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Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Dean’s Forum: Learning from the Past

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How Immigration Policy Affects Communities

On February 26, 2026, Dean Jodi Sandfort hosted a conversation with panelists Dafeng Xu (Evans School) and Catherine Clement (?) about the past efforts to curb immigration in North America and how those policies impacted communities, families, labor markets, and social relations. 

Event Speakers

Dean Jodi Sandfort

Jodi Sandfort

Dean and Professor

Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Dafeng Xu

Dafeng Xu

Assistant Professor

Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Catherine Clement

Catherine Clement

Public Historian

Creator, Curator, Author of “The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act”

Event Recording

Conversation Resources

U.S. Chinese Immigration Policy Timeline University of Washington

Bill C-3: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025) Department of Justice Canada

How to Claim Citizenship by Descent Under Canada’s New Citizenship Act Bill C-3 Immigration.ca

Chinatown: San Francisco’s 1906 Earthquake and the Paradox of American Immigration Policy by Dafeng Xu

The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act by Catherine Clement

The Paper Trail Digital Collection University of British Columbia

The Paper Trail Exhibition Chinese Canadian Museum

Immigrants from China, 1885-1952 Library & Archives Canada

Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America – Update Edition by Mae M. Ngai

A White Man’s Province: British Columbia Politicians and Chinese and Japanese Immigrants 1858-1914 by Patricia E. Roy

At America’s Gates: Chinese Immigration during the Exclusion Era, 1882-1943 by Erika Lee

Wing Luke Museum

Cohort 9 – Welcome to the Program!

We are thrilled to announce the 35 incoming fellows of Cohort 9 who are joining the IPPHL community! Selected from a record applicant pool of nearly 1200, this year’s cohort represents 20 countries in Africa, bringing expert perspectives from a wide range of programmatic areas at the country, state/province/regional, and local levels of public health leadership.

Beginning with Orientation, fellows will dive into fast-paced and rigorous public policy and leadership programming, complete hands-on experiential work with individual projects, and engage in rich discussions and learning opportunities with cohort peers, alums, and program partners.

Welcome, Cohort 9! We look forward to working with you and learning from you over the coming months.

Missed Opportunities: How Provider-Centric Data Systems Undermine Mothers in Kangaroo Mother Care

We are proud to share that Dr. Desalegn Tegabu Zegeye, Dr. Selorm Kutsoati, Dr. Wesley Oghera, and Dr. Ikrama Hassan, represented IPPHL at the GLOBEHEAL 2026 conference in Bali, Indonesia, delivering an impactful oral presentation during the session on Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health.

Their presentation, titled “Missed Opportunities: How Provider-Centric Data Systems Undermine Mothers in Kangaroo Mother Care” shared findings from Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria. The research highlighted critical gaps in how current Health Information Systems (HIS) fail to track the quality, adequacy, and post-discharge outcomes of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)—a lifesaving intervention for preterm and low-birth-weight infants. Notably, the team found that in some regions, fewer than 20% of KMC infants have recorded follow-up after discharge, leaving mothers without the support and data needed to continue care confidently at home.

A key outcome of their engagement was the introduction of the “KMC Passport,” a mother-held documentation tool designed to empower caregivers, bridge the gap between facility and home, and ensure continuity of care. The proposal generated vibrant technical dialogue and strong interest among researchers and policymakers for its potential as a scalable, low-cost solution ready for integration into national systems like DHIS2.

We extend our gratitude to the Ministries of Health in Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria for their collaboration, and to the conference organizers for the platform. IPPHL remains committed to supporting our network members across the African Continent that are strengthening health systems in areas such as advancing newborn survival through fellow-led, multi-country learning and innovation.

The Malaria Elimination Program in Cabo Verde

Adilson De Pina is the Head of Malaria Elimination Program in Cabo Verde’s Ministry of Health, and an alumnus of IPPHL’s Cohort 5.  

We sat to talk about Cabo Verde’s malaria elimination program, and discussed the measures being taken to sustain the country’s progress. Providing free access to malaria resources such as tests, prevention education, etc., are some of the steps that were taken and are still being taken to guarantee malaria elimination. 

Adilson shares his vision for Cabo Verde to remain malaria-free and details some of the initiatives he is currently spearheading to achieve this goal. He also talked about the possibility of the disease being reintroduced due to globalization, as Cape Verde is growing into a hub for many visitors. Efforts to counter this possibility include receiving malaria prevention resources at their point of entry, emphasizing the importance of getting tested, and providing free malaria testing and treatment for everyone. 

Besides working to ensure Cape Verde maintains their malaria-free status, Adilson is also working on an international partnership with other organizations to secure a grant proposal that reinforces their malaria surveillance activities. His team also hopes that this grant application will allow them to conduct scientific research to further explain why and how Cape Verde has zero malaria cases and learn how to sustain their efforts. 

