FORD SCHOOL - Key Persons
Adam Schmidt comes to the field of professional coaching and development with more than 15 years of leadership and consulting experience. Throughout his career, people development has been a passion for Adam. He has an exceptional ability to guide others to overcome obstacles-both real and perceived. His capability to translate the diverse work and personal experiences of his clients into tangible resources for personal and professional growth allows him to succeed with individuals from varied backgrounds and professions.
Adam is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC). As a PCC, his coaching style is shaped by the fundamentals of ICF Professional Coaching-powerful questioning, authentic listening, accountability and being fully present for his clients. He endeavors to successfully merge and leverage his professional coach training and professional, academic and personal experiences to effectively help people grow and optimize their full potential. Adam is fully committed to the ICF Code of Ethics, ensuring that clients experience coaching in a confidential, ethical and comfortable way.
Professionally, Adam was an Army officer with assignments in both the Middle East and European theaters for nearly 10 years. During that time, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during combat operations in Iraq. More recently, Adam has served as a Senior Consultant in International Policy for both the United States and International Organizations. In his role as Senior Consultant, Adam has a track record of helping professionals become more effective leaders, communicators, and change agents within their organizations. Adam is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Academically, Adam is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies. At West Point, Adam learned and applied fundamental tenants of effective leadership such as strategic thinking, goal setting, and communication. At Michigan, Adam complemented those leadership skills with a Master's in Public Policy, gaining an understanding of the policies, politics, and prose that are required to create meaningful change. At Georgetown, Adam was professionally trained as a Leadership Coach through Georgetown University's Leadership Coaching Program. While there, Adam concentrated on a co-active approach to Leadership and Executive Coaching.
Personally, Adam is a licensed private pilot, a certified SCUBA diver, and seasoned international traveler. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Adam enjoys mountaineering (the namesake of Smart Summit Coaching) and has summited renowned peaks in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. He is very active in his community as a Veteran Ambassador for Team RWB (a Veterans support organization) and as a Coach for Leadership Fairfax, an organization dedicated to training and developing leaders in the Northern Virginia Area. He lives with his wife, Ashlee, in Northville, Michigan, and their very spoiled Beagle, "Huck".
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Executive
- Executive Leadership Coach
Alan Booth is an Executive Coach working with leaders at C-suite, Partner and Operational levels to discern how they can be their best selves as leaders and apply this insight to advance toward business and personal outcomes they consider important.
With 20 years of experience analyzing and advocating for policies that advance economic justice and racial and gender equity, Allegra is a coach and consultant who partners with mission driven organizations to support and retain staff, maximize the impact of leaders at all levels, and cultivate the development of creative and connected teams.
Allegra is a leader whose deep experience across government and non-profits includes playing key roles in large-scale campaigns to expand access to health care, income support, child care, employment and training, and retirement security. Her expertise includes coaching, team building, leadership development, policy and program development and analysis, coalition building and advocacy.
Allegra received her masters degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan, with a focus on policy and community organizing. Her practicum was at the Detroit City Council, where she served as a legislative aide to the Council President. Allegra's experience at the University of Michigan, including her practicum, solidified her interest in and commitment to public policy as a vehicle for social change. After graduating, she was awarded a Presidential Management Fellowship at the US Department of Labor. She then went on to work as a Senior Policy Analyst at CLASP, and at Community Change, where she was the Deputy Director of Public Policy.
Allegra is thrilled to combine her love of coaching, leadership development and public policy in order to support University of Michigan students to continue to grow and develop as leaders.
Anna Alvarez Boyd is an International Coach Federation (ICF), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and the founder of Executive Horizons LLC. Anna has a passion for developing the next generation of leaders, and her coaching starts with the belief that every person has an innate wisdom that can be accessed through reflection and transformational leadership development. She supports her clients with a deeper self-discovery and a tailored approach that takes people on a journey to reintroduce themselves to their own power.
Anna was named a Top Coach in Orlando by Influence Digest in 2021 and 2023 because of her strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and her extensive experience as a senior leader during times of crisis, including 9/11, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19
pandemic. With over 25 years of executive leadership experience, Anna has led national policy initiatives, leadership development programs, and strategic planning efforts on a national level.
Throughout her career, Anna has acted as an advisor for leadership development and DEI programs across government, corporate, and non-profit sectors, where she led housing, mortgage finance, and community development policy. Anna most recently held the position of Senior Associate Director at the Federal Reserve Board, where she was responsible for directing consumer and community development research, policy, and programs in support of Federal Reserve policymakers. Anna's clients include Darden University Foundation -
Anna Sparks provides leadership coaching to executives and rising leaders and employee experience consulting services to clients around the world. Companies and individuals trust Anna to draw out their potential and support them in leveling up as leaders and teams. Rising leaders come to her for support in defining their next career moves including finding their next roles and transitioning from doing to managing others. As a former management consultant, she brings strategy and laser focus to move intractable problems forward leveraging the strengths of her clients.
