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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.

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.

Evans School Remains Among Best in the Nation

U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools places the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance among the best schools in the nation and the world.  We are proud that our perennially ranked, top-ten graduate program continues to demonstrate the relevance of our curriculum, the influence of our alumni and the impactful research of our faculty. Having held a top-ten ranking concurrently for more than 10 years is a powerful reminder that the impact we make is real.

Three of our specializations were also ranked in the top ten: Environmental Policy (2), Nonprofit Management (5), and Public Finance & Budgeting (9).  

Evans School Dean Jodi Sandfort noted: “Our strong national reputation is an important resource we draw upon in setting the direction of public policy education in our country at this time. Our focus upon democratizing public policy and inspiring public service is being recognized as the next generation of strategies for public policy education. Our students benefit from our engagement with important questions and support for innovating new approaches to policy and management. Through these strategies, we are working to address the inequities built into our institutions and spark a shared belief in the sacred work of public service.” 

These rankings are released annually and are based on reputation and respect among peer institutions.

View the full rankings

Exciting Year for IPPHL

The International Program in Public Health Leadership (IPPHL) is celebrating its seventh year with the announcement of its next cohort, the return to international travel, and the creation of a new Summit gathering in Kenya to spotlight and support alumni in global collective action.

Public Health Leaders as Policy Leaders

IPPHL’s annual fellowship program provides an experiential eight-month learning journey for public health professionals as they design and lead critical policy and program implementation in their countries. Through a mix of online and in-person engagement, fellows work their way through a curriculum designed to build or expand on topics such as theory of change, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and personal leadership development.

Fellows identify evidence-based recommendations and plans for real-time implementation, graduating with a policy project ready for action. IPPHL offers a unique combination of approaches to integrate the policy and leadership curriculum including:

1:1 advising relationship with approximately 20 Evans and UW faculty
A continent-wide peer network and collaboration opportunities with their cohort and 115 program alumni across Africa
Executive coaching for individual leadership development
Online and in-person engagement in Seattle and Africa (this year in Nairobi)

Cohort 6

This year’s cohort of 40 fellows hail from 24 different countries and bring a range of expertise including HIV/AIDS, mental health, nutrition, health system strengthening, primary health care, and so much more. Primarily working at the country level within ministries of health, fellows lead in a variety of roles from medical officers to directors to chiefs of staff.

Beginning in March, fellows will participate in a series of live virtual sessions to set the foundation of policy analysis and begin development of their chosen policy or implementation challenge.

Past themes from these policy projects include the importance of strategies to increase access to healthcare services, with a strong focus on health equity. These strategies included developing community-based approaches and attending to the most vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV and those dealing with substance use disorders. Health systems strengthening themes also cut across many project areas from telehealth services, supply chain improvements, service coordination, and developing universal health coverage programs. Explore the full compilation of policy project memos from our 2022 cohort.

In June, we will return to international travel for the first time in three years, welcoming Cohort 6 to the Evans School and Seattle for two weeks of workshops and community connections. Fellows meet up again this August in Kenya for their capstone and graduation, entering our robust and active alumni network.

For the first time ever, IPPHL will host an all-alumni Summit in Nairobi, Kenya this September, bringing together over 150 alumni from 20+ countries across Africa for a series of activities and action. The Summit will launch our community into the next phase of collective action, solidify connections, co-create a shared vision for the future of IPPHL programming, and amplify the work and impact alumni are leading.

Our alumni expertise runs deep, and we invite you to explore our new Alumni Dashboard and imagine how your work might overlap or integrate. Do you have ideas or suggestions on ways to collaborate with the program or our alumni? Let us know: ipphl@uw.edu.

Evans School’s 60th Anniversary Celebration

60th Anniversary Celebration advertisement with Parrington Hall

On October 27, 2022, nearly 400 guests joined the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance in celebrating six decades of inspiring public service.

Honoring the Past

In honor of our 60th anniversary, we commissioned a documentary about the life and legacy of our school’s namesake: Daniel J. Evans. Dan’s approach to bipartisan discussion and action have had a lasting, positive impact for Washingtonians. As he shares in the film, “Not all good ideas come from one side of the political aisle. I’ve never seen a Democratic highway or Republican school. These have to be done together, and that’s where the big successes have been.”