Adilson worked with national and international stakeholders such as the WHO, the Global Fund, National Malaria Program, the National Institute of Public Health, etc., to attain this feat. He talked about the ease of working together to balance each party’s interest because they all had the same goal in mind, to eliminate malaria in Cape Verde. One difficulty he mentioned was the difference in tools and resources between international stakeholders and national stakeholders. They overcame this by adapting their data and results to the levels of their stakeholders to bridge the gap. 

Adilson’s advice for people coming into the field of public health, especially young people, is for them to be patient and wait to seize their opportunity when it is presented. In the meantime, they should take advantage of the vast resources they have at their disposal which will enable them to contribute a lot more once they get into the field. He also talks about the importance of leaving a mark, trying to improve from day to day, having a clear head, and staying humble. 

March 3 | South Seattle College Policy Camp

Exploring Public Policy, Public Service, and Pathways Forward

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 1:45 PM
South Seattle College — Brockey Center
6000 16th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA

The University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, in partnership with Seattle Colleges and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, is proud to host the inaugural Policy Camp—a half-day conference designed to inform, inspire, and empower undergraduates. The event introduces students to the field of public policy and highlights career pathways, with a focus on engaging promising and underrepresented students interested in public policy and careers in public service.

You will have the opportunity to:

  • Connect with students from Seattle Colleges and other Puget Sound institutions who are interested in public policy education and careers.
  • Engage with professionals working in policy and public service fields.
  • Explore career pathways made possible through public policy and public administration training.
  • Leave inspired to pursue public policy as an academic, personal, and professional path.

What is Public Policy?

Public policies are collective actions by government to address societal problems through laws, regulations, and programs. Public policies are proposed as solutions to public problems; however, sometimes they can be harmful, intentionally or unintentionally.  

The academic study of public policy and management combines knowledge from economics, law, political science, psychology, and other social sciences to understand the structure and function of government in society. Students build a toolkit to pursue public service in multiple contexts. They learn to analyze, design, implement, and evaluate public policies.  

People with public policy degrees work in the government, nonprofits, and private sectors as advocates, strategists, budget and program managers, analysts, directors, and more. 

Program At A Glance

  • Check-In and Light Breakfast 8:30 AM
  • Welcome + Framing 9:00 AM
  • What is Public Policy? 9:20 AM
  • Policy Hackathon: Interactive Group Work 10:00 AM
  • Break & Grab Lunch 11:30 AM
  • Lunch Panel: Student & Career Pathways in Public Service 11:45 AM
  • Resource Fair & Networking 1:00 PM

Key Program Elements

Agenda

8:30 – 9:00 AM | Arrival, Check-In & Light Refreshments

Pick up materials, grab coffee, and get settled.

9:00 – 9:20 AM | Welcome & Framing: Why Public Policy? Why Public Service? Why Now?

Public service values, civic responsibility, and the urgency of policy today.

  • D’Andre Fisher, Associate Vice Chancellor, Seattle Colleges
  • Becky Corriell, Assistant Dean of Students & Learning Innovation

9:20 – 10:00 AM | What Is Public Policy?

An introduction to public policy, how it shapes our lives, and how change happens.

  • Professor Karin Martin, Evans School

10:00 – 11:30 AM | Policy Hackathon

Work in teams of 8–10 to apply a core policy analysis tool to a real-world issue, guided by trained facilitators and mentors. Build hands-on experience with policy analysis and explore the complexity of real-life problem-solving in public service.

11:30 – 11:45 AM | Break & Grab Lunch

After getting lunch, please return to your seat for the next segment.

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Lunch Panel: Student & Career Pathways in Public Service

Students and professionals share:

  • Career journeys and decision points
  • Challenges and lessons learned
  • Advice for entering public service and policy fields

Includes moderated Q&A

1:00 – 1:45 PM | Resource Fair & Networking 

Connect with programs, organizations, and opportunities related to:

  • Public service & policy education 
  • Civic engagement 
  • Workforce and green jobs 
  • Internships, fellowships, and career pathways 

1:45 PM | Conference Adjourns

Pathways to Public Policy Careers

Undergraduate

Pursue a major or minor in Public Policy or Public Administration. These generally tend to be four year programs where you build strong theoretical frameworks through coursework, develop skills and build out your Policy Toolkit.  

Master’s Degree

Pursue a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) or Master’s of Public Policy (MPP) degree. These programs are usually two years long and require a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university. Graduate students will develop their Policy Analysis Skills, be trained in Public Administration, and hone their Leadership Skills.  

Ph.D. 

Pursue a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management. Ph.D. programs can be from four to six years long. Ph.D. students will learn and practice advanced research methods, deepen their mastery of theory and synthesis, and pursue independent research.  

Policy Hackathon

A hackathon is a collaborative, fast-paced event where teams develop solutions to engineering or computing challenges. A policy hackathon applies this same model to social issues, focusing on solutions that can be advanced through public policy and public resources. Today, you’ll work alongside fellow students and industry professionals to engage directly in hands-on policy analysis and problem-solving.