She has served the US Federal government in seven countries over the past 20 years in Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. She holds a Bachelor's in Communications and Sociology, a Master's in Public Administration, and an Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching.
Job Titles:
- ICF PCC Certified Leadership Coach
Anne Steen is an ICF PCC Certified leadership coach who founded Keybridge Coaching and Consulting to provide growth-minded business leaders and entrepreneurs with the tools and strategies they need to transform goals and visions into realities. Anne specializes in advising executives and emerging leaders who understand that thriving in a global economy and tech-oriented culture means evolving ahead of change. Her client portfolio has a global footprint and includes leaders in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Her clients work across a wide range of industries including social impact, energy, education, finance, compliance and consulting.
An established leader in the nonprofit sector, Anne developed her deep expertise by leading large and small teams through challenging situations in their respective organizations. From departmental mergers and downsizing to management changes, Anne offers steadfast leadership and empathetic approaches to ensure management benchmarks are aligned with larger business objectives. Anne's coaching philosophy is built on the premise that the coach/client relationship is grounded in trust, respect and the desire to grow. While coaching often occurs in an organizational culture, transformation occurs when the focus is on the whole person. As a coach, Anne uses a range of tools including inquiry, reflection, assessments and candid self-awareness to unlock one's personal and professional potential in life.
Anne earned her Leadership Coaching Certification through the Institute for Transformational Leadership at Georgetown University. She holds a M.Ed. in Counselor Education from The University of Virginia and a BA in Economics from the University of Mary Washington. Anne integrates service into her life as a mentor coach with the Coaching Fellowship and the Arlington Community Foundation Scholarship Committee. She is a wife, mother of two adult children, a diehard Washington Nationals fan, and two-time veteran of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Anne believes that professional fulfillment begins with a personal commitment to larger connections in life.
Job Titles:
- Leadership Solutions Partner at the Center for Creative Leadership
Bridget Seymour developed a passion for leadership and organizational development from her experience serving as a Naval Officer. In her early career, she served as a P-3C Orion Pilot and Aviation Maintenance Quality Assurance Manager. Bridget continued her journey in higher education where she held positions at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) as a Master Leadership Instructor and Assistant Deputy Director of the Leadership and Education Division (LEAD).
After leaving active military service, Bridget taught as an Adjunct Instructor at James Madison University and for the Navy Leadership and Ethics Center (NLEC). As an independent contractor, she delivered leadership development workshops for various government, Fortune 500, and non-profit organizations spanning industries in healthcare, financial management, hospitality, consumer goods, aviation, engineering, manufacturing, agriculture, and technology. After receiving her International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited training from Georgetown University, Bridget established her own Executive Leadership Coaching practice, and continued her career as a pilot, flying an RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for Northrop Grumman.
As an Executive Leadership Coach, Bridget has partnered with high potential leaders at all levels in the workforce from various government, for-profit, and non-profit organizations. She has served as a coach for the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Leadership Assessment Programs (LAP levels I and II) and the NSA's Executive Assessment Program. Bridget has also provided coaching for the Department of Justice, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Navy Undersea Warfare Center, Microsoft, and faculty at USNA. Clients have worked on a variety of topics to include work-life balance, conflict management, values alignment, emotional and social intelligence, finding their authentic voice, and presence. She is certified in Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI), FIRO-B®, WorkPlace Big Five™, Hogan assessments, CCL 360-degree assessments, PROFILOR®, KF 360 assessments, and has extensive experience with Strengthsfinder 2.0®, DISC®, EQ-I 2.0®, OPM 360, Thomas Kilmann Conflict Profile (TKI), Conflict Dynamics Profile®, Change Style Indicator™, Influence Style Indicator®, Leadership Circle Profile™, and Pathfinder 360 assessments. Bridget embraces the idea that everyone can impact the world in a meaningful way; she encourages her clients to remain fully present, to stay curious, open-minded, and to experiment with newfound possibilities.
Bridget is currently a Leadership Solutions Partner at the Center for Creative Leadership working with global clients across industries and sectors. She is recognized for expertise in customized design and delivery of leadership development solutions, curriculum development, experiential instruction abilities, and empowerment of individuals and teams to lead and manage change. Bridget utilizes her unique blend of practical experience and continuous academic scholarship to effectively serve her clients.
Bridget earned a MS in Management from the Catholic University of America, a BS in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, and two graduate certificates in both Organization Consulting and Change Leadership, and Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. Bridget currently lives with her wife, two sons, and mini-golden doodle in Richmond, VA.
