles. La Follette’s strong employer connections help our students find and excel in roles in a variety of organizations. This spring, we will explore some of the many ways that La Follette prepares our students for successful careers through a series of stories highlighting employer relationships and student experiences.
Learn more about experiential learning