Student & Career Panel

Hear from current students and experienced public service professionals pursuing graduate degrees and/or careers in public policy and public service. Panelists will share their inspirations, personal experiences, and career journeys, offering insights into earning a graduate degree and preparing for impactful careers in public service.

Resource Fair & Networking

Connect with community partners and agencies to learn about what graduate degrees and/or career opportunities in public policy and public service are available to you. Partner organizations will share resources and opportunities with attendees to help them take the next step in their Public Service journey.

Featured Speakers

D’Andre Fisher

D’Andre Fisher 

Associate Vice Chancellor, Seattle Colleges  

Prior to his appointment as the first Associate Vice Chancellor of the Division for Access, Community, and Opportunity at Seattle Colleges in June of 2022, D’Andre Fisher served as Associate Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for North Seattle College from 2018 to 2022. 

Fisher has experience as a Diversity and Inclusion consultant, and prior to establishing his consultant firm, he served as the Special Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Operations in the Office of University Community at the University of Oklahoma (OU), working alongside Vice President Jabar Shumate to promote campus diversity and inclusion. In these positions, Fisher served as a liaison to faculty and staff departments with Diversity and Inclusion Programs, including Admissions and Recruitment, Student Sffairs, and the Center for Student Life. He assisted with the cultivation of faculty, staff, and alumni advisory boards for the Office of University Community and helped implement their recommendations. 

Fisher has a passion for working with college students and earned his Master’s in Adult and Higher Education from OU. Before his work in the Office of University Community, he served as Assistant Director of Diversity Enrichment Programs in OU Admissions and Recruitment. He met with thousands of high school students each year, primarily reaching out to under-represented minorities and students with low socioeconomic backgrounds. While there, Fisher co-founded the George McLaurin Male Leadership initiative, which is now supplemented by the Sylvia A. Lewis Women’s Leadership Initiative. These programs are now under the Office of University Community and annually bring approximately 150 prospective students to OU’s Norman campus for a conference that builds relationships with first-generation college students. Fisher has also served as an adjunct instructor in Human Relations. 

Becky Corriell

Becky Corriell 

Assistant Dean of Students & Learning Innovation, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington  

Karin Martin

Karin Martin

Associate Professor, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance  

Karin D. Martin is a crime policy specialist whose areas of expertise are monetary sanctions, racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and decision-making in the criminal justice context. These issues come together in her current projects, which examine the use of money in punishment (e.g., fines, fees, restitution, etc.).
She is currently co-PI in a five-year research project examining the use of monetary sanctions in eight states and she has given testimony on the issue of criminal justice debt to the New York State Assembly and to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. 

Karin studied Psychology at Stanford University and worked in the non-profit sector in the San Francisco Bay Area before attending University of California, Berkeley where she earned an MPP, an MA in Political Science, and a PhD in Public Policy. She was a post-doctoral scholar in the Psychology Department at UCLA where she was also a Fellow with the Center for Policing Equity. She was Assistant Professor of Public Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (2013-2017) and was a Visiting Professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2016. 

Hackathon Facilitators

Arielle Weaver

Arielle Weaver

Ph.D. Student, Evans School  

Arielle Weaver joined the Evans School Ph.D. Program in Public Policy & Management in 2021. Broadly, Arielle’s research interests are aligned with addressing issues of social equity, access, and opportunity for marginalized populations with an emphasis on women of color. Arielle seeks to bring a critical lens to her research, drawing attention to racial disparities resulting from policy and the policy process.

Prior to beginning her Ph.D. studies, Arielle had a career in Student Affairs and has experience in the areas of residence life, student conduct, leadership development, and mentorship for women of color. Through that work, Arielle had the opportunity to develop, advocate for, and mentor women of color student leaders, which informs her current research interests. 

Cam Turner

Cam Turner, MPA Student, Evans School
Cam is a first-year MPA student at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. Their main interests are nonprofit management and social policy as it relates to families and youth, as well as disparities between rural and urban areas.
Prior to Evans, Cam worked as an advisor for the Passport to College Program assisting former foster and unhouse youth and as a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences at WSU, where they completed their undergrad studies. They hold a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science.

David Suárez

David Suárez

Associate Dean & Professor, Evans School  

David Suárez, Ph.D., is a professor at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington. His current research focuses on social sector organizations (nonprofits and foundations) and explores: how management strategy shapes organizational performance; the relationship between service-provision and social change activity; and the consequences of professionalization. He is particularly interested in cross-sector collaboration, advocacy, and civic engagement—issues that link social sector organizations to public agencies and the policy process. Ongoing projects include research on: the emergence and development of participatory grantmaking in foundations; the Civic Life of Cities – a multi-team project exploring how nonprofits contribute to the communities they serve; public-nonprofit partnerships in national parks and schools; monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices in development NGOs; and the role of foundations in generating social change. 

