Students build career-ready grant writing skills in Aid & Development Workshop series
Mastering technical and theoretical content is just the beginning for public policy students....
Diplomatic leaders engage U-M community at seventh ambassadors forum
The Ford School’s Weiser Diplomacy Center (WDC), in partnership with the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia (WCEE) and the American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD), recently hosted its seventh annual Ambassadors Forum. The three day event brought distinguished diplomats and policy experts to Ann Arbor for discussions on America’s role in NATO, the EU, and the future of diplomacy. U-M students, faculty, and Ann Arbor high schoolers had the opportunity to engage directly with seasoned ambassadors during a particularly dynamic period in global affairs. ...
Ambassador Camara delivers inaugural keynote lecture at Sciences Po Reims campus
Ambassador Kamissa Camara, professor of practice in international diplomacy at the Ford School, was recently invited to give the inaugural keynote lecture at the prestigious Sciences Po College in Reims, France. ...
Undergrads meet with global leaders in Brussels, find resolve amid global uncertainty
When 15 public policy undergraduates touched down in Brussels, Belgium in March, they knew they were visiting Europe’s capital at a pivotal moment....
All in the family: U-M expert reflects on 5 decades focused on Nepal, from youth to leading 30-year study
On the eve of returning to Nepal to mark the study's milestone anniversary and continue to expand its work, Axinn shares his insights on current unrest in the country, key takeaways from his work and where it's going from here....
Scott Atran on what sustains war: will to fight versus military might
Although wars are commonly thought to be sustained by military power, evidence shows that individuals’ willingness to fight can be so profound that they persist even against overwhelming odds. From World War II to the ongoing Gaza War, anthropologist Scott Atran’s recent article in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences explores how deeply held moral convictions and group identities drive committed actors in seemingly intractable conflicts....
Brain drain or brain gain? New evidence points to benefits of skilled migration
High-skilled professionals from small or lower-income countries often emigrate in search of greater opportunities. For countries of origin, this population outflow can prompt concern over the loss of human capital– an effect that is colloquially known as “brain drain.” But a new review published in Science reveals evidence that high-skilled migration opportunities can also lead to “brain gain,” increasing, rather than decreasing, a country’s overall stock of educated workers. ...
Announcing Ken Roy as new Diplomat in Residence
The Ford School extends a warm welcome to Ken Roy, who will serve as the new Diplomat in Residence (DIR) for the North Central region. He will offer advice and guidance to students interested in exploring careers, internships, or fellowships with the U.S. Foreign and Civil Service....
Mental health and marriage timing
In a new study, Axinn investigates the dynamics between the social organization of families and parental mental health using data from over 10,000 individuals in the Chitwan Valley, Nepal. Setting his research in Nepal— with its near universal marriage and childbearing practices and pronounced gendered household roles—offered a context to examine the effects of both mothers’ and fathers’ depression on the children. ...
Amy Beck Harris helps students understand the “how” of international development
Before becoming an academic, Ford School Lecturer Amy Beck Harris worked in international development and foreign assistance implementation across Latin America with Chemonics International, the largest international development firm that implements foreign assistance programs, primarily for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Now, Harris is relying on her work experience and to give students at the Ford School a first-hand look into international development and participatory processes....
Camara emphasizes democracy in new collection dedicated to President Mohamed Bazoum
Ambassador Kamissa Camara, Ford School professor of practice in international diplomacy, has contributed to a newly released book, 25 Letters to President Mohamed Bazoum: Philosopher, Prisoner and Resistance Fighter. The book is a collective work advocating for the release of Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s president who has been held captive in his home since Niger’s military coup d’état that ousted him in July 2023....
Atran on the future of Gaza, from Gazans
In a new article published in Foreign Affairs, Scott Atran and co-author Ángel Gómez shine a light on Gazans’ views, highlighting a complicated picture of postwar Gaza. ...