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Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Category: News and Information

JSI Scholar: Iris Hankins

Tell us about your story

Well, I am currently an International Studies and Philosophy student at Willamette University in Oregon. When I’m not studying, I enjoy reading, biking, yoga, art and cooking with friends. I moved from Nevada to the Pacific Northwest in 2018 after high school and plan on travelling a lot more after I graduate.

What made you consider a career in public policy/public service/international affairs?

When I was still attending community college, I took a course in Human Geography and was intrigued by the extent of the content. For the first time, I was encouraged to discuss the current events of people in the developing world and consider how politics and geography merge. Before transferring to my current four-year university, I decided that I wanted to understand the politics and policies underlying various regions of the world and use my resources to help Womyn in developing countries.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

Various anti-colonial and revolutionary activist encourage me to think about public service as a career. I think it is imperative for everyone’s wellbeing to engage in public service whenever they can. And more importantly, to question our policies and who they actually serve.

What are you most excited about the JSI program at UW?

Apart from being able to tour beautiful Seattle in the summer, I am excited to engage in rigorous discourse and study some challenging topics with my peers.

Eastern Washington Road Trip

By Ray Im, Development Director

Across four days, eight counties, and 906 miles, we heard leaders from across the state share one consistent message: the importance of educational pathways to public service for Central and Eastern Washington communities.

In mid-May, Dean Jodi Sandfort and I embarked on a road trip through Central and Eastern Washington with stops in Quincy, Moses Lake, Yakima, the Yakama Nation, Spokane, and Leavenworth. Over four days, we were grateful to connect with more than 40 community and tribal leaders, elected officials, and UW and Evans alumni. Our goals were to strengthen relationships with local leaders across the state and learn how the Evans School can partner with them to serve community needs east of the Cascades.

Our first stop in Quincy included dinner with community leaders from Moses Lake hosted by Washington State Representative Alex Ybarra, a lifelong Quincy resident and member of the Evans School Dean’s Council. During our stay we talked about the need to equip the next generation of local public leaders and Rep. Ybarra gave us a tour of the new Quincy High School. Built in 2019, the school serves close to 800 students with state-of-the-art learning environments and an extensive Career and Technical Education Department.

Dean Jodi Sandfort and Rep. Alex Ybarra at Quincy High School

Dean Sandfort with Dean’s Council Member and Evans alum Paul Ward on the Yakama Nation

The next day, Tribal Council members and other Yakama leaders welcomed us at Yakama Nation Headquarters. We were joined by Paul Ward, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, long-time leader in fisheries and river habitat management, Evans alum, and member of our Dean’s Council. We explored potential partnerships that could serve the Yakama Nation through educational pathways for undergraduate students and emerging mid-career leaders.

In Spokane, we met Annmarie Caño, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Gonzaga University to share about our Junior Summer Institute and discuss the importance of summer immersion programs, especially for students from historically marginalized communities. We also hosted an evening reception with community and elected leaders as well as UW and Evans alumni.

(above) Spokane Reception attendees, the author second from left

(above) Lunch in Leavenworth

Our last stop was in Leavenworth for lunch hosted by Ana Cortez, MPA ‘90, the City Manager for Carnation, Washington. We were joined by other Evans alumni working in agriculture and forestry fields as well as Mary Jo Ybarra and her team from Moses Lake/Quincy Community Health Center for a conversation about their involvement with the EPIC Paid Family and Medical Leave project. The lunch led to rich discussion centering community voices and highlighting cross-sector work. For the early-career professionals at the table, it was an opportunity to witness a real example of what a career in public leadership could entail.

Dean Sandfort and I reflect on this trip through Central and Eastern Washington with a sense of gratitude for new relationships that were started and existing relationships that were deepened. We also look forward to the work ahead to continue building educational pathways for public leadership to inspire public service and democratize public policy across Washington state.

Student Spotlight: Davon Thomas MPA ’23

We recently had the opportunity to connect with soon-to-be MPA graduate Davon Thomas. In addition to years of student leadership as an undergraduate and graduate student, he has participated in civic leadership programs such as Washington Student Achievement Council and Institute for a Democratic Future. We asked Davon about his path to Evans, his memorable experiences as a student, and his aspirations to make an impact for communities of color.

