We're kicking off the spring semester with a lineup of events centered on civil dialogue and finding common ground. Join us for upcoming events featuring Governor Mitch Daniels (Feb. 16), Greg Lukianoff (Mar. 18), and Michael Barbaro (Oct. 20). 🔗 Learn more and register: buff.ly/Iy2n4GX

We're excited to welcome Tony Lo Sasso to La Follette! His research focuses on health and labor economics, health policy, and health services and outcomes, looking into how health care markets and public policies shape the U.S. healthcare system. 🔗 Read his full Q&A: buff.ly/KhGpJhy

Michelle Kowaletti is pursuing both the MPA and MPH programs and hopes to address health disparities. She also serves as the second year community engagement and outreach coordinator of the La Follette School Student Association. 🔗 Read her full profile: buff.ly/GPTKANK

Don't forget— the Environmental Policy Eat & Greet is this Friday! Hear from panelists Allison Carlson, Emma Cleveland, Pamela Ritger de la Rosa, and Mike Strigel and network with experts serving in environmental policy positions. 🔗 Register today: buff.ly/8zsPkp2

Check out Director Susan Yackee's January State of the School video for a look at what's happening at La Follette!

Tickets for this year's Spring Spotlight event are available now! Mitch Daniels, former governor of Indiana and president emeritus of Purdue, will discuss politics and policymaking, higher education, and finding common ground amid divisiveness. Tickets: buff.ly/Zy3e65P

Our first Eat & Greet of the semester is here! Join us on January 30 from 3:30-6:00 p.m. for the Environmental Policy Eat & Greet to hear from a panel of experts in environmental policy and network with students, alumni, and friends in the field. 🔗 Register today: buff.ly/4tyqOml

Student demand for undergraduate public policy courses has grown steadily since they were first offered around 5 years ago. This growth helped shape La Follette's new undergraduate major in public policy, set to launch in fall 2026. 🔗 Read more:

It was great to see so many alumni this week come out for our first-ever La Follette in the Twin Cities Alumni Reception. Alumni were able to reconnect with one another and with the 26 students who joined the trip. Thanks to everyone who came out!

We're excited to welcome Clara Yoder as an Undergraduate Student Assistant! Clara is an undergraduate sophomore majoring in political science with a public policy certificate, and plans to switch to the new public policy major when it launches next fall. Welcome, Clara! 🎉

Sam Kaufmann is a student in La Follette's accelerated MPA program, graduating this May after completing an undergraduate degree at UW in May 2025. In 2021, he successfully ran for the Waunakee Village Board and has been re-elected twice since. Read his profile: buff.ly/o9lEk5i

Director Susan Yackee spoke on the podcast Point Taken with Steve Scaffidi and Kristin Brey, where they discussed whether the country is healing after political tension. Yackee explained how the new major will teach students how to talk across the political divide. Listen to more: buff.ly/adPvtJm

Associate Professor Lauren Schmitz's research on the effects of the Great Depression in the U.S. was featured in an article on early-life nutrition, finding long-term wear and tear on the body as families struggled to make ends meet. 🔗 Read more: buff.ly/hPM0thm

Mary Baumgartner (MPA ‘24) and Johanna Schmidt (MPA ’24) recently presented their group's research two years after completing their cost-benefit analysis project, which found that Wisconsin's license policy disproportionately affects low-income drivers. 🔗 Read the story: buff.ly/NVpEW4M

Katie Campbell is an MPA student studying education policy after having a career in marketing and PR for years. Before enrolling at La Follette, she owned a marketing and PR firm in the mountains of Colorado for the last 14 years. 🔗 Read her profile: buff.ly/V6BX5As

Happy New Year, La Follette! 🎉🎇 We're looking forward to an exciting 2026, including the launch of our undergraduate major in public policy this fall. Check out this Wisconsin Watch interview with Director Susan Yackee to learn more ⬇️ Read the interview:

