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Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Category: News and Information

JSI Scholar: Zahid Yusuf

  • Pronouns: He/Him
  • Hometown: Woodinville, Washington
  • College/University: Fordham University
  • Major: International Political Economy
  • Track: Regional

Tell us about your story

I’m from the Seattle area and am currently a junior at Fordham University in New York studying International Political Economy, and hope to apply skills learned at school and in the JSI program this summer to a career in international politics in the future.

What path did you take when you first started college?

I was undecided on what to study for a long time but landed on a major focused on international politics after trying a variety of classes and finding that it fit my goals and strengths best.

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

I believe public policy at the international level to be an area of critical significance in modern politics, where positive progress and contributions are far reaching and more attainable than ever when it comes to improving peoples’ lives.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

My mom is an inspiration to me, as I have grown up seeing her contribute to her community independently and through public service as well.

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

I am excited to get more hands on experience and more detailed knowledge of what careers in international affairs and public policy could look like.

JSI Scholar: Amisa Ramadhani

  • Pronouns: She/her
  • Hometown: Rwanda
  • College/University: Gonzaga University
  • Major: Criminology
  • Track: Residential

Tell us about your story

My name is Amisa, and I am a criminology student at Gonzaga University. After completing my undergraduate studies, I want to go to law school. I want to serve in a public career with the knowledge of laws, it is rich. I am excited about this opportunity to participate in JSI at Evans School. I look forward to learning from my fellow participants, growing together as a team, and improving our world.

What path did you take when you first started college?

I focused on managing my time and getting involved on campus. I went to my professor’s office hours for further discussion or to ask for advice on how to excel, and they were really helpful.

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

I want to contribute to the ongoing efforts of other agents of change who are already in the field, working to improve the well-being of people.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

I can list them and not finish, but the fact remains that many people out there are doing their best to ensure we as a society and the world in general thrive. I get inspired when I see them or read about them, be it presidents, social workers, policy analysts, teachers, and so on. They are so great.

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

I am excited about learning and meeting new people.

JSI Scholar: Maya La Croix

  • Pronouns: They/them
  • Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland
  • College/University: DePauw University
  • Major: Political Science
  • Track: Residential

Tell us about your story

I am a New York Posse Scholar at DePauw University. I am a political science major and education studies minor. I have been interested in politics and history my whole life.

What path did you take when you first started college?

All colleges have required classes, DePauw prefers that you declare after you’ve finished your requirements and started your second year, so I waited to declare my major. I also waited to declare my minor until I had figured out my thesis topic. I am an Honor Scholar at my school which means I will be writing two thesis assignments, but I don’t know what I’ll be doing for that just yet.

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

I’ve always wanted to be in public service; both my mother and father have been and are public servants of some kind, and many of my family members are also public servants. My family emphasizes our connections to our community and strives to help make our communities and lives healthier, happier, and safer for everyone. My family is steeped in history; I am just keeping up tradition.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

My community. I love my community, no matter where I am and I strive to make a difference in people’s lives when and where I can. I also try to encourage others in my community to engage in public service as a way to demonstrate that democracy does work, we just have to put effort into making it work for us.

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

Getting to learn more about how public policy is created, understanding more about the role communities can play in creating and improving public policy and experiencing the Pacific Northwest for the first time.

Wolfle Action Lab @EPIC

The Wolfle Action Lab @EPIC is an important way to engage faculty in the school’s mission to “host communities to co-create solutions to pressing societal problems.” It’s premised on the idea that dialogue and exchange across diverse fields of expertise is necessary for the development and adoption of solutions. The Action Lab draws upon the skilled facilitation tools of EPIC – Evans Policy Innovation Collaborative – staff to host sessions where researchers, practitioners, those with expertise from lived experiences, and policymakers engage in meaningful dialogue across differences. More than simply sharing ideas, research findings, and perspectives, Wolfle Action Labs are intended to develop collaborative planning for program or system redesign, implementation strategies that can be administered in real-time, and feasible policy recommendations. The Wolfle Action Lab convenings and projects operates consistently with the Evans School’s values of equity, courage, and public service.

On April 5, 2024, Evans School faculty members Crystal Hall and Ines Jurcevic and the EPIC team hosted the inaugural Wolfle Action Lab convening at El Centro de la Raza. They gathered with people from community-based organizations, academia, and government to spark learning, share promising practices, and make authentic connections that seed relationships among people leading equity and behavioral science to enable community-informed change in the public interest. Throughout the day they engaged in various small group discussions around the following questions:

  • When and why did you step into this work?
  • What is the environment you are working in?
  • What are the challenges you confront in trying to change the way you work to better incorporate an equity lens?
  • What successes have you experienced bringing an equity or behavioral science lens to your work?
  • What are opportunities you see in front of you to integrate your commitments to equity-based work with behavioral science?
  • How does your own Identity shape your ability to lead change in your context?