Describe your journey towards pursuing your degree at Evans. What inspired you to pursue a career in public service?

Growing up, my father was in and out of prison. Like many Black men, he is a victim of a system designed to determine your life expectancy by your zip code. As a Black man in America, I have always cared deeply about righting the injustices my father and many others have faced. I can’t make excuses for him, but I can recognize that when you grow up in an underfunded and overpoliced community, your future and life opportunities are bleak. My journey to the policy world and Evans is about justice for those suffering under oppressive systems. I want to utilize the tools here at Evans to create a brighter future for communities of color.

Evans School is preparing to welcome the 2023 cohort of the Junior Summer Institute to campus. You were involved with JSI as an undergraduate student: could you share more about your time with JSI and the impact it made on your academic career and goals?

In 2019, I attended the JSI program at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Prior to this, I had no intention of attending graduate school. JSI was an opportunity for me to see what the experience would look like and I thrived there. I took graduate-level policy, economics, and statistics courses. After the program was done, I knew I wanted to attend graduate school. JSI gave students from underrepresented backgrounds an experience like no other. We had students, staff, and faculty push us to be our best selves during this program. Now, most of the classmates in my JSI cohort have already or are currently pursuing their MPA.

The Evans School’s values are equity, courage, and service. In what ways have these values shaped your time as a student?

In January 2022, three months after moving to Seattle, I was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). WSAC is a state agency tasked with raising educational attainment throughout the state and I continue to have the privilege of representing graduate students on council. I get to work on issues such as retention and recruitment, telehealth for students, and increased funding for students. Without the reputation of the Evans School’s commitment to equity, courage, and service, I felt that this appointment would not have happened.

You serve in leadership on the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS). Could you share more about your role with GPSS and how the Evans School has shaped that work?

I am the Vice President of Internal Affairs for the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS), which serves as the representative body for graduate students at the UW. In my role, I am responsible for event planning for graduate students across campus and for hiring GPSS staff. In a post-COVID world, it’s very important for students to have events to attend and opportunities to relax. I served as the vice president and president of my student body as an undergraduate, and I’ve continued in student leadership as a graduate student at Evans. Those who join student government do so because it’s a service and at the root of my heart is service. I love this work and I’m grateful I get to serve my fellow students in this capacity.

In addition to your role with GPSS, you’ve also recently returned from a week-long trip in Washington D.C. as part of the class of the Institute for a Democratic Future (IDF). Could you share more about your time with IDF?

Throughout the year, our cohort has spent ten intensive weekends meeting with leaders across Washington state, including local, state, federal, and native elected officials. Recently, we spent one full week in D.C. to meet with Democratic stakeholders, think tanks focusing on Arab American policy relations, and other leaders. This program has enlightened me on the issues impacting our own state. Policy in Washington is centered around Seattle and other major urban hubs, but having the opportunity to explore Eastern Washington and other rural areas reminded me why I went to graduate school in the first place – to improve the quality of life for underfunded and underrepresented communities. My north star, my heart, and my life are all rooted in service and I’m grateful to have participated in a program that aligns with my values.

What is the impact that you hope to leave as alumni of Evans and as you embark on your career journey?

I hope my impact is one of resilience and community. Graduate school has its trials and tribulations. There were more times than not when I wanted to drop out. However, I found a community here that pushed me to be better and do better. You might enter graduate school as an individual, but you leave here with a community. I’m better off for it.

JSI Scholar: Avalon McAffrey

Tell us about your story

I grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was homeschooled my entire life along with my older sister and younger brother. My childhood was spent participating in robotics, Girl Scouts, playing guitar, and becoming an electrical apprentice while working alongside my dad. I started volunteering for environmental causes in middle school and spent my Silver Award for Girl Scouts co-writing a children’s book about the environment. Those experiences changed the course of my life.

What path did you take when you first started college?