His research has been supported by the Ford Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Aspen Institute, the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His work has been published in the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, the American Review of Public Administration, Administration & Society, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Voluntas, Sociology of Education, and many additional outlets. He teaches courses on public management, organizational theory, philanthropy, and leadership in the nonprofit sector. Prior to pursuing a career in academia, David worked briefly as an elementary school teacher for dual language learners in California (Spanish-English) and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. 

Izzy Sederbaum

Izzy Sederbaum

Postdoctoral Fellow, Evans School  

Isaac “Izzy” Sederbaum started the Evans School Ph.D. program in Public Policy & Management in 2019. His interests span a wide array of topics, including how policies often work to punish and criminalize queerness, particularly in young people; participatory action research (PAR); and the continued prevalence of wage theft in vulnerable communities.

Prior to joining the program, Izzy was a Research Associate in the Vera Institute of Justice’s Center on Youth Justice (CYJ), where he primarily focused on working with jurisdictions across the country to rethink their approaches to arresting and incarcerating youth for status offenses. Before Vera, he was a field researcher at the Center for Court Innovation and a research consultant for the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United. He earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance in 2014 and his BA in Community Development from Portland State University in 2011. 

Jill Lane

Jill Lane

Faculty, Seattle Colleges; Planning Committee Member  

Jill Lane is a longtime faculty member within Seattle Colleges and a dedicated advocate for student‑centered learning and institutional collaboration. She served as interim president of North Seattle college from July 2023-July 2024, and has been with the college since 2005. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. At North, Lane has served in various roles, including co-accreditation liaison officer and chair of the North Seattle College Council. She previously served as faculty chair for North’s Assessment Committee and program coordinator for North’s Political Science program. She has been a full-time faculty member at North since 2018 and tenured since 2021. 

Larry Cushnie

Larry Cushnie

Faculty, Seattle Colleges; Planning Committee Member 

Larry holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Washington and a masters in Sociology of Law from the International Institute for the Sociology of Law in the Basque Country. His teaching and research interests are interdisciplinary and span many aspects of American politics, political theory, law, social movements, and political resistance.

Since being hired in 2017, Larry has been building more courses within the political science department to offer students a wide-reaching experience as they prepare to transfer to a four-year institution. His teaching approach strives to be inclusive with an emphasis on social justice and political participation. 

Olivia Atkinson

Olivia Atkinson

Faculty, Seattle Colleges; Planning Committee Member 

Olivia Atkinson is a political science faculty member at Seattle Central College whose work centers on public policy, social movements, and civic participation. She is committed to creating inclusive, discussion‑driven classrooms where students explore the connections between policy decisions and lived experience. Atkinson’s teaching and research reflect a deep interest in how communities organize for change and how institutions can better respond to public needs. Her contributions to the planning committee draw on her experience designing collaborative learning experiences that bridge academic study and community engagement. 

Scott Allard

Scott Allard

Professor, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance  

Scott W. Allard is the Daniel J. Evans Endowed Professor of Social Policy at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and served as Associate Dean for Research and Engagement from 2021 to 2025. At UW, Allard is an affiliate of the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology (CSDE) and of the West Coast Poverty Center. Allard is a research affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served on the National Advisory Board from 2018-2020. He also served as a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program from 2010 to 2020. He previously held faculty positions at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University (2000–03), the Department of Political Science at Brown University (2003–08), and in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago (2008–14). 

His primary areas of research expertise are urban poverty, employment among low-skill workers, food security, safety net utilization, and the spatial accessibility of governmental and nongovernmental safety net programs. 

Tracy Furutani

Tracy Furutani | Deputy Mayor, City of Lake Forest Park; Faculty, North Seattle College  

Tracy Furutani serves as the Deputy Mayor of Lake Forest Park and as a full-time faculty member at North Seattle College, where he teaches earth sciences, environmental sciences, chemistry, physics, anthropology and biochemistry.. His dual roles reflect a career dedicated to public service, environmental stewardship, and community‑based education. In local government, Furutani works on issues ranging from climate resilience to transportation planning, bringing a scientific lens to policy decisions. In the classroom, he emphasizes hands‑on learning and the importance of civic responsibility. His ability to connect policy, science, and community engagement makes him a valued facilitator and mentor.

Panelists

Yvette Gutierrez

Yvette Gutierrez‑Morfin

Academic Operations & Strategy Manager, Evans School 

Yvette Gutierrez‑Morfin serves as the Academic Operations and Strategy Manager at the Evans School, where she oversees academic planning, program development, and strategic initiatives that support faculty, students, and staff. With a background in higher education administration and organizational leadership, she plays a central role in strengthening academic processes and advancing equity‑centered practices across the school. Gutierrez‑Morfin is known for her collaborative leadership style, her commitment to student success, and her ability to build systems that support inclusive and effective learning environments. 