These conversations centered around working to effect systems change were followed by a group teach and discussion on Two Loops – a framework for describing how systems rise and fall, as well as types of roles that often occur as this process unfolds. They wrapped up the afternoon with another conversation process called Pro Action Café, where participants had the opportunity to call on the collective wisdom of the group with calls, questions, or projects they wanted to workshop.

Interested in learning more?

JSI Scholar: Noah Kaloeaholokai Lum

  • Pronouns: They/them; He/him
  • Hometown: Camas, Washington
  • College/University: UW
  • Major: Political Science; Global/Regional Studies
  • Track: Regional

Tell us about your story

Aloha mai kākou! My name is Noah Kaloeaholokai Lum! I am a current student at the University of Washington double majoring in Political Science and Global/Regional Studies, with a minor in Oceania/Pacific Islander Studies. I am of Native Hawaiian decent and my hometown is Aiea, Hawaii. My academic focus is on international policy regarding climate change, rising sea levels, and an increasing number of Pacific Islander climate refugees.

What path did you take when you first started college?

When first starting college, my goal was to work towards a career in community service. However, it took me a little bit to figure out what that looked like and in what ways I could give back to my people.

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

My main desire to work in public policy and public service came from my desire to give back to my Pacific Islander and indigenous communities.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

My main inspiration comes from both Native Hawaiian/indigenous leaders that came before me, and members of my family that work in public service. I have plenty of aunties, uncles, cousins, and friends who work in service of marginalized groups.

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

I am most excited for networking and getting to know the other people in my cohort. Their stories, their interests, the ways in which they give back to their communities.

JSI Scholar: Amina Hussein

  • Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
  • Hometown: Kenya, East Africa
  • College/University: Washington State University
  • Major: Political Science
  • Track: Residential

Tell us about your story

I am a proud Kenyan who was raised in Everett, Washington. I come from a large family who heavily prioritize community. After becoming a frequent member of my neighborhood community center, I developed a keen interest in community service. Through community service, I became involved in student body government, becoming the First Black Woman ever to hold the position in my high school’s history. I am an alumnus of the AVID program, YMCAs My Achievers Program, and NAACP Youth Development Program. The programs have heavily shaped me and sparked my interest in Black History. I am now an activist who uses the knowledge my community granted me to teach others about authentic Black history.

What path did you take when you first started college?

When I started college, it became my mission to be involved in as many multicultural and Black Registered Organizations as possible. I have been engaged in WSU Multicultural community centers and have prioritized building a community within them. Four weeks after I arrived at Washington State University. I became an executive member of the African Diaspora Association and the Black Student Union cabinets. Currently (three semesters later), I became a founding member of the People of Color Pre-Law Coalition, President of the WSU African Diaspora Association, and Public Relations for the Black Student Union.

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

At the age of 10 I vowed to myself that I would dedicate my life to fixing the American Justice System and to eradicate the disproportionate impact it has on Black people in the US. I began learning of civil rights attorneys that provided legal services to those who are unable to obtain them on their own. Leading me to passionately pursue a job in the legal profession as a criminal justice attorney.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

My Mentors from AVID, YDP, and MAP programs.

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

I am excited about the prospect of eye-opening conversations and debates!

Event Recap | Theory to Practice: Leading People in a Post-Pandemic World

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.

On May 9, 2024, the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance hosted a compelling conversation on the challenges and opportunities of managing and leading a public workforce in our post-pandemic world.

Our panelists shared insights and experiences from their work at both local and federal levels, offering valuable perspectives on adapting to remote work, fostering employee resilience, and reimagining service delivery. From research-backed strategies to real-world practices, we delved into the complex issues facing public sector leaders today. Attendees engaged in an honest exploration of the hurdles ahead and the innovative strategies needed to navigate them effectively in today’s workforce.

Resources

Resource Doc

Speakers

Lisa Pearson

Lisa Pearson serves as the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northwest/Arctic Region of the U.S. General Services Administration, providing leadership to the region in delivering programs and services for a portfolio of 504 owned and leased buildings across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Pearson began her career with GSA in 2001 as an Employee & Labor Relations Specialist in the Great Lakes Region. She has since held several senior level positions including two stints as Acting PBS Regional Commissioner.

She completed a Bachelor’s in Sociology & Urban Studies at Northwestern University and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Sebawit (Sebu) Bishu

Sebawit (Seba) Bishu is an Assistant Professor of Public Management at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Her scholarly work explores race and gender relations in public organizations with a focus on leadership, street-level bureaucracy, identity, and organizational behavior. Bishu’s research asks the question “how do societal, organizational and managerial level factors shape public organizations’ and bureaucrats’ behaviors and decisions, and what are the implications for access to, and quality of, public services?”

