News: Education Policy

The La Follette School’s strong emphasis on development of analytical skills has made me a more intelligent consumer of information and increased my ability to use data to create evidence-based narratives framing public policy issues and solutions.

I definitely try to use my education and experiences to benefit those who don’t have the opportunity to attend college. I am a vessel of knowledge that can leave the campus and bring with me the ideas I have learned during my time on campus.

David Boardman (MPA ’16) has joined the University of Wisconsin System as a government relations specialist. Most recently, Boardman was a legislative aide for State Rep. Joan Ballweg.

Education Analytics, a Madison-based nonprofit organization led by La Follette School faculty member Rob Meyer, received a $7.8 million award from the U.S. Department of Education to expand the SPARK Early Literacy Program.

Rob Meyer’s commitment to improving K-12 students’ academic success spans three decades. As an educator and researcher, he has shared his passion with students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and school leaders across the country.

Jason Fletcher, a professor of public affairs and sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, received an H.I. Romnes Faculty Fellowship from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education.

My experiences at La Follette make me much better at my job, especially when it comes to analyzing policy, using evidence to create smart public policy, and being a good consumer of research.

Drew McDermott (MPA ’16) joined Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) as a business analyst on its Data Science team.

The first year of the MPA program gave me the foundational skills needed to succeed in government and nonprofit work. During my second year, I was able to take courses in the School of Education while concurrently working for the state Department of Public Instruction.

More than 60 people attended each of four recent Town Hall meetings on key election issues with University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty members. The meetings in Appleton, Madison, Milwaukee, and suburban St. Paul, Minnesota, were sponsored by UW–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs and Department of Political Science along with the Wisconsin Alumni Association.