Mara Rafferty

Mara Rafferty

Executive Director, Washington Labor Education & Research Center  

Mara Rafferty (she/her) is the Director of the Washington Labor Education and Research Center at South Seattle College, where she helps run programs across the state that help people know how to exercise their rights at work and advocate to win new rights. Before coming to the LERC, Mara served as Lead External Organizer for the United Autoworkers union, Local 4121, where she helped lead thousands of workers in creating new unions and winning better working conditions. Before joining the UAW, Mara worked for multiple nonprofit and community organizations in the US and in the Middle East where she worked on civic and community education, as well as economic policy research. Mara has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Masters degree in Economics, and is a huge nerd who loves spreadsheets and data analysis. She’s proud to be the first transgender woman to serve in her position, and looks forward to continuing to make organized labor and higher education place where queer and trans people can thrive and be their best selves.

Jesse Johnson

Jesse Johnson

Former Washington State Representative  

Jesse Johnson is the oldest of 4 siblings and a lifelong resident of Federal Way, a suburban city just south of Seattle. He is a double graduate from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Masters of Education. At the UW, Jesse interned for Congressman Adam Smith and volunteered for the Obama campaign. Johnson was the youngest City Council member in his hometown Federal Way history when he first took office at the age of 27 after winning the election over a 2-term incumbent. He then ran and served as the youngest member in the Washington State Legislature, where he worked on community safety issues sponsoring police accountability legislation in addition to juvenile justice reform, addressing workforce development in the trades for young people and families struggling with housing insecurity across the state. Johnson’s values are rooted in equity and social justice. His focus comes from his close partnership with community in the South King County region, where he has also worked as a High School Career and College Counselor and in Workforce Planning and Development for the Seattle School District. He now serves as the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement for the Office of the State Treasurer working to address wealth inequity and close generational wealth gaps for historically and currently marginalized communities. Jesse is a proud husband to his wife Epiphany, a Family Medicine doctor, and father to two boys 3 year old Elijah and 1 year old Ezra.

Joseph Seia

Joseph Seia

Executive Director, Oceania Northwest  

Joseph Seia, MPA, has ancestral roots in Samoa, Tonga and Aotearoa. He has 20 years of experience in direct service and providing leadership oversight over nonprofits that serve most impacted populations. He is currently the Executive Director of Oceania NW. Joseph is an anti-racist community organizer that labors to build intergenerational spaces rooted in cultural belonging, healing justice and in the commitment to abolishing the cruelties of poverty.

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Logistics

Attire/ Dress Code

Please dress comfortably. We’ll have light networking during the resource fair—dress as you’d like to present yourself.

Getting to South Seattle College’s Main Campus in West Seattle

Address and Phone:
South Seattle College
6000 16th Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98106-1499
206.934.5300 or 206.934.6684
Parking Information

Bus Routes

Bus routes 128 and 125 stop in front of the Robert Smith Building (RSB). (See campus map.) You can call METRO (206.553.3000) or check the METRO Trip Planner for bus route schedules and times.

From I-5 or Route 99

  1. Take West Seattle Bridge to Delridge Way S.W.
  2. Drive south on Delridge Way S.W. to third light.
  3. At light, turn left onto S.W. Oregon.
  4. Take arterial to top of hill, veering right onto 21st Ave S.W.
  5. Take first left turn onto Dawson, continuing onto 16th Ave. S.W.
  6. Follow 16th Ave. S.W. for 1/4 mile to South Seattle College campus on left.

Northbound from South Suburbs

  1. At Southcenter, exit to Highway 518 West.
  2. Follow 518 West to Burien, where it becomes S.W. 148th.
  3. Continue on S.W. 148th to Ambaum Blvd., turning right onto Ambaum.
  4. Drive straight north six miles on Ambaum/16th S.W. to South Seattle College campus.

Michigan-Corson Exit (Off I-5, North or Southbound)

  1. Michigan-Corson exit.
  2. Right onto S. Michigan St.
  3. Follow Michigan to 1st Ave. Bridge, taking ramp onto bridge.
  4. Take FIRST exit (W. Marginal Way/South Park).
  5. Right at end of ramp; left at signal.
  6. Left at Highland Park Way (up the hill).
  7. Take first right turn onto Holden, continuing to16th Ave. S.W.
  8. Right onto 16th Ave. S.W., follow north one mile to South Seattle College campus.

From Northbound I-5 at Southcenter

  1. Take Exit 156 to Northbound Hwy. 599/Tukwila/W. Marginal.
  2. Hwy. 599 turns into Hwy 99. At stoplight after 5 miles, go straight
    (W. Marginal Way/Burien).
  3. Go under bridge, continue through signals and straight up Highland
    Park Way to top of hill.
  4. At first right turn onto Holden, continuing to 16th Ave.
  5. Turn right onto 16th Ave. S.W., follow north one mile to South Seattle College on right.

Photography Consent

This event will be photographed. Signage will be posted at the registration table notifying all participants that the event will be photographed. If you would like to opt out of having your photograph taken, please check in with conference staff to obtain an opt-out sticker, and we will notify our team!

Prayer Room/Quiet Space

Prayer Room is located in Student Wellness Center, located next door to the Brockey Center!