Professor Dave Weimer's book, "Dog Economics: Perspectives on Our Canine Relationships," explores what economics can tell us about the value of our relationships with dogs. Read more about the book: buff.ly/MJyrHif

Don't forget—our LFS in the Twin Cities Alumni Reception is on January 15! Connect with fellow La Follette alumni and meet current graduate students during their career development visit. 🔗 Register today: buff.ly/43y4UPk

Professor Manny Teodoro @mpteodoro.bsky.social was awarded the Donald R. Boyd Award by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) at the 2025 Executive Management Conference this fall. Congratulations, Manny! 🔗 Read more about Teodoro's work and the award: buff.ly/QzHJrsi

MPA student Andrew Lindaas is also pursuing a JD at UW-Madison and finished his first year in law school prior to enrolling. He is also the first year graduation coordinator for the La Follette School Student Association. 🔗 Read his full profile: buff.ly/vHMwChH

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services received the La Follette/Gladfelter Award for Innovation in State Government at the 33rd annual Salute to Local Government Awards last month. Congratulations! 🎉 🔗 Read more about the event: buff.ly/v3RK2HE

We're excited to announce that Governor Mitch Daniels will headline our Spring Spotlight event! He'll share perspectives from his unique career in state government and higher education and explore the state of politics, navigating divisiveness, and more. 🔗 Get your tickets now: buff.ly/flRjsSH

La Follette professor Amber Wichowsky's Advancing Public Policy in a Divided America course addresses the political divide through class conversations and guest speakers from across political parties. 🔗 Take a closer look inside the classroom: buff.ly/3LeuYfb

La Follette certificate student Madeline Hutnik was selected as one of UW-Madison's notable graduates of winter 2025. Hutnik received her bachelor's degree in political science on December 14, with certificates in public policy and education policy. Congrats, Madeline! 🎉 Read more: buff.ly/l8p9xyB

Jacklyn Alsbro is an MPA and EAP student passionate about advancing a sustainable energy transition through policy and analysis. She is currently the 2nd year Graduation Coordinator on the LSSA board and presented research at the Midwest Energy Forum and APPAM. 🔗 Read her profile: buff.ly/x2P0WHQ

Thank you to everyone who attended our Winter Celebration this Tuesday! We had a great time reflecting on the past year, looking forward to what's next in 2026, and celebrating Professor Dave Weimer’s remarkable career as he prepares for retirement.

Teaching students to deliberate not debate: In a public policy course, UW–Madison students put the science behind productive disagreement into practice.

Assistant Professor Mariel Barnes spoke with France 24 about her research on the manosphere and its impact on politics worldwide. She discussed how technology and social media has led to the rise of the manosphere in recent years. 🔗 Watch the interview: buff.ly/h6E0cwk

Applications for the 2026 Wisconsin Women in Government (WWIG) Leadership Seminar are now open! We partner with WWIG to provide professional development seminars for women working in or with government. Applications are due January 5. 🔗 Read more and apply: buff.ly/gCKkcsO

Director Susan Yackee was a keynote speaker at The Ohio State University's Glenn College Annual Leadership Forum, where she spoke about the new major, Main Street Agenda, and our focus on talking across the political divide in response to polarization as a driver of declining trust.

Htet Hlawn is a current MIPA student focused on youth development and inclusion policy. He's also resuming the student organization AISEC in Madison, which promotes youth leadership and cross-cultural understanding through volunteer and internship programs. 🔗 Read his full profile: buff.ly/zKG8LOi

La Follette alum Kurt Thurmaier recently won the Award for Lifetime Scholarly Achievements. He is a Distinguished Engagement Professor at Northern Illinois University, and he became NIU's inaugural chair of public administration in 2009. Congratulations, Kurt! 🎉 ⬇️ Read more: buff.ly/V8crGJG

Public policy certificate student Zoe Kukla was named a Rhodes scholarship finalist this year, one of the world's most prestigious academic awards. She will graduate in May with a degree in history and political science. Congratulations, Zoe! 🎉 🔗 Read more: buff.ly/ifCdeBY

