News: Alumni News

Daniel Speckhard (MA ’82), a member of the La Follette School’s Board of Visitors, is leading the unified Lutheran World Relief-IMA World Health, after the two faith-based humanitarian organizations merged January 1. Speckhard, a former US ambassador, has led Lutheran World Relief since 2014.

Jennifer Klippel (MPA ’06) was named director of UW–Madison’s Budget Office on January 9. She served as interim director since July 2018, succeeding Tim Norris, who led the office since 2004.

Hilary Shager (MPA ’05, PhD ’12) will discuss the Institute for Research on Poverty’s efforts to bring rigorous scientific evidence to bear on some of society’s thorniest problems during Wednesday Nite @ The Lab (WN@TL) January 16 from 7 to 8:15 p.m.

After several years working on health policy and in public service, Sara Eskrich (MPA/MPH ’15) has taken her passion for making a difference in a new direction. She now serves as chief of staff for Katherine Gehl and executive director of FixtheSystem–Wisconsin.

Bryan Gadow (’05 MPA) is teaching the Planning Workshop course for UW–Madison’s Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture (formerly Department of Urban and Regional Planning) this fall. Gadow is village administrator for New Glarus, in southwestern Wisconsin.

Nearly half of La Follette School alumni in the Class of 2008 gathered in Madison from September 14 to 16 to celebrate its 10-year reunion. Joining them were approximately 25 children and 15 guests.

The Fall 2018 issue Edible Madison featured the work of La Follette School Alumnus Jonny Hunter and the Underground Butcher. “While pursuing his studies and following his heart toward a life in politics, Hunter learned to cook, and from that perspective took interest in the more elemental aspects of sustainable local food systems,” Andy Radtke wrote. 

The Public Management Research Association (PMRA) honored John Bryson (MA ’72) with the 2018 H. George Frederickson Award for his career contributions to the field of public management. He is the McKnight Presidential Professor of Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Jason Gerlach (MA, JD ’96) credits much of his success to the quantitative skills he learned at the La Follette School of Public Affairs. 

Joshua Cruz (MPA ’18), a student in the Neuroscience & Public Policy Program, is giving a presentation titled Poverty, Pregnancy, and Public Assistance Programs: A Neuroscience & Public Policy Perspective on Thursday, October 4.