Restrooms

Single-Stall gender neutral bathrooms are located by the north entrance of the Brockey Center by the bookstore.

Technology Policy

This event is a low/no-tech space. We invite you to put your devices away during lecture and the policy hackathon. All materials will be provided for activities!

Stay Engaged and Explore What's Next

NASPAA Conference

The NASPAA Global Conference is the premier annual gathering for public policy and public administration programs.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our partners: Seattle Colleges, Washington State Board of Community & Technical Colleges, National Forum for Black Public Administrators – Seattle Chapter, and Seattle University.  

Building a Public Service Swiss Army Knife: Roy Plaeger-Brocker, MPA ’86

Roy Plaeger-Brockway

How Roy Plaeger-Brockway built a career improving health care systems through his Evans School education

When Roy Plaeger-Brockway, MPA ‘86, arrived at the Evans School, he had no idea that his degree would become the foundation for a career shaping health policy and improving the lives of Washington residents. But he knew “I wanted to make government work better.” At Evans, he found both the mindset and the tools that would guide him through decades of public service. 

Roy often describes his MPA as building a professional Swiss Army Knife. Each course became a go-to tool in his toolkit, including policy analysis, quantitative analysis, statistics, project planning, public health services, and organizational behavior. That toolkit was put to the test during his Governor’s Executive Internship. Paired with a senior health economist addressing rising health care costs, Roy analyzed problems, wrote decision papers, and helped launch early process improvements. The work also connected directly to ideas he was developing in his extended policy analysis paper with Professor Peter May. What began as academic exploration became the blueprint for pilot projects and ultimately a new model for delivering occupational health services. 

These skills helped Roy develop the Centers for Occupational Health and Education (COHEs), which improved care for patients, rewarded doctors with quality-based payments, and streamlined health care delivery. Today, this innovation includes most major health systems in Washington and has begun to take root in other states too. Roy credits Evans for the evidence-based decision-making approach that made these health care advancements possible. The ability to conduct rigorous analysis, frame ideas for decision makers, and build proposals on research enabled him to lead improvements that were practical and lasting. 

As Roy moved into senior executive roles and later into state and federal consulting, his Evans-built toolkit expanded much like a Swiss Army Knife. He led analyst teams, oversaw a major health care division, and played a central role in Washington state’s multi-year Lean Transformation. The work brought him into collaboration with leaders from Toyota, Boeing, and Virginia Mason. He found that the systems thinking, analytical discipline, and purpose-driven approach he learned at Evans were not only relevant but essential. These same habits later shaped his work teaching continuous improvement and leadership practices to federal health leaders at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

Throughout his career, Roy has seen Evans values reflected in every level of his work. He carried forward the belief that public service is a noble calling. He used evidence to build trust among partners and health systems, and grounded improvement efforts in a commitment to making care more affordable, efficient, and accessible for the people who need it most. 

For students considering an MPA, Roy has a clear message. “Evans gives you a toolkit that grows with you,” he said. “Whether you’re improving health care, the environment, or social services, the Evans School prepares you to step into complexity with self-confidence, a sense of purpose, and the tools to improve results for citizens. If you want a career where you can make a tangible difference, the Evans School gives you everything you need to start — plus the mindset to keep adding tools as you grow.” 

Roy’s story is a testament to what happens when curiosity meets rigorous training and a commitment to public service. His impact stretches across Washington state and into national health care leadership, and his Evans education remains central to everything he has built. His career is a reminder that what happens at Evans ripples far beyond the classroom.

Learn more about the Evans MPA

Dean’s Forum: Public Impact Research in Action

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Partnering with Communities for Coastal Hazard Preparedness

On December 2, 2025, Dean Jodi Sandfort hosted a conversation with panelists Ann Bostrom (Evans School), Jenna Tilt (Oregon State University), and Maximilian Dixon (Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division) about the work of the Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub. CoPes Hub is a National Science Foundation–funded initiative helping Pacific Northwest coastal communities prepare for major earthquakes and other coastal hazards. The discussion emphasized how researchers and local leaders are co-developing tools for hazard assessment, disaster mitigation planning, and long-term adaptations that are grounded in local expertise, scientific evidence, and inclusive engagement.

Event Speakers

Dean Jodi Sandfort

Jodi Sandfort

Dean and Professor

Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Ann Bostrom

Ann Bostrom

Weyerhaeuser Endowed Professor in Environmental Policy

Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Jenna Tilt

Jenna Tilt

Assistant Professor

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences

Oregon State University

Maximilian Dixon

Maximilian Dixon

Earthquake Program Manager, WA Military Department’s Emergency Management Division

Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network

Event Recording

Conversation Resources

Tsunamis Emergency Management Division, Washington State

Preparedness Emergency Management Division, Washington State

Alter and Warning Notifications Emergency Management Division, Washington State

NVS Tsunami Evacutation Zones Map

Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Networks

Center for Disaster Resilient Communities University of Washington

Cascadia CoPes Hub

Cascadia Subjection Zone Earthquake and Tsunami Risk Emergency Management Division, Washington State

Keeping the Promise: Abel Lee Pacheco, MPA ’12

Abel Lee Pacheco delivering speech from Podium

Abel Lee Pacheco’s Journey of Service and Community

Fifteen years ago, Abel Lee Pacheco MPA ‘12 packed his car, said goodbye to his family in Los Angeles, and drove north toward a city he had never been to before. Seattle was cold, unfamiliar, and far from home, but Abel carried with him something stronger than fear: a promise to his parents that he would make them proud and a determination to serve the public good. 