Check out what's happening at La Follette this month with Director Susan Yackee's latest video! This month: 🎓 Undergraduate major: buff.ly/i8OMv2m ❄️ Winter Celebration: buff.ly/j1ESzEr 👋 David Weimer retiring: buff.ly/TF7ZQRm 🌟 Kohl Competition: buff.ly/gKuecFO

This fall, we held three Eat & Greet events, connecting students with alumni in state government, local government, and higher education. Students heard from panelists and networked with alumni to gain insights, mentorship, and career opportunities in their fields. 🔗 Read more: buff.ly/lUcimLt

Tim Casper (MA '99) is the executive vice president of Madison Area Technical College, where the Wisconsin Idea is central to his work. Before returning to higher education, he spent 10 years in state government and the private sector. Read his full profile: lafollette.wisc.edu/news/tim-cas...

Check out @kristinbrey.bsky.social's excellent op-ed featuring our director, Susan Yackee, to learn about bridging political divides at the holiday dinner table, in the classroom, and beyond!

This Thanksgiving, politics doesn't have to ruin your dinner. In an interview with Kristin Brey, Director Susan Yackee explained that mixed-partisan tables may foster warmer feelings across the divide, despite polarization affecting holiday dinners. ⬇️ Watch the full interview: buff.ly/m2BP81o

From classrooms to events, we worked with some amazing policymakers and campus groups this semester. These partnerships help support our students and prepare them for impactful careers. Thank you! Read more: buff.ly/W3L62tI

Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin financial departments declared October as Wisconsin's Financial Planning Month, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy. Professor J. Michael Collins shared how financial literacy and planning is unappealing, especially to students. Read more:

Join us for a reception for La Follette alumni and friends to meet with current students on January 15! Alumni can learn about ways to engage with our programs as students connect and seek career advice. 🔗 Read more information on the event: lafollette.wisc.edu/event/la-fol...

Director Susan Yackee argued in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that despite declining trust, many Americans want to restore civility and common ground. Our new public policy major will help students practice that civil dialogue. ⬇️ Read the full op-ed: www.jsonline.com/story/opinio...

Morgan Edwards and @gregnemet.net recently discussed the COP30 and the United States' withdrawal from climate change efforts in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. However, a record number of Americans see global warming as a threat and climate work continues. Read the full story here: buff.ly/jbf4JCr

As the La Follette School continues to grow and student demand is at an all-time high, we're excited to launch our new undergraduate major in fall 2026, focused on civil dialogue, working across differences, and finding common ground. ⬇️ Read more: lafollette.wisc.edu/news/new-und...

The La Follette School is proud to be involved with the Wisconsin Exchange initiative, an effort crucial to our goal of tackling tomorrow's policy problems through civil dialogue in a polarized world. ⬇️ Read more about the program and our involvement: news.wisc.edu/with-the-wis...

Missed our Hilldale Lecture with Dr. Sendhil Mullainathan? The full recording is now live! Watch the full talk at home and learn all about the different kinds of AI: buff.ly/Fq24UAq For a written overview, check out this Cap Times article covering the event: buff.ly/eWhQYoj

We're excited to launch our new undergraduate major in public policy, coming fall 2026! This 30-credit program will prepare students for careers in government, nonprofits, advocacy, and business. ⬇️ Watch Director Susan Yackee share more about what the major offers: www.youtube.com/shorts/JKFmm...

Today, La Follette and School of Education students attended our Higher Ed Eat & Greet with the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis. Thank you to our panelists and alumni for sharing their valuable insights!

Experts in higher ed and state government visited our Politics of State Policy Issues class last week. Thanks to our board member, Chuck Pruitt, and alumni Andrew Richards and Lisa Ellinger for meeting with our master's students!

The La Follette School Student Association is selling La Follette apparel! Support LSSA and show your La Follette pride by purchasing any of these limited-edition or classic styles by November 17. 🔗 Order yours today: www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticket...