Students learn from Governor’s staff during meet and greet

Students take a group photo with staff from the Wisconsin Governor's Office.
Students met with staff working in the Governor’s Office, including several La Follette School alumni.

On October 8, 29 La Follette MPA and MIPA students met with Governor Evers’ staff at the Wisconsin State Capitol building to gain insights on the inner workings of the Governor’s office, how their work supports the Governor’s priorities, and how their degrees influence their day-to-day work.

The Governor’s scheduling director Corissa Uselman (MPA ’20), senior policy advisor Jacob Pankratz (MPA ’21), and constituent services and proclamations director Anna Mercer (MPPA ’22) joined the students for an informal meet and greet.

Staff shared their pathways to their current roles and emphasized the many ways their policy degrees helped them in their work in the highest executive office in the state. They discussed courses that were most useful in their careers, ranging from program evaluation and implementation to statistics, state budgeting, and tribal law.

The group was also joined by Governor Evers’ deputy chief of staff, Kelly Becker. As part of her role, Becker oversees internal human resources issues among other things. She says that no two days are the same. The thing that has surprised her the most about working in the executive branch is how many parts of a person’s life the government can touch—from economic development issues to accessing health care or child care.

Students listen to a presentation from staff from the Wisconsin Governor's Office.
Staff in the Governor’s Office discussed pathways to their current roles, including helpful courses and internships.

The group shared that the Governor’s schedule is planned out in tight, 15-minute increments that are strategically scheduled to align with the Governor’s priorities. The Governor receives input from the public and leverages publicity around policy issues through meetings with constituents, visits around the state, and listening sessions. The group highlighted a few recent successes in policymaking compromises between the Governor’s office and the legislature, including work around shared revenue for local governments and keeping the Brewers in Wisconsin.

To address another area of potential bipartisan compromise—child care—the Governor once spent weeks visiting child care centers around the state to hear directly from centers and parents what kind of policy solutions would help improve the child care system. This also created constituent pressure on the Wisconsin Legislature to focus on the issue. Pankratz described how the schedule can be a tool to advance the policy agenda.

Becker shared that the thing that motivates her the most in her job is wanting to make Wisconsin a good place to live for her kids, a place that we can be proud of. Others echoed this sentiment, pointing to the impact they can make working in government, and the small wins that they are able to find each day.

All the panelists emphasized the importance of internships in gaining skills, many noting that they started their careers with government internships. The Governor’s office recently opened a new internship portal, and students are encouraged to apply for internships or limited-term employment positions.


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