Those early days were filled with both excitement and uncertainty. Abel arrived from Venice Beach, trading year-round sunshine for the rain and long winters of the Pacific Northwest. As the son of a Black man from Compton and an immigrant mother from Mexico City, he came to a place where he had no family or established community.

Fifteen years ago, Abel Lee Pacheco MPA ‘12 packed his car, said goodbye to his family in Los Angeles, and drove north toward a city he had never been to before. Seattle was cold, unfamiliar, and far from home, but Abel carried with him something stronger than fear: a promise to his parents that he would make them proud and a determination to serve the public good.

Those early days were filled with both excitement and uncertainty. Abel arrived from Venice Beach, trading year-round sunshine for the rain and long winters of the Pacific Northwest. As the son of a Black man from Compton and an immigrant mother from Mexico City, he came to a place where he had no family or established community.
What he did have was the faith and perseverance instilled in him by his parents. Qualities that carried him forward and ultimately led him to the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, where he began to find his community and purpose.

At Evans, Abel found mentors who believed in him, classmates who inspired him, and a community grounded in shared values and a belief in the power of public service. He discovered that leadership is not about individual success but about collective progress. It is about showing up for one another and for the communities we serve.

That belief has guided Abel throughout his career. From serving as a Seattle City Councilmember to his work as Director of Government and Community Relations at Sound Transit, and as an Intelligence Analyst in the Washington Army National Guard, Abel’s path reflects the courage, equity, and service at the heart of the Evans School mission.

In February of last year Abel received devastating news that his father had been killed by a drunk driver on his way to work. In that moment of profound loss, he found strength in his father’s lessons. “You can’t keep a good man down,” his dad used to say. Even in grief, Abel continued his father’s legacy of compassion and perseverance.

“Home isn’t about location,” Abel reflects. “Home is about people.”

For Abel, the Evans School helped him find that home. It became the place where his purpose took shape, where his promise to his parents was fulfilled, and where he learned that public service is a lifelong calling.

“I stand here today because of the people who believed in me—my family, my community, and this school,” Abel shared at a recent Evans event. “Now it’s our turn to believe in the next generation.”

Abel’s story is a reminder that public service begins with a promise: to our families, our communities, and ourselves, to leave the world better than we found it. The Evans School continues to nurture that promise, preparing leaders who carry forward the same spirit of courage, equity, and service that shaped Abel’s journey. Staying engaged—through mentorship, connection, or support—ensures that more students like Abel can find their path, their purpose, and their home in service to others.

The Evans School would like to extend our special thanks to Abel Lee Pacheco for sharing his story with our community and for his dedicated service to the public good. 

Building Connections and Giving Back: Nathan Woo, MPA ’24

Nathan Woo

Evans Alum Nathan Woo, MPA '24, on His Experience with Huskies@Work

When Nathan Woo, MPA ’24, graduated from the Evans School, he was eager to stay connected to the UW community and give back to students who were just beginning their public service journeys. That desire to support and stay engaged led him to participate in Huskies@Work, a University of Washington Alumni Association (UWAA) program that matches current UW students and alumni for conversations about career paths and professional experiences.

“There’s a saying out there, ‘it’s not the grades you make; it’s the hands you shake,’” Nathan shared. “I don’t necessarily believe that 100 percent, but it has a point. I joined the Huskies@Work program to start building connections outside my program and hear about different folks’ experiences.”

Through the program, Nathan has already connected with two undergraduate students. Their conversations have touched on everything from finding purpose in their academic paths to exploring possible career directions after graduation. “We’ve discussed their life paths, what led them to their degree choices, what they want to do in the future, and the ‘whys’ behind their actions,” Nathan said. “It’s been rewarding to share my own experiences, offer advice when asked, and see their excitement about the future.”

For Nathan, mentorship is more than guidance; it is about mutual growth and community building. “I’m a believer in strong mentorship programs,” he said. “Mentorship done right can be valuable for both mentor and mentee. The MPA degree can lead to many different career paths, some of which can feel niche or hard to navigate. Programs like Huskies@Work help peel back that layer of mystery for new grads and current students who might feel uncertain about what comes next.”

Nathan encourages other Evans alumni to get involved. “What’s the harm?” he said. “It takes five minutes to sign up, and at worst, it’s another connection you’ll have in your back pocket.”