Dean's Fellows offering a Land and Labor Acknowledgment

Celebrating the Achievements of Today

We launched a new tradition with the presentation of Public Leadership Awards—an opportunity to honor individuals aligned with the Evans School’s purpose to inspire public service and democratize public policy. Congratulations to 2022 recipients Veronica Very, Kymber Waltmunson, the Washington State Supreme Court, and Vicki Aken. During a powerful panel conversation, we heard more about the context for their work and the tools and practices they have developed to lead with integrity in the face of challenges.

“In my own home state, and my own home city, and in almost 55 years of life, this is the first time I’ve been acknowledged and recognized, and the first time I’ve felt seen […] For my work to be recognized at such a time as this, it means that I get to have a conversation with my city, my state, and my nation about how it is that we’re seen—people who look like me.” -Veronica Very, Founder & Visionary at Wonder of Women International

From left: Awardees Veronica Very, Kymber Waltmunson, and Chief Justice Steven González, and Dean Jodi Sandfort

“‘Yay the auditor is coming!’ said no one ever. I think of my ways of getting grounded in the chaos and when overwhelmed are fairly practical. I have an appointment every afternoon that says, ‘look out the window.’ […] When you create space for yourself, you’re able to take that deep breath and to recommit to the challenge that is always in front of you.” -Kymber Waltmunson, King County Auditor

“My mother used to say, ‘if everybody likes you, you don’t have principles.’ In this world there are difficult issues and there will be people on two sides of it. And you can try to please everyone, or you can try to decide what’s right and do it regardless of what other people think.” –Chief Justice Steven González, Washington State Supreme Court

Award Receipients

Awardee Veronica Very

Research proves grassroots leadership is a critical component of any community’s wellbeing. The Community Catalyst Award recognizes a leader whose efforts impact not just any community, but one which they call home, too. This individual is celebrated for their consistent efforts to foster collaboration, amplify local voices with special attention to historically underrepresented groups, and maintain proximity to those who are impacted most by their work.

Veronica Very is founder and visionary of Wonder of Women International and the nation’s newest cultural destination experience, WOW Gallery. She is the visionary creator of the ‘Dear Sista, I See You,’ Healing Art Exhibition that unapologetically centers Black Women, Black Love, and the Black Community in the heart of Downtown Seattle’s economic corridor in Pacific Place Mall. Very inspires and encourages the healing of systematic and racial trauma in Black people by using an ancestrally guided framework of storytelling which builds community and spaces for reflection, renewal, restoration, and rejuvenation. Very is a force of a nature and the commitment she has demonstrated to justice and healing for the Black community is nothing short of incredible.

Awardee Kymber Waltmunson

The Systems Changemaker Award recognizes a leader with remarkable sensitivity to the future and courageous determination to do what is necessary today to inspire a better tomorrow. They use strategic and pragmatic leadership as a medium to create change. And while their individual influence can move mountains, this changemaker intentionally shares power and responsibility. They understand systems change is most achievable when conducted as a collective effort and are a trusted convener and facilitator of collaborative action.

Kymber Waltmunson is a 2004 graduate of the Evans School Masters of Public Administration program and currently serves as King County Auditor. In this role, Waltmunson has become a powerful agent for racial equity and systems change, completing impactful audits related to jail safety, the County’s paratransit program, the Sheriff’s Office traffic stop patterns, public defense management, homelessness, and more. Her commitment to changing the systemic issues that beguile our community from within her sphere of influence is remarkable.

Awardee Washington State Supreme Court, Represented by Chief Justice Steve C. González

The Dean’s Leadership Award celebrates an individual or group committed to equity, radical courage, and uncompromising servant leadership. This leader is not afraid to run against the grain where required to support human dignity, embrace diversity, and foster democratic ideals.

The Washington State Supreme Court is receiving this award for their work towards creating a more just legal system within the state of Washington. Beginning with a signed letter in 2020 pressing for change after George Floyd’s murder and continuing into today, the State Supreme Court is making strides toward racial justice by invoking policy change directly aimed at dismantling institutionally racist legal systems. Over the past two years, the Court has taken swift action; overturning decades-long hateful precedents, vacating tens of thousands of criminal convictions, ruling that law enforcement’s history of racial bias must be considered when determining whether police stops and seizures are legal, ordering pay raises to immigrant farm workers, and more.

Awardee Vicki Aken

Vicki Aken serves as Country Director of the International Rescue Committee, based in Kabul, Afghanistan. Since earning her MPA from the Evans School in 2008, Aken has been an unrelenting leader for public service in countries like Sudan, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Syria and Afghanistan. Before the collapse of the government in Afghanistan, Aken and the IRC worked with the Afghan people to increase community development, healthcare, education, and access to clean water and nutritious food. After the government collapse, Aken has remained in Afghanistan and tirelessly, despite personal safety concerns, committed to restarting and adapting programs so that her staff – primarily female and nearly 99% Afghan – can continue to work and attend school. Aken’s courageous service work makes her a leader to be impressed and inspired by.

Inspiring the Work Ahead

How can you act to help create the future we need? What does it take to lead from where you sit?

These are questions the Evans School invites you to grapple with in this moment for our society and our democracy. Folks who joined us shared sticky notes to harvest a bit of the rich conversations we had in response to these questions.

As EMPA alum and Dean’s Council Member J. Eduardo Campos shared, “Beyond the critical thinking skills and academic rigor, the Evans School helped us learn how to be better human beings, better professionals, and better citizens.”

Guided by our shared values of equity, courage, and service, the Evans School is educating leaders, generating knowledge, and hosting communities to co-create a more inclusive society. Your support and partnership help create a path to public service leadership for all who are called to serve–regardless of financial means.

Thank you to those who pledged gifts of time, talent, treasure, ties and testimony at the event. For those who haven’t yet, we hope you’ll join us today.

NextGen Civic Leader Corps Launch

NextGen students and community leaders celebrate the launch of NextGen Civic Leader corps

On Friday, May 6, 2022, a formal launch and celebration of NextGen Civic Leader Corps program was held at the Othello-UW Commons. The new program, a collaborative effort between the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and the Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center is designed to allow undergraduate students to recognize and deepen their commitment to community engagement and public service.

Joining the celebration were university and community leaders who came together to honor and recognize students in the pilot program who completed program requirements. Featured speakers included UW President Ana Mari Cauce; Brian Surratt, president and CEO of Greater Seattle Partners; Alex Ybarra, Washington State representative for the 13th District; and Brett Hunt, director of Next Generation Service Initiatives at the Volcker Alliance.

Speakers reflected on the value of and commitment to public service and the importance of cross-sector collaborative approach to solving complex, societal challenges.

Sari Feinberg ’22, one of the students in the first UW cohort, shared:

Through the NextGen required coursework my fellow colleagues and I have much better understanding of just how complex and interconnected our world is and how society's wicked problems such as homelessness, global warming, and racism will in fact not be solved by a single non-profit, government, or corporation. These problems and many others require character-driven leaders with a social mission who collaborate and co-create solutions.

Speakers

Jodi Sandfort
Dean
University of Washington
Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Brian Surratt, a man with dark curly hair with a white streak, wearing a brown corduroy coat and a large green scarf

Brian Surratt
President & CEO
Greater Seattle Partners

Brett Hunt, a white man with brown hair in a suit with blue shirt and yellow tie

Brett Hunt
Director
Next Generation Service Initiatives
The Volcker Alliance

Alex Ybarra, a Latino man with short dark hair, wearing a blue suit, white shirt, and light blue tie

Alex Ybarra
Representative
13th Legislative District
State of Washington

Ani Mari Cauce
President
University of Washington

Sari Feinberg, White woman with shoulder length greying hair wearing a purple blouse

Sari Feinberg
Class of 2022
NextGen Civic Leader Corps

Event Recording

Changing the Future of Colorado’s Healthcare: Hannah Sieben, MPA ’21

After finishing her MPA in 2021, Hannah Sieben returned to her home state of Colorado, where she is using her experience and the skills she gained at the Evans School for the public good. In her current work as a Policy Analyst with Connect for Health Colorado, Hannah is working to create greater public health care access for all Coloradans.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

The week that I graduated from Evans, I moved back to Colorado, adopted a puppy (Fig! 7 lbs of chihuahua/terrier perfection!), and started a new job. I love being in Colorado; my whole family is here, the mountains and sunshine are a great combo, and there is so much to see and do. In my free time, I’ve been participating in a Master Composter program (to teach Denverites how to start their own compost pile), reading for fun, and scouring Facebook Marketplace for my next DIY project.

What contributed to your decision to pursue an MPA degree? Was there a defining moment in particular?

After returning from Peace Corps service in Namibia, I worked as a civic engagement program manager at a nonprofit. I helped more than 5,000 high school students register to vote during this time, but I knew that I needed to learn so much more if I wanted to contribute to the vision and direction of an organization instead of just the day-to-day responsibilities if I wanted to have the career I was interested in. Pursuing an MPA seemed like the ideal way to gain experience and practice to complement my policy and legislative interests.

Looking back on your Evans School experience, what stands out as being particularly impactful while you were a student?

I was part of the Covid Cohort, MPA Class of 2021, so more than a year and a half of my time at the Evans School was virtual. While that alone was impactful, it also provided me the opportunity to collaborate with my peers in different ways. I learned so much about working as a team with people you may have never gotten to meet in person before, which has been an asset in my current position. I also served as the Vice President of External Affairs for the Graduate and Professional Student Senate and managed to rope in so many of my Evans peers to help us with our legislative priorities. Together, we passed important legislation to get graduate student representation on the Washington Student Achievement Council. All that to say, I was surrounded by incredibly smart and encouraging people at the Evans School, which gives me a lot of confidence about the future of public policy.

Can you share about where you work and your current role?

I’m currently working at Connect for Health Colorado, the official Marketplace for health insurance in Colorado, as a policy analyst. We are technically a non-profit but are really a quasi-governmental organization that implements the Affordable Care Act. I provide a wide range of research and support on policy and legislative issues, including advocacy, education, research, and analysis to help Coloradans get access to more affordable health care.

Can you tell us about some of the projects you are working on or excited about?

Colorado is truly a leader in the health insurance marketplace space, and it’s been inspiring to be a part of the policy and implementation team at Connect for Health Colorado. One of the most impactful projects I am working on is around providing low-income undocumented Coloradans with state-subsidized health insurance. We are the first state to implement this type of program and much of my research has been around the health needs, barriers to health care access, and the eligibility requirements of our undocumented communities. In 2023, more than 9,000 undocumented people will have affordable, quality health coverage for the first time! It’s amazing to lay the groundwork for other states to implement similar programs and really put our money where our mouth is when talking about equity and inclusion.

Are there any specific skills from your time at Evans that have been crucial to the work you are doing today?

One of the best things that I was able to practice at Evans was taking complex pieces of information and distilling them into something that non-policy people can understand. I have coworkers who specialize in communications and product development without a public health or policy background, so I use this skill all the time. I am also a confident public speaker, something that I practiced all throughout my time at Evans.

What are one or two resources that inspire you personally or professionally?

I recently read Dear America, Notes from an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas. He later joined my colleagues and me to discuss his book and his organization, “Define American”, and to explain how he thought we could do our work in a better, more inclusive way. Both his book and organization really highlight the diversity and uniqueness of undocumented narratives.

Evans Faculty Crystal Hall Receives Prestigious Career Service Award

Evans Associate Professor Crystal Hall has received the Society for Judgment and Decision Making’s (SDJM) 2021-22 Castellan Service Award. This award recognizes Professor Hall’s many important leadership and professional contributions to SDJM.

Of particular importance is Professor Hall’s service for the past two years as chair of SDJM’s first-ever Diversity & Inclusion Committee. In that role, she has centered equity and inclusion within SDJM’s work to better support scholars from underrepresented and historically excluded backgrounds.

Upon receiving the Castellan Service Award, Professor Hall noted: “SJDM has been my primary academic community. And, despite its interdisciplinary nature, it has historically fallen short in the creation of a diverse community of scholars. I hope some of the deep structural changes we are pursuing as a professional association will result in an inclusive environment that will be reflected in both the nature of our research and the way that research is applied to a wide range of social challenges.”

Professor Hall’s leadership within SDJM echoes her field-leading research and many contributions to the Evans School. Associate Dean for Research and Engagement Scott W. Allard underscored, “Professor Crystal Hall is a singular scholarly voice challenging behavioral science to confront structural racism. Her work within the Evans School also has been integral to our school’s commitments to promote equity, address racial bias, and train the next generation of public service leaders to dismantle systems of oppression.”