Job Titles:
- Organizational Psychologist
- Post - Doctoral Fellow
Cat is an organizational psychologist who studies environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at work, primarily drawing on social psychology theories. Her research program reflects her life-long passion for assisting leaders and organizations in navigating the nexus of environmental sustainability and justice. Prior to completing her PhD at the University of Virginia, she worked in environmental non-profits, managing corporate donors and working with campaigners on award-winning sustainability projects.
Job Titles:
- Lead, U - M Democracy & Debat
- Lead, U - M Democracy & Debate
Catherine Carver serves as the programming lead for University of Michigan's Democracy & Debate, a university-wide educational initiative. This initiative seeks to encourage students, faculty, staff, and the broader U-M community to explore the exchange of ideas, the structures, and the responsibilities necessary for strengthening democratic societies from a local to a global perspective. As lead, Carver is responsible for working with campus and external partners to conceptualize, plan, and execute an array of programming for Democracy & Debate. In that capacity, she heads a core team comprised of faculty, staff, and student representatives from across all sectors of campus, and she facilitates a steering committee of faculty appointees.
She also co-chairs, with the director of the University of Maryland's Civic Innovation Center, the planning group for the Big Ten Collaboration: Democracy in the 21st Century. The Big Ten collaboration involves all of the schools in the conference, harnessing the diverse assets of the Big Ten community to develop shared programming around issues and challenges facing democracy in this century for the conference's students, faculty, staff, and local communities.
Carver possesses two decades of experience in academia and the private sector. Raised in Washington, D.C., in a government family and trained as an art historian, she has always been fascinated by the intersections of socio-economic factors and structures of politics and space. She uses her interest in unexpected intersections and extensive experience with faculty, students, and practitioners in collaborations with campus and external partners to develop the interdisciplinary programming that furthers understanding of and engagement with the processes of democratic institutions.
Carver holds an A.B. from Duke University (magna cum laude) and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. After completing her Ph.D., Carver was director of operations for Christian Zapatka Architect, Washington, D.C. Upon returning to Ann Arbor, she taught history of art, architecture, and design at the University of Michigan, College for Creative Studies, and Wayne State University. She served as an academic advisor at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts. She later served as the education program manager for the University of Michigan's Alumni Association. Subsequently, in November 2018, she joined the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy as its events & outreach manager, transitioning to her Democracy & Debate role in January 2020. She continues to teach as an Art History lecturer at Wayne State University.
Her awards include a Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome and a Fulbright Scholarship. She regularly presents papers and research at academic conferences, and she currently serves on the programming committee for the Society of Fellows of the American Academy in Rome.
A mother of three and an active volunteer in the Ann Arbor community, over the years Carver has served on a number of local boards and has spent many wonderful hours by athletic fields, in the ice rink, and in the theatre. And, for peace and solitude, if not thinking about medieval architecture in Rome or curled up with a book, she might be found on a long run in the woods with her mischievous German Shepherd.
Job Titles:
- Youth Workforce Development Fellow
Claire Davidson is a certified Gallup Strengths and Six Domains of Leadership Survey (SDLS) Coach.
She works as a Career Development Specialist at Wilson Sonsini in San Francisco, CA. In her role, she helps to manage a career development program for junior associates in Wilson Sonsini's corporate practice. She supports associates as they transition out of law school, coaching them on topics such as professional and leadership presence, project management, and networking.
Claire previously worked at the Ford School from 2018 to 2023. Most recently she supported key curricular and extracurricular programs and projects for the Leadership Initiative, including leadership coaching for Ford School MPPs and MPAs. She was the lead facilitator of the CliftonStrengths assessment and managed other leadership assessments and tools for Ford School students. Prior to her work with the Leadership Initiative, Claire was a member of the Ford School's Career Services team providing career counseling to graduate students.
Claire completed her Master of Arts in higher education at the University of Michigan and received her Bachelor of Arts in communication studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Claire Lowande is the program manager for the Leadership Initiative at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
Claire develops and supports leadership programming for Ford students and staff. She supports curricular and extracurricular projects like workshops and orientations. Claire is a certified Gallup Strengths coach, offering coaching to help students understand and leverage their Clifton Strengths results. She also manages the Leadership Initiative's web resources and marketing strategies.