The Evans School is proud to partner with UWAA’s Huskies@Work program to expand mentorship opportunities for our community. Alumni have long expressed interest in connecting with current students, and this partnership provides an easy and flexible way to make those connections happen. Whether you are looking to share your story, support a student exploring their career path, or even seek guidance yourself. For the first time ever, alumni can sign up as mentees, for those who want support on their own journey. Huskies@Work offers a meaningful way to stay engaged and strengthen the Evans network.

For those who have been looking for an opportunity to give back or reconnect, this is your time to get involved. Learn more and sign up for Huskies@Work today.

Learn more about Huskies@Work

Walk Ambitiously with Me: Xitaly Mendoza, NextGen SPA ’25

Xitlaly Mendoza speaking at podium

Walk Ambitiously with Me

Xitlaly Mendoza, '26

As I reflect back on my summer, something I will carry forward with me into this final year at UW and beyond is my NextGen Summer Policy Academy experience. I am a senior at the University of Washington double-majoring in Sociology and Law, Societies & Justice, and double-minoring in Leadership and Spanish. I am also a first-generation Chicana student, the proud daughter of migrant farmworkers, and come from a Mexican, Mixtec-Indigenous family. My family’s values, sacrifices, and unwavering resilience instilled in me a profound commitment to cultural exchange and public service, and taught me the transformative power of education.

At the University of Washington, I have served in the College Assistance Migrant Program, the Multicultural Outreach & Recruitment office, the grassroots organization La Resistencia, and of course, the NextGen Civic Leader Corps. Having developed a passion for expanding access to education and other resources for underrepresented communities, I decided to apply for the NextGen Summer Policy Academy to gain a deeper understanding of public policy, learn about public service through the lens of leaders, and network with like-minded peers.

The NextGen Summer Policy Academy provides undergraduate students like me from across disciplines with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in public policy. We began with a week in Washington D.C. where we attended professional development workshops, networked with government leaders and inspirational change-makers, and visited federal departments and agencies. Afterward, we headed to Seattle for two weeks at the Evans School to gain exposure to nonprofits and government agencies working on creating and implementing social policies.

One of the most memorable experiences was going on a night tour of the U.S. Capitol with Congressman Baird—an evening that was not only unforgettable but deeply moving in these challenging times. Hearing our governmental and public leaders speak about the current state of our nation reminded me that true leadership goes beyond a position or title: it means turning uncertainty into opportunity, fear into courage, and division into collective strength, where resilience is stronger because it is shared.

This experience has given me so much: I met extraordinary people from diverse backgrounds who have now become lifelong friends and mentors, enriching the village that continues to support and inspire me. From Congressman Baird to public leader Johanna Gusman to our very own Dean Jodi Sandford, and even U.S. Capital Tour Guide Mr. Ronn Jackson, with his memorable phrase of “walk ambitiously with me”—each left a powerful mark on my journey.

Moving forward, this program has reignited my passion for pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration while deepening my commitment to serving underrepresented communities and working across borders. Carrying the identity I hold, I never imagined that at just 21 years old I would have the transformative experience of visiting our nation’s capital.

It is programs like the NextGen Summer Policy Academy and Civic Leader Corps that give students like me the opportunity to learn from the leaders of yesterday while shaping the leaders of our future. In times like these, they do even more: they give us the courage to keep moving forward together, to protect the spark that keeps hope alive, and to fuel the movement towards a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.

NextGen SPA students celebrate the end of their program with certificates.
NextGen SPA students celebrate the end of their program with certificates.

Evans in Government Network Taps Into Community at Summer Happy Hour

Evans alumni gather in conversation at a bar

On August 20, the Evans in Government affinity group gathered at Métier Brewing Co. for our Summer Happy Hour, a casual but meaningful opportunity to connect, share stories, and enjoy time together in community.

The atmosphere was warm and lively, with Evans alumni from across the decades. Recent graduates mingled alongside alumni from as far back as the class of 1973. These multigenerational connections are what make gatherings like this so special. In small conversations over pints, we found common ground in both our current challenges and shared histories.

At one point, we even ran into other Evans alumni who happened to be meeting at the brewery at the same time. It was an unexpected but fitting reminder of how wide-reaching and deeply connected our community really is.

As conversations unfolded, we traded stories about the rise of AI in our professional worlds, the excitement of summer events at Marymoor Park, and the hustle of balancing personal and professional life. We also found time to reflect on memories from the Evans School, reminders of the shared experiences that continue to link us long after graduation.

These moments, small but powerful, are what community looks like. They remind us that we are not alone in navigating the complexities of public service. Evans is more than a school; it is a place where connection and support extend far beyond the classroom.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this event. Your presence and your stories made it a wonderful evening.

The Evans in Government affinity group exists to build these kinds of connections year-round. Through social gatherings, professional development opportunities, and conversations about the issues shaping our communities, we aim to support one another in our public service journeys.

If you would like to join the Evans in Government network, please reach out to Justyn Jacobs at justynj@uw.edu. We would love to welcome you into the community.