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Robert M. La Follette
School of Public Affairs
1225 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Telephone: 608.262.3581
Fax: 608.265.3233

Last updated:
August 18, 2011

Alumni and Friends: La Follette Notes: Fall 2006

From the Director: Barbara (Bobbi) Wolfe: School's intellectual life flourishes

From the Director Barbara Wolfe

The intellectual life at the La Follette School is especially rich this year with opportunities for students, alumni and faculty to engage in discussion on a range of public policy issues.

One of these is the weekly seminar. Nearly every Wednesday at noon during the school year, a La Follette faculty member or student, or a guest presents his or her research.

Second-year student Matthew Steinberg joined La Follette professor Robert Haveman and visiting scholar Patrizio Piraino in October to give a paper on the variation among universities in the prevalence of Pell grant recipients.

We encourage Madison area alumni to join us. The schedule is online.

Another learning opportunity for students was the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Managements annual research conference, which the La Follette School hosted at Monona Terrace. More than 900 conference attendees gathered in early November to hear and discuss papers on topics such as taxation and expenditure programs that redistribute economic resources. Eleven of our faculty gave presentations, discussed papers or participated in discussions. Gifts from alumni and friends enabled the La Follette School to fund fees so five students could participate.

APPAM brings together public policy researchers and practitioners as they work to improve public policy and management. La Follette School faculty members play a major role in the organizations governance.

In the classroom, the addition of assistant professor Mark Copelovitch strengthens our schools expertise in international monetary and financial relations.

Another major milestone this fall is the hiring of two staff members, career development coordinator Elisabeth McInnis and student services coordinator Mary Treleven. They replace, respectively, Mary Woodward and Joanne Chapin, who both retired.

And of course, I am the new director, taking over from Donald Nichols, who retired after 40 years with the university.

In closing, I invite all of you to our alumni reception on Thursday, February 8, in Madison. While our student association will send formal invitations to people in the Madison area in January, the event is open to all alumni and friends of the school. So, if youre pondering a visit to the wintery Midwest, please let us know by e-mailing alumni@lafollette.wisc.edu or calling (608) 262-3581.

I also would like to thank our alumni and friends who donate to the University of Wisconsin Foundation and designate their gifts for the La Follette School. As I have moved into the directors role, I have especially come to appreciate the importance of these funds to the intellectual and social life of the school.

Thank you.

Index for La Follette Notes fall 2006