Prior to joining the Ford School, Claire held various roles at the Division of Student Life and the Ross School of Business. Claire completed her Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Baylor University. Her professional background has included working in municipal government and higher education.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Cristiano L. Guarana is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration in the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. He received his PhD in Management in 2015 from the University of Washington and worked as post-doctoral researcher at the University of Virginia for two years. Prof. Guarana's research examines how leaders and followers' limited attentional resources affects decisions, relationships, and behaviors in complex organizational contexts. He is published in a number of top-tier academic journals, including Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Journal of Management, Leadership Quarterly, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Psychological Science, and Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. His work has also appeared in media outlets such as Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, The Observer (Association for Psychological Science), Fortune, Bloomberg Business, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Boston Globe, The Times (of London), Quartz, Discover Magazine Blog, The Tonic, The British Psychological Society, American Police Beat, and The Atlantic. He teaches courses on organizational behavior and leadership at Kelley. Prior to entering academia, Prof. Guarana was an entrepreneur and played professional basketball in Brazil.
Job Titles:
- Dean
- Associate Dean Jenna Bednar
Celeste Watkins-Hayes is an author and educator widely credited for her research at the intersection of inequality, public policy, and institutions, with a special focus on urban poverty and race, class, and gender studies. Dr. Watkins-Hayes has published two books, numerous articles in journals and edited volumes, and pieces in the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Chicago Magazine. Read more...
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate Dean for Research and Policy Engagement
- Professor
Jeffrey D. Morenoff is a professor of sociology and public policy, with an additional appointment at the Institute for Social Research (ISR). Morenoff's research interests include neighborhood environments, inequality, crime and criminal justice, the social determinants of health, racial/ethnic/immigrant disparities in health and antisocial behavior, and methods for analyzing multilevel and spatial data. In 2004, Morenoff won the Ruth Shonle Cavan Young Scholar Award from the American Society of Criminology for "outstanding contributions to the discipline of criminology." In 2019, Morenoff concluded a term as director of ISR's Population Studies Center. He earned an MA and PhD in sociology from The University of Chicago. Read more...
Job Titles:
- Lead Human Resources Officer
Dr. Estelle E. Archibold a Postdoctoral Scholar in Management and Organization at the Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on generative conflict, allyship and cross-cultural dynamics, as well as social innovations in organizations. She uses process theory and emerging theory in positive institutional work as theoretical bases for my research. She is an organizational ethnographer who uses mixed and multi-modal methods to investigate organizations, fields and social movements.
Estelle builds on more than fifteen (15) years of academic study and practice in conflict transformation, reconciliation, ethics, as well as cross-stakeholder negotiations in the United States and abroad in countries such as Liberia and Ghana in West Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Also, her prior executive coaching practice supported leaders, managers and teams experiencing conflict among members and followers during organizational mergers and reorganizations. She has worked across several sectors including government, not-for-profit, international development and education. Currently, she continues her engaged scholarship as a research affiliate of the Leadership Initiative with The University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy where she collaborates with scholars and practitioners on discovering the impact of cross-cultural transformative leadership, restorative justice and social movements on public policy decision-making.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director, Recruiting and Admissions
Dustin Castro is the Associate Director for Recruiting and Admissions at the Ford School. Dustin oversees the recruitment and admissions processes for the Ford School undergraduate and master's programs. He also serves as the admissions representative for the Ford School in organizations such as Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA, at-large board member), Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). Dustin is a proud first-generation high school and college graduate.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Assistant, Career Services
Eric Coughlin is the administrative assistant in the Ford School's Office of Graduate Career Services office.
Job Titles:
- Financial Specialist Senior
- Senior Financial Specialist
Erin Cutrell is a senior financial specialist in the Ford School's business office.
Frieda Cheslow brings 20 years' experience in management, human resources, legal representation, and conflict resolution to her role as a leadership coach. She has expertise in training, mentoring, and optimizing talent to achieve results in large organizations.
Frieda is a Director at the Social Security Administration's Office of Analytics, Review and Oversight in Arlington, VA. She leads a 150-person legal division that resolves nationwide disability insurance benefit appeals. Frieda is passionate about creating conditions for people to thrive. She develops her employees through skill-enhancement and competency building initiatives, creates strong teams, and is enthusiastic about supporting growth in leadership positions. Frieda has served in broad operational roles at SSA, including Acting Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Public Service and Operations Support in the Washington, DC headquarters area, and Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner for the New York region.
As a coach, Frieda finds joy in partnering with people as they focus on their goals, discover new strengths, and grow in their chosen domains. Frieda helps clients see options and expand the range of possibilities for their lives. She is drawn to leaders at all stages of their professional journeys. Frieda coaches in a wide range of industries including the arts, IT, journalism, law, healthcare, and financial services. Her clients range from interns at Georgetown University and The University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, to senior corporate leaders. She works with leaders in think tanks, start-ups, family run businesses, small businesses, large corporations, not for profits, and the federal sector.
Frieda completed the Leadership Coaching Certificate program at Georgetown University's Institute for Transformational Leadership. She received her B.A. and J.D. degrees from Rutgers University. In her spare time, Frieda practices yoga, cycles, and takes long walks. Creative pursuits include drawing, painting, and printmaking.
Job Titles:
- President of the United States and a 1935 Graduate of the University of Michigan
Job Titles:
- Senior Business Intelligence Analyst
Heather Alemu is the senior business intelligence analyst in the Ford School's Business office.
Isabelle Moses has nearly 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, foundations, Fortune 500 companies, and federal agencies as an executive, coach, consultant, facilitator, and trainer.
Her expertise includes organizational transformation efforts and designing and delivering multi-faceted and multi-year leadership development programs to increase the impact of national networks of organizations at the individual, organizational, and network-wide levels. She particularly enjoys working with social justice leaders and organizations working to disrupt the status quo and achieve thriving and joyful communities of color.
Prior to joining ProInspire as Co-CEO in 2024, Isabelle served as Senior Advisor, Executive Office at Faith in Action, co-leading their organizational transformation initiatives centering on leaders of color and deepening racial and gender equity throughout the organization. Isabelle previously held consulting roles with Community Wealth Partners, The Management Center, Accenture, and Eagle Hill Consulting.
Earlier in her career, she managed investor communications with The Calvert Foundation and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon. Isabelle holds undergraduate and M.B.A. degrees from Georgetown University and is a certified leadership coach from Georgetown's Institute for Transformational Leadership. She serves on the board of the Hamlin School, her alma mater, in San Francisco.
Job Titles:
- Coach for MPP Students at the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy
- Professional Leadership Coach, Strategy Consultant
Jamey Stowell is a professional leadership coach, strategy consultant, and group facilitator with a diverse background in academic, nonprofit, and business environments. At Georgetown University, African Leadership University, and INSEAD, Jamey designed academic and professional development curricula in collaboration with world-class faculty. A founding partner of Netcito, Jamey facilitates professional peer groups in a thriving community of entrepreneurs.
Following a 25-year career in leadership development, Jamey now serves as a trusted coach for MPP students at the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, an advanced facilitator for the Interpersonal Dynamics course in the Stanford MBA program, and a certified leadership coach utilizing the Six Domains of Leadership Model and a Coactive approach to coaching. By combining Jamey's diverse expertise and passion for driving positive change, he brings a unique perspective to leadership development, strategy consulting, and facilitation.
Jane Sommers-Kelly is an Executive Coach working with Leaders in transition who want to keep improving their impact and self-fulfillment. Jane helps each Leader identify what they want to be known for, and what practices would help them achieve their Goals, starting with their next step(s).
Past Clients include: Michigan County Health Dept. top team; the World Bank; Non-profits; NYC-based Kenyan NGO Exec Dir. & Board; Solar Energy CEO. Having lived and worked internationally for half of her life, Jane has coached Leaders for 10+ years and advised global organizations on their leadership development for over 18 years.
Approach: Jane knows that each person is unique. You the Client know yourself and your differentiators - I the Coach prompt you to reflect, reconsider and be intentional. Together we identify which skills you want to strengthen, and which practices you might want to adapt for your next Phase.
Professionally, Jane worked with JPMorgan and Bankers Trust, then ran INSEAD's Executive Education Business before moving her family to NC where she was a Managing Director @ Duke CE for ten years.
Janeen Shaffer is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coaching
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager, Education Policy Initiative
Job Titles:
- Founder & Co - CEO / Lanham, Maryland
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- Professor
Jenna Bednar is a professor of public policy and political science at the University of Michigan and a member of the external faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. Professor Bednar's research is on the analysis of institutions, focusing on the theoretical underpinnings of the stability of federal states. Her most recent book, The Robust Federation: Principles of Design, demonstrates how complementary institutions maintain and adjust the distribution of authority between national and state governments. This book makes two theoretical contributions to the study of federalism's design. First, it shows that distributions suggested by a constitution mean nothing if the governments have no incentive to abide by them, and intergovernmental retaliation tends to be inefficient. The book's second contribution is that while no institutional safeguard is sufficient to improve the union's prosperity, institutions work together to improve compliance with the distribution of authority, thereby boosting the union's performance. Read more...
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Managing Director, Leadership Initiative
Jennifer Niggemeier brings 20+ years of experience in working with current and future policy leaders. Jennifer leads a global team of 20+ executive leadership coaches delivering individual and group coaching to masters students, and designs and promotes programming and leadership assessments for all students through courses and co-curricular activities. She is a certified coach holding both a PCC level certification from the International Coach Federation (ICF) and an Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University. She is certified in the Six Domains of Leadership Survey, DiSC and MBTI assessments and also administers the Leadership Practices Inventory and CliftonStrengths.