I started college as a classical guitar performance major, but soon realized that I wanted to focus on more than just music. I switched to an individualized major so that I could focus on topics that had become most important to me—nonprofit leadership, sustainability, and communications.

What made you consider a career in public policy/public service/international affairs?

Helping people—helping them find their way, helping them foster connections, helping them create community, helping them learn how they can protect the environment, helping them find ways that they can serve and support others—is what I am passionate about.

There are so many ways to help make the world a better place and I am still seeking to find my best path to do exactly that. I think that, so often, people simply don’t know where to turn and I hope to bridge that gap in some way with my career—strengthening and building communities through environmental education and an appreciation of the arts.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

I am inspired by many nonprofit directors or presidents who spend so much time working tirelessly for the people they serve. Specifically, the president and vice president of an Oklahoma nonprofit organization called the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, Julie Cohen and Emily Claudé, were the initial inspiration for me to begin to consider a career in nonprofit leadership. This was the first time I had seen two women in charge of a large, successful nonprofit endeavor that made an enormous impact on so many kids’ lives and it really caught my attention.

What are you most excited about the JSI program at UW?

Making new connections with other students and professionals in the field, learning about new topics, and experiencing life in Seattle is what I am most excited about!

JSI Scholar: Luz Escobar

Tell us about your story

I am a Nicaraguense immigrant living in a community where white supremacist culture persists and is memorialized in the namesakes throughout our city, streets, and schools. My hometown of St. Rose is part of an 85-mile stretch of chemical plants that pollute my home and community. Being at Villanova has opened my eyes to the impact of these injustices. Better aware of the depth of ignorance pertaining to these injustices and the inaction that persists, I recommitted to learning about the racial state and its impact on Latinas and how to efficiently empower Latinas to create change. My classes fueled my curiosity and taught me the power of fostering dialogue, a first step in bridging divides. Over the past three years, I have intentionally used my voice to build bridges and understanding among students in the predominantly white environment of my university. I began by facilitating dialogue that touches on privilege, power, and identity to hundreds of students at my university through the Villanova Diversity Skit. Through the Center for Access Success and Achievement, I am currently leading discussions on the lack of diverse art on our campus, as well as the fatigue students of color feel because of continued stereotyping and microaggressions. Simultaneously, I lead initiatives for organizations like Poderistas and Latinas Inspiring Furthering Education that increase Latina civic engagement. As I phone banked to help 2,000 Latinx voters register to vote in the state of Georgia, created designs that reached 100,000 people that inform and celebrate North Carolina Latinas, and marshaled a voting event for Latinas during the 2022 election, I began to see the beauty and power in our community. The impact of the work I initiated and assisted in shows me the change and justice I seek in Louisiana are possible, something I did not believe in before.

What made you consider a career in public policy/public service/international affairs?

I am considering a career in public policy because of the impact policy and public service has on marginalized communities. I desire to learn about solutions that tackle the underrepresentation of Latinas in elected offices and the need for more programming for Latinas in Louisiana. I see myself leading national nonprofits that are providing campaign resources, enhancing political networks for Latinas, and addressing the barriers that deny Latinas access to state and local offices. I dream of building a strong statewide network that will generate policy change that ensures Latinas who want to hold political office run successful local, state, or federal campaigns.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

I am inspired by the work of Latina leaders like Yadira Sanchez, executive director of Poder Latinx , whose work and commitment are showing the country that Latinx voters matter and we can determine elections.

What are you most excited about the JSI program at UW?

I am most excited to meet everyone in this year’s cohort and confront challenges together as a group of passionate leaders who want to create change within our own communities but as a family as well.

JSI Scholar: Alex Roque

Ale Roque

Tell us about your story

I grew up in Manila, Philippines and migrated to Seattle in 2019 to be with my family. Aside from the two pieces of luggage and one backpack I carried with me on the journey, I also brought my passion for law and public service. Having grown up with a lot of relatives who worked in the field, it was something I was always interested in but could never solidify– it was after my family’s migration experience that my passion for immigration started to grow. My first few years in Seattle were surrounded by community members who showed me the breadth of the migrant experience and how much we needed to do (and how much could be done) to move toward migrant justice.

What path did you take when you first started college?

The ability to receive a college education in the United States was one of the strongest factors in my family’s decision to migrate– and is a decision that I do not take lightly. I spent my first two years in community college, which showed me how powerful education could be and how accessible it should be. Working, studying, and bonding with people across all ages and backgrounds was a formative experience because it helped shape the lens through which I would see my new home, Seattle. Additionally, the smaller classes and flexibility of community college allowed me to form deeper connections with my community not just within an educational setting but also in community-based organizations and volunteer opportunities. The combination of CC and community involvement early on helped me realize exactly what I wanted to learn and do with my education, which is a clarity I bring as I work toward my Bachelor’s Degree in the UW.

What made you consider a career in public policy/public service/international affairs?

I’m drawn to public policy and public service because of the desire to help immigrant families directly by navigating systems or finding necessary resources, as well as affecting change in immigration through public policy, starting at a local level. However, when I first moved to Seattle, I was willing to set aside my passions and interests for “traditional” and “stable” career paths. I thought that working in public policy and public service was just a dream that I’d eventually have to let go. But through working with organizations like OneAmerica or interning with the offices of Senator Murray and the City of Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, I realized that it was actually possible to pursue my passions as a career— that, in actuality, voices and stories like mine had a place in such fields.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

My father.

What are you most excited about the JSI program at UW?

I’m looking forward to diving deep into the statistical tools and research methods that would best help us create, implement, and evaluate policies and programs. I’m also so excited to meet peers from all over the country, to work and learn closely together for seven weeks, and to enjoy Seattle’s beautiful summer together! Everyone is excited to finally meet in-person and it will for sure be a summer to remember.

Marieka Klawitter named UW Distinguished Teaching Award Winner

Congratulations to Marieka Klawitter for receiving a 2023 UW Distinguished Teaching Award!

The winners will be honored from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on June 8 at the Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater in Meany Hall. The president and provost will host a one-hour ceremony, followed by a reception with hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a chance to connect and celebrate with the UW community. 

This event is free and open to the public.

JSI Scholar: Frederick Lu

Tell us about your story

Growing up as a second-generation Asian American in a predominantly white neighborhood, I struggled with identity issues. I did not want to be associated with the Seattle Chinatown International District (CID), even though I spent much of my formative years there. However, when I began taking college-level courses, I took an Asian American Studies (AAS) class focusing on Chinese American History. Not only was I reflecting on my identity issues I struggled with in the past, I was becoming more aware of ethnic issues and my cultural heritage. This inspired me to take more AAS classes, connect with my professors by going on field trips, and eventually become an intern for OCA-Asian, Pacific American Advocates of Greater Seattle (OCA-GS). As an intern, I became more involved with the CID community and informed of the issues plaguing the community. An example of an issue related to public policy in the CID is the decision on whether to put the Sound Transit light rail station on 4th Ave or 5th Ave. Many advocates and residents of the CID have expressed many of their concerns with putting the station on 4th Ave such as an increase in violence in the community and the displacement of businesses. By advocating and representing community members, I have learned how influential public policy and public policy decision-making can be on communities—especially communities with underrepresented populations. I am interested in public policy, especially its roles and effects on ethnic communities like the CID.

What path did you take when you first started college?

I participated in the Running Start program at Bellevue College for my junior and senior year in high school. When I did this, I originally became interested in Economics because I believed Economics was a pathway to make an impact on my community. I was rejected in my freshmen application to the University of Washington, so I stayed at Bellevue College for another quarter until I transferred. Once I transferred, I took Asian American and ethnic studies classes and became an intern for OCA-GS. Through these two opportunities, I discovered how I could incorporate my previous interests in Economics, Writing, and American Ethnic Studies toward reconnecting with my cultural identity and heritage and making an impact on my community.

What made you consider a career in public policy/public service/international affairs?

After speaking with Dr. Connie So, a professor of American Ethnic Studies with a background in public affairs and public policy, she informed me about the public policy field. She also recognized my interests in economics, writing, and American Ethnic Studies, and encouraged me to consider pursuing a career in it. After volunteering as an intern for OCA-GS in the CID, and encountering many policy struggles within my community, I also developed an interest in learning how—and to what extent—public policy can make an impact on my community. As I continued my academic pursuits, I also realized how integral policy is to the disciplines I am studying. This motivated me further not only to progress my studies in those disciplines, but also my desire to pursue a career in public policy.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

Many local heroes of the CID and Seattle have fought hard for public policy goals and services that I and many others use. I used to take these services like the International Community Health Services and Chinese Information Service Center until I learned what went into fighting for these “ordinary” services for people of color. Groups like Asian Family Affair, including Alan Sugiyama, Kathryn Tagawa Sugiyama, Diane Wong, Francisco Irigon, Felicita Irigon, etc., inspire me through their fight for the preservation of the CID. Another person who inspires me to think about public service is Dr. Connie So, a professor of AAS at the UW. As someone who struggled with identity issues in the past, learning about Asian American history and contemporary issues—topics I have not been able to study until attending the UW—was integral in reconnecting with my ethnic identity and community. She also introduced me to the field of public policy and informed me of the various ways I can apply my education towards helping ethnic communities.

What are you most excited about the JSI program at UW?

While I have previously engaged with my community, I am thoroughly interested in learning how policy decisions are made and how they directly or indirectly impact the community. Initially, economics was my passion because I viewed it as an avenue towards making a substantial impact on my community. I am excited about the JSI event because I will get to apply my knowledge and interests towards making an impact on my community with public affairs and public policy. I am particularly interested in how policy decisions affect ethnic communities like the CID, because of how the history of these communities all over the country have all been influenced by policy—whether it be local or federal. Therefore, I look forward to expanding my knowledge and understanding of public policy and their effects on ethnic communities.

Event Recap | Theory to Practice : Artificial Intelligence & Implications for Public Policy

On May 3, 2023, the Evans School hosted our Spring Theory to Practice webinar on Artificial Intelligence and Implications for Public Policy. Evans School Professor Justin Bullock and Information School Professor Afra Mashhadi shared their insights into the rapidly developing field of AI and discussed possible policy implications related to the increased development and use of large language models.

Resources

Theory to Practice is an ongoing series of discussions hosted by the Evans School that brings together academics and researchers at UW with practitioners in the field to explore key policy, governance, and social sector topics.

Event Speakers: 

  • Dr. Afra Mashhadi, Adjunct Professor, Information School
  • Dr. Justin Bullock, Affiliate Associate Professor, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

JSI Scholar: Kamryn Pryce

Kamryn Price

Tell us about your story

My name is Kamryn Pryce and I am so excited to take part in the Junior Summer Institute this summer. I was born in Denver, Colorado, but moved to Baltimore, Maryland when I was younger. I have always been drawn to public policy and public service because I have a strong affinity for people, connection, and making a difference. I have been an athlete my entire life, but it was my time as a student athlete, here at UW, that helped me recognize just how far reaching public policy is. It is because of policy, like Title IX, that I get to play the sport that I love at one of the highest levels possible. The ways public policy has positively impacted my life inspired me to continue exploring the field. A career in public policy and public service is a direct way to connect my commitment to equity and accessibility to my strong passion for diversity and advocacy.

What path did you take when you first started college?

I have always wanted to major in Political Science, but as I continued on that path, I realized public policy was my passion because I knew I wanted to make a tangible difference, similar to the way it did in my life.

What made you consider a career in public policy/public service/international affairs?

A main thing that made me consider a career in public policy is that I have felt the positive effects of it firsthand. Along with this, my strong passion for social justice really drove me to further consider a career in public policy. Living in Baltimore during the height of Black Lives Matter protests, I saw how public policy can be so polarizing. Seeing this sparked my desire to continue exploring public policy and see how it can be used as a uniting force, rather than as a dividing one.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

My community at home inspires me to think about public service.

What are you most excited about the JSI program at UW?

I am most excited to be a part of a diverse group of students, who all share similar interests but come from different backgrounds. I am so excited to engage with and learn from one another, while also learning more about effective policy making and what goes into it.