Nina Carlson is helping Wisconsin become greener and more energy efficient as the senior policy analyst and federal liaison for the Wisconsin state energy office.

When 2007 alum Deven Carlson was applying to graduate schools, he knew he wanted to be involved in public policy debates, but he wasn’t quite sure about how he wanted to go about that.

Why the La Follette School? Expertise in social policy and interest in attending UW-Madison.

From Mali to Salt Lake City, La Follette School student Anne Chapman has seen the importance of well-informed, motivated community leadership — and the essential role a skilled analyst can play in sharing expertise about policy ramifications.

Stephanie Chase knew she wanted to earn graduate degrees in public policy and law. So she and her father took a road trip that combined visits to major baseball league ballparks and Big 10 universities.

When Iseul Choi completes her graduate school training, she can see herself helping South Korea's performance management system perform better or maybe aiding South Korea's international development efforts.

Carl Christiansen knew he chose the correct public policy graduate program when he went to a seminar on the Affordable Care Act given by a well-known economist and encountered 10 other students from the La Follette School of Public Affairs.

While they are entering a difficult job market, the La Follette School's class of 2009 should not be discouraged. "Economic downturns have always led to upturns," professor emeritus Robert Haveman told the class at its commencement celebration. "Over the long haul, with your abilities and the skills that you have gained at the La Follette School, you will do just fine, thank you. Just keep plugging."

The La Follette School of Public Affairs is seeking client-based projects for students in its Workshop in Public Affairs and Workshop in International Public Affairs courses. Applications for domestic and international projects from public, nonprofit, or private-sector organizations are due November 17. Alumni are encouraged to apply.

Michele Coleman wants to know why people make the decisions they do about their health to help them lead healthier lives.  To that end, the public affairs and public health dual-degree candidate is presenting a paper about the influence of religion on the abortion decision-making process and experience at a national conference.