Jennifer previously served as the Ford School's director of graduate career services and alumni relations providing career and leadership coaching for policy master's candidates and alumni. She played a key role in enhancing the visibility of the Ford School and establishing recruiting relationships with employers and alumni in the U.S. and abroad. She worked closely with the Alumni Board to develop programs and services that engage alumni in the life of the school and with each other.
Prior to joining the Ford School, Jennifer worked in career services at the University of Michigan Career Center and at The Ohio State University. Before making her own career change into higher education, Jennifer worked in employee benefits consulting with The Wyatt Company (now Towers Watson) in Washington, DC.
Jennifer leads a global team of 20+ executive leadership coaches delivering individual and group coaching to masters students, and designs and promotes programming for all students through courses and co-curricular activities. She is a certified coach holding both a PCC level certification from the International Coach Federation (ICF) and an Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University.
Job Titles:
- Career Development Specialist
As a Career Development Specialist, Jessica Eller is focused on supporting undergraduate students with their professional development and career advising, and will be intentionally developing resources for first gen and underrepresented students in the school. Jessica is a proud Ford BA alumna and also graduated from UT-Austin with her master's in Global Policy Studies. She is passionate about advancing human rights and empowering students to achieve their professional goals. Jessica has an advising and admissions background as well as nonprofit experience surrounding refugee resettlement and youth mentoring.
Job Titles:
- Chief Behavioral Scientist at Evidn
- Member of the Organization for Economic Co - Operation
John Pickering is the Chief Behavioral Scientist at Evidn. Evidn is a behavioral science company that specializes in the design, delivery and evaluation of behavior change programs for improving outcomes at a population level. As Chief Behavioral Scientist, Dr. Pickering brings oversees the analysis, design, delivery and evaluation of behavior change programs across Evidn's environmental, agricultural, health, energy, finance, transport, and judicial portfolios.
Dr Pickering is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) expert steering group on agri-environmental behavior economics, and holds appointments at Princeton University and The University of Queensland.
Job Titles:
- Michigan Data and Policy Fellow With the Youth Policy Lab
Kaj Althaus is a Michigan Data and Policy Fellow with the Youth Policy Lab, a joint initiative of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research. As a fellow, he will be placed at the Michigan State Court Administrators Office (SCAO), focusing on strategic improvements to the Michigan Juvenile Justice system.
Kaj is a research professional interested in youth development and how we can use data and public policy to create better and more equitable life outcomes for those involved in the juvenile justice system. In past roles, he has been an educator with City Year Americorps, a data and policy analyst with the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, and, most recently, a community development specialist with Challenge Detroit and the Live6 Alliance.
Kaj holds a Master of Public Policy from the Pennsylvania State University with a focus on criminal justice policy and a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan. In his spare time, he is a passionate musician who loves to sing and play guitar with his band. He also sits on the Michigan Committee of Juvenile Justice as a youth member.
Job Titles:
- Fellowship Coordinator, Student & Academic Services
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Development
- Associate Director of Development at the University of Michigan
- Associate Director of Development at the University of Michigan 's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Kellen Epstein is the Associate Director of Development at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. In her role, she works to build relationships with alumni and friends of the Ford School to encourage and broaden their engagement with our students and programs, and to secure financial support for Ford School initiatives. Prior to joining the Ford School, Kellen spent 8 years at MIT's Sloan School of Management and served in a number of different roles in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University before that. She began her development career here at the University of Michigan, as a part of the university's inaugural Development Summer Internship Program. Kellen is an active U-M alumna and received her MBA from Boston University's Questrom School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Partnerships Coordinator for the Science
- Partnerships Coordinator, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program
Kristin Burgard is the partnerships coordinator for the Science, Technology, and Public Policy program at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
- Senior Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Senior Recruiting Coordinator
Logan Corey is the Senior Recruiting Coordinator at the Ford School. Logan previously worked with The Residential College, housed within The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at UM. While Logan held a few different roles within the RC over nine years, her primary experience was as the Director of Residential College Admissions, Recruitment, and Michigan Learning Community (MLC) Administration. She was honored with the Kay Beattie Outstanding Individual Employee in 2023 for the Undergraduate Education division within LSA.