Diversity and Talent in Tech: Njeri Thande, MPA ’19

Njeri Thande (MPA ’19) believes in asking the right questions, approaching problems with precision, and engaging in generative work, especially when working for people’s success and wellbeing. As Leap Business Program Manager at Microsoft, Njeri focuses on increasing non-traditional talent pathways and employment opportunities in tech.

What contributed to your decision to pursue a career in support of the public good? Was there a defining moment in particular?

I think I’ve always been interested in work related to the public good. However, I started my professional career in the private sector after college right after the 2008 financial crisis. At that time, I was more concerned with being gainfully employed, so I didn’t feel like I was in a solid position to scrutinize an organization’s mission. I think I began feeling motivated towards a public good-focused career when, while working at a tech company, I was also volunteering and taking on side projects related to community building and conversations on racial identity. I was feeling pulled to the latter work and, long story short, decided it was time to go back to school. I soon after applied to Evans MPA program.

Can you share a bit about the work you are currently doing and what a typical day in your work looks like?

I work for Microsoft Leap Apprenticeship Program as a Business Program Manager. The program was founded 5 years ago as a means of diversifying the talent pipeline into tech with what we call “unconventional talent.” Unconventional talent comprises self-taught learners and bootcamp grads, parents and caregivers returning to the workforce, and community college graduates. Individuals apply for the program and successful applicants are welcomed into a cohort for a 16-week apprenticeship.

Part of my typical day involves co-leading the operations of a cohort—that work looks different every day since our program operates in phases. My work includes training sponsoring teams to understand their roles and responsibilities, working with our learning and development team to develop a best-in-class virtual classroom experience, coaching our mentors and managers through the various program milestones, and providing support for our apprentices. We work with hundreds of stakeholders to run our program. The other part of my typical day is co-leading initiatives related to scaling and continuous improvement.

In what ways are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion part of the work you have done and continue doing?

Before Evans, I had the pleasure of co-hosting community conversations on the intersections of race and parts of community life (race and sports; race and the workplace), which was something I really enjoyed. While a student at Evans I joined the Committee for Equity and Inclusion, where I had the pleasure of doing research on belonging with Professor Jurcevic, and supported peers organizing around inclusion and belonging. Later, I had the pleasure of leading a small conference called The Good Trouble Conference, which was a way of convening peers doing work across diversity, equity, and inclusion to share what they were up to and find like-minded community. The phrase “diversity, equity, and inclusion” can be challenging because so many of us hold different worldviews, are interested in different outcomes, and don’t always have a shared theory of change. The work in convening the “Good Trouble” space was valuable to see the range of people’s work and how they were thinking through and engaging in deep issues and concepts like liberation, institutional change, and worldbuilding.

If there was one thing you’d want everyone to know about your work, what would it be?

The program I work for was founded to diversify tech and capture a talent pool that has often been ignored. I have a lot of respect for our program. And I think it’s important to name that our impact is specifically centered on employment–and that is no small thing. While we create pathways to employment opportunities and train our company to understand the unconventional talent we’re developing and onboarding, we still need the support of other company entities to fulfill the mission of building equitable practices in other areas of the work experience. It’s important to think holistically about DEI in the workplace.

Looking back on your Evans School experience, what stands out as being particularly impactful while you were a student

The Good Trouble Conference was deeply important for me. There are so many interesting, creative, and impactful things that Evans students are doing and it was a pleasure to be able to collect a small snapshot of that work. This field can feel tough as we weather so many crises in our nation and world, but it was such an amazing reminder that good, generative work (even if challenging and uncomfortable) is also being done in our world—and by our peers, no less.

I think being in generative spaces like those also help me continue the practice of unlearning and revising so that as I learn, I can continue to show up with better tools and resources to approach issues of social change.

How does your Evans education inform how you approach your work today?

My Evans education has provided me with a lot of – particularly management and leadership skills. I’m better at asking the right questions and precise in approaching problems that have to do with the wellbeing and success of groups of people. No matter where I work, that’s my focus.

Is there a resource you can share that inspires you?

Podcast: “Two Acclaimed Writers on the Art of Revising Your Life”, The Ezra Klein Show. I think Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom and Kiese Laymon are great on every podcast they join. What is so excellent about this podcast episode is that they are in conversation together and they talk about the brave and necessary work of being critically self-reflexive and maintaining a practice of revising the way that you think and show up in your communities and your work.