Bishu’s work is published in academic journals such as Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration Review, the American Review of Public Administration, and the Review of Public Personnel Administration.  She is currently conducting qualitative research using data from 143 interviews with municipal managers across the United States.

Stephanie Lucash

Stephanie Lucash is Deputy City Manager at the City of Kenmore. She has 30 years of municipal government experience including management and leadership positions at the Cities of Kenmore, Seattle, and Covington. In Kenmore, she oversees an array of critical areas such as economic development, public safety, housing and human services, and more. Her exemplary work in Kenmore has earned her two statewide award.

Lucash is President of the Board of Directors for the Washington City/County Management Association. She also serves on the Association of Washington Cities Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Washington Secretary of State’s Archives, Library and Legacy Foundation Board of Trustees.

Before joining Kenmore, Lucash was Director of Citywide HR Planning and Innovation at the City of Seattle where she played a key role in the City’s pandemic response and launched nine citywide human resources projects.

Lucash has a Master’s of Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, certified Crucial Conversations trainer and Peacekeeper.

JSI Scholar: Gabrielle Ardila

  • Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
  • Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
  • College/University: University of Washington
  • Major: Political Science
  • Track: Regional

Tell us about your story

I am a third year student at the University of Washington with double major in Political Science and Global Regional Studies. Additionally, I am minoring in Law, Societies, and Justice. My focus is advocacy and education to youth. In addition to my studies, I work with the Best Buddies foundation which educates and empowers people with and without intellectual developmental disabilities. In 2021, I was nominated for Campion of the Year with Best Buddies, being recognized for my dedication, fortitude, and passion. I also have volunteered with Heart of America, a non-profit organization focused on brining modern education spaces to underprivileged communities. I am particularly interested in reforming the education system in America and addressing inequities.

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

This past fall I had the opportunity to intern for city councilman Andrew Lewis. During this internship I had the opportunity to see first hand the amount of work that goes in to maintaining a relationship with the citizens of ones district while simultaneously passing legislation that benefits those same citizens. What I learned is that being on city council requires the ability of being able to multitask while prioritizing issues in a timely manner. I aided in Andrew Lewis’s campaign for reelection where I was able to learn how important it is to have a strong team.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

My English teacher in high school, Mrs. Ferian.

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

I am so excited to meet new people and get real world experience.

JSI Scholar: Ny Ha

  • Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
  • Hometown: Seattle, Washington
  • College/University: University of Washington
  • Major: Public Health-Global Health
  • Track: Regional

Tell us about your story

I am a first-generation Asian-American born in Burien, Washington. As diverse as Burien is, it has always been laden with inequities which is what has led me to want to work for marginalized communities. Access to healthcare is a basic human right and everyone should have the opportunity to have their healthcare needs addressed, regardless of their background.

What path did you take when you first started college?

I began college knowing I wanted to pursue public health. After taking more classes in my major, I recognized the need for policy implementation in order for public health interventions to take action. Once I realized how closely linked these two disciplines are, I realized I wanted to pursue a health policy path.

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

Classes within the Public Health-Global Health major at UW made me recognize how public health aims to support the needs of marginalized communities, but policymakers who aid public health action need to properly represent the communities being targeted as well. As a person of color, I feel a sense of responsibility to represent my community while also uplifting the voices of other diverse populations through public service.

Who inspires you to think about public service?

My family of immigrants whose lives depend on the decisions of policymakers.

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

I am most excited about the opportunity to get to know other students interested in public service!

Event Recap | Dean’s Forum on Race & Public Policy: Political Participation & Voting Access

The Dean’s Forum series focuses on the intersection of race and public policy in support of the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance’s mission to host community conversations that inspire public leaders.

On April 19, 2024, Dean Jodi Sandfort hosted a conversation with Vincent Hutchings, Garth Fell, and Calista Jahn that probed the national historic and contemporary dynamics around the most basic of our rights as citizens in a democracy. During this election year, we are constantly reminded of the importance of voting and other acts of political participation. This election comes at a time when racial and ethnic disparities in voting and participation persist. The election system is under scrutiny and federal protections against racialized disenfranchisement, such as the Voting Rights Act, have been invalidated by the Supreme Court. Understanding these matters is critical if we are to strengthen institutions of democracy nationally and to continue Washington State’s leading work around election administration integrity.

Review Resources

Event Panelists

vincent-hutchings-headshot

Vincent Hutchings
Diversity and Social Transformation Professor; Hanes Walton, Jr. Collegiate Professor of Political Science and Afroamerican and African Studies
University of Michigan

Cali Jahn headshot

Calista (Cali) Jahn
EPIC Innovation and Engagement Manager
University of Washington

Version 2

Garth Fell
County Auditor
Snohomish County Auditor’s Office

Dean Jodi Sandfort

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