Logan earned an M.A. in Administrative Leadership in Higher Education from EMU in 2023 and a B.A. with Distinction and High Honors in Creative Writing - Literature (RC and LSA) from UM in 2013.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Communications Specialist
Madison Brow is our Marketing Communications Specialist, serving as project manager and consultant for design projects and lead for our brand, photography, and paid…
Job Titles:
- Chief Administrative Officer
- Senior Staff Member
- Chief Administrative Officer for the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Marcella (Marcy) Brighton is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Since 2008 she has been managing the operations infrastructure of the school including finance, human resources, data analytics/business…
Job Titles:
- Associate Major Gifts Officer, Development and Alumni Relations
Job Titles:
- Retired Senior Manager / Boeing Company / Ann Arbor, Michigan
Job Titles:
- Grants & Research Specialist
Job Titles:
- Retired Associate Director, Pro Humanitate Institute / Wake Forest University / Winston - Salem, North Carolina
Job Titles:
- Executive Director / David Bohnett Foundation / Beverly Hills, California
Job Titles:
- Project Manager at the Youth Policy Lab
- Project Manager, Youth Policy Lab
Milagros Chocce is a project manager at the Youth Policy Lab. Milagros holds a MPP degree from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and a bachelor's and a master's degree in Economics from Universidad del Pacifico in Lima, Peru. Prior to…
Job Titles:
- Ligia Ramirez De Reynolds Collegiate Professor of Public Policy
- Ligia Ramirez De Reynolds Collegiate Professor of Public Policy Faculty Director, Leadership Initiative
Morela Hernandez, the Ligia Ramirez de Reynolds Collegiate Professor of Public Policy, is an internationally recognized scholar with deep expertise in applying behavioral science insights to design and improve organizational systems and decision-making practices. She is widely published in top-tier academic journals and popular media outlets, and serves on several editorial boards.
Job Titles:
- SummerWorks Program Coordinator
As a certified professional coach, Natalia Vayner-Heyraud combines co-active and positive intelligence coaching skills with unique problem-solving tools honed in over 15 years as an international communications and marketing expert in the financial services sector, where she continues to hold a corporate role.
Nayab brings hands-on policy and research experience from her previous roles at The Brookings Institution and the Center for American Progress. She completed her undergraduate studies at Pitzer College in California. She holds a diploma in Politics,…
Nicole Fernandes is a proud Ford School & SEAS graduate (MPP/MS ‘08) and an International Coaching Federation Associate Certified Coach. She brings twenty years of policy, science, and teaching experience in the federal, NGO, and academic sectors in her role as a coach. Nicole currently serves as a policy analyst at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Nicole provides coaching, leadership development, and mindfulness services at NOAA and within the federal government. As a federal coach, she has helped dozens of colleagues identify their deeper purpose; navigate challenging work situations; strengthen leadership skills; gain confidence in the workplace; transition to new jobs and leadership roles; build trusting relationships; balance work and home life; get mentally "unstuck"; and set and achieve their goals.
Her philosophy is that we are all naturally whole and resourceful, and coaching is a tool to unlock one's own intuition, creativity, and wisdom. She approaches coaching with warmth, non-judgment, and forward-leaning momentum.
Nicole cares deeply about supporting all people in their growth and development. Throughout her life, Nicole has been committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and has received federal awards for her efforts to create more equitable, accessible, and inclusive work environments. Additionally, she is a certified mindfulness facilitator through UCLA's Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior and supports colleagues with mindfulness practices, educational opportunities, and resources to improve workplace culture.
Job Titles:
- ICF Associate Certified Coach
A Congressional committee staffer-turned-lobbyist, Parker Tracey spent twenty years in public policy roles, primarily in Washington D.C. Her time on Capitol Hill focused on American Indian and Alaska Native issues, sparking an interest in energy and environmental policy.
Outside of negotiating climate legislation and advising decision-makers, Parker is known for advancing cross-collaboration and mutual mentoring across multigenerational workforces.
A former competitive figure skater and Division I athlete at the University of Michigan, Parker's coaching career began in college. Introduced to the world of leadership development through the LeaderShape Institute, Parker has served as a mentor, coach and facilitator for the past 25 years.
An ICF Associate Certified Coach, Parker studied under Martha Beck and is a leadership advisor to public-facing top performers in sports, public service and the arts. Her specialty is helping clients negotiate seasons of uncertainty and exploring intentional transitions between what was and what's next.
Parker profoundly cares about our next generation of leaders and is committed to opening doors to those who traditionally haven't had access. Through her pro bono work, she is proud to support change-makers who operate in spaces resistant or hostile to change.
Paula Di Rita Wishart brings 32 years of leadership and coaching across various sectors, including higher education, policy, and industry. Specializing in supporting graduate students, postdocs, and mid-career professionals in their leadership and professional development. Her overarching objective as a coach is to partner with clients to foster joy and enthusiasm for work and strengthen their ability to be who and how they want to be in this world. She collaborates closely with clients to become the leaders they aspire to be, with an emphasis on personal growth and peace of mind.
Paula's academic background includes a Master's in Higher Education from BGSU and a Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Michigan. She also holds her Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Certification from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). In addition to her coaching practice, she played pivotal roles in creating and leading university career initiatives, developing professional development programs in various sectors, and leading diverse and inclusive teams within higher education.
In her coaching, Paula uses the following approaches:
Collaborative Partnership: She engages clients in defining their success parameters and draws on their input to shape the coaching process.
Job Titles:
- Senior Staff Member
- Director of Career Services
Job Titles:
- Senior Communications & Outreach Strategist
As a Ford School alum (MPP ‘09), Rebecca has 15 years of experience in strategic communication, public policy analysis and advocacy, and strategy development with the public, non-profit, and philanthropic sectors. Working with other departments,…
Reem Labib Tyson serves as an executive coach for entrepreneurs, mission-driven leaders, and individuals who are ready to pivot, transform or looking to get "unstuck."
Reem prides herself on being authentic, compassionate, and light-hearted while consistently delivering results. She believes in disrupting the system and challenging boundaries to support clients in their personal and professional journeys.
Job Titles:
- William D. Hamilton Distinguished University Professor Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Member of the International Coaching Federation
Sadia Ghazanfar brings 15 years of experience in operational leadership in the higher education sector to her role as a leadership and career development coach, corporate trainer and facilitator.
In her private coaching practice, Slay Your Dragons, Sadia dedicates her coaching expertise to championing early career and emerging leaders. It's not just about boosting career confidence; it's about helping you find your authentic self and fostering genuine workplace happiness. Her mission is a heartfelt commitment to guiding individuals in shaping careers that truly matter, boosting well-being, and deepening human connection.
As a coach, Sadia serves as a catalyst, compassionately disrupting habitual thinking patterns to instigate transformative behaviour change. Her joy lies in providing clarity, building self-belief, and developing confidence, enabling individuals to present their best selves. Incorporating positive psychology, guided visualisation, and neuroscience tools, Sadia brings a unique approach to coaching. A creative and curious thinking partner, Sadia delves beneath the surface, facilitating sustainable growth and transformation. Her coaching style is steeped in wisdom, empathy and a focus on mind-body wellness.
Sadia is a proud member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a Certified Positive Intelligence Coach (CPQC). With a Bachelor's Degree in Business Studies, Sadia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her coaching practice.
Being the daughter of immigrants, Sadia understands the value of diverse perspectives and creating cultures where people feel accepted, included and valued. Sadia lives in Bristol, UK and spends her spare time hiking in nature, exploring global cuisines and cultures and learning to play the bass guitar.
Job Titles:
- Founder and President of L2T Global Consulting
Sandra P. Buteau is the Founder and President of L2T Global Consulting, LLC, a Virginia-based certified women-owned small business serving individuals, companies, and organizations by providing executive leadership development, executive coaching, multicultural training, and career coaching services. She brings over 20 years of experience coaching clients across the United States and around the world. Before establishing her own company, Sandra worked in the legal field, at a consulting firm, as a senior administrator in academia, and at a global career management and talent strategy company.
She provides personalized coaching sessions to students, and professionals to assess their strengths, achieve their professional goals, and develop individualized leadership development goals. In addition, Sandra helps leaders communicate effectively, build trust in relationships, navigate transitions, and develop personal effectiveness in the workplace. Her coaching philosophy is based on staying focused on the client's objectives and believing that clients are inherently resourceful, creative, and whole. As a career coach, Sandra provides clients with the proper tools to implement an effective career management strategy. She feels strongly that her role as a coach is to help clients unlock their full potential and achieve their desired outcomes.
Sandra holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) Certification from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is certified in the Six Domains of Leadership Survey by Delta Leadership, the Hogan Assessments Leadership Forecast Series, and Using Type in Career Counseling. Sandra is also a Mindfulness-Based Strategic Awareness Teacher Trainer (MBSAT-TT), a Trauma-Informed Coach, a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® Practitioner, and a Corentus Team Coach. She received extensive training in Mentor Coaching and is a Value-Added Associate for TTI SI [behaviors (DISC), motivators, acumen, competencies, and emotional intelligence assessments].
Her international background and her ability to speak English, Spanish, and French enable her to excel in specialized and diverse contexts.
Job Titles:
- Chairman Emeritus, Citigroup Inc
Job Titles:
- Principal Behavioral Scientist With BetterUp
Scott Baker is a Principal Behavioral Scientist with BetterUp. His work blends behavioral science and technology in order to transform the capabilities of people and organizations. Scott completed his PhD in Leadership and Organizational Behavior at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
- Senior Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Senior Staff Member
- Director of Student and Academic Services
Job Titles:
- Senior Managing Partner / Dillon Kane Group LLC / Chicago, Illinois
Job Titles:
- Strategic Projects Manager for Poverty Solutions
- Student Engagement & Strategic Projects Manager, Poverty Solutions
Trevor Bechtel is the student engagement and strategic projects manager for Poverty Solutions. Bechtel provides leadership and oversight to several Washtenaw County research projects, including the Prosecutor Transparency Project, and he engages…