Elisabeth Gerber

Core faculty

Elisabeth R. Gerber

Jack L. Walker, Jr. Collegiate Professor of Public Policy

Gerber’s research focuses on regionalism and intergovernmental cooperation, sustainable development, urban climate adaptation, transportation policy, community and economic development, local fiscal capacity, and local political accountability.

News

Engaged Learning Student Projects Catalog: Preparing Ford School students for leadership

Jun 29, 2023

During the Winter Term 2023, Ford School students were involved in projects with federal, state, county, city, and township governments, school districts, non-profit organizations, and commissions. They worked with the school’s numerous research...

Engaged Learning Student Projects Catalog: Preparing Ford School students for leadership

News

Research centers give U-M students hands-on, practical policy experiences

Jan 27, 2023

With the guidance and support of the Ford School’s research centers, graduate and undergraduate students are creating a real-life impact in a range of areas by working with external partners. The Ford School is deeply integrated with a wide range of...

Research centers give U-M students hands-on, practical policy experiences

News

Michigan maritime: Ports set to grow economy throughout the state

Dec 22, 2022

A new law that gives the state's 32 ports tools to expand and grow the maritime economy started out as a community project for a handful of University of Michigan students. U-M students first worked with the Port of Monroe in 2012 and over the next...

Michigan maritime: Ports set to grow economy throughout the state

News

Unique integrated policy exercise to examine the State of the Union

Dec 14, 2022

How does a president decide what to put into the annual State of the Union (SOTU) address? Which priorities should be first? How partisan or bipartisan can it be? How many applause lines could they seek? And would they ever admit that the state of...

Unique integrated policy exercise to examine the State of the Union

State & Hill

Of mutual benefit: Academic-community partnerships for better public policy

Dec 13, 2021

By Rebecca Cohen (MPP '09) An essential ingredient to developing good policy is understanding what people want and need, and how they experience their lives," says Elisabeth Gerber, Jack L. Walker, Jr. Collegiate Professor of Public Policy and...

Of mutual benefit: Academic-community partnerships for better public policy

News

P3E mentors play a crucial role in student consulting course

Dec 7, 2021

Expert mentors are a distinguishing aspect of Professor Elisabeth Gerber’s Strategic Public Policy Consulting course. The consulting course gives graduate students the opportunity to help clients such as the Government Accountability Office (GAO),...

P3E mentors play a crucial role in student consulting course

News

Research meets journalism in new collaboration with Bridge Detroit

Jul 16, 2021

Kalena Thomhave (MPP ‘21) and Eli Gold (MPP/MS ‘21) spent much of last year working on research relevant to their academic interests—she on access to TANF cash benefits and he on utility affordability—as would be expected of any final-year MPP...

Research meets journalism in new collaboration with Bridge Detroit

News

Learning and serving - P3E students report on research projects across Michigan

Jul 16, 2021

While still operating in a mostly-virtual, hybrid academic world, Ford School students were able to learn and serve during the Spring Term through the Program in Practical Policy Engagement (P3E) and its Practical Community Learning Projects (PCLP)....

Learning and serving - P3E students report on research projects across Michigan

News

From Arctic research to promoting the Port of Monroe, P3E students get real-world policy experience

May 27, 2021

Ford School students again went beyond the classroom, even though just virtually, to engage with communities across Michigan and the U.S. The graduate and undergraduate students took part in eight projects around racial justice, economic...

From Arctic research to promoting the Port of Monroe, P3E students get real-world policy experience

News

Students highlight their practical policy engagements

Dec 17, 2020

Ford School students engaged in real problem-solving in the fall 2020 semester, tackling some of the most important issues facing Michigan. The undergraduate and graduate students participated in research and analysis projects as a part of the...

Students highlight their practical policy engagements

News

Liz Gerber recognized with Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize

Apr 26, 2019

The work of associate dean Liz Gerber is among five projects being honored with the 11th annual Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize for innovative approaches to improving student learning. The winning projects were chosen from among 47 nominations...

Liz Gerber recognized with Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize

State & Hill

An idea whose time has come: practical engagement

Mar 25, 2019

Philip Power, class of 1960, served on the University of Michigan Board of Regents from 1987 to 1999. Power, his parents, and his wife Kathy have supported the U-M Museum of Art, U-M Student Publications, the University Musical Society and the...

An idea whose time has come: practical engagement

News

Gerber recognized for her work with US Department of Justice’s ICITAP

Feb 27, 2019

Professor Elisabeth Gerber was recognized for her work with the U.S. Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Technical Assistance Program (ICITAP). Greg Ducot, acting director of ICITAP, gave her this recognition in honor of her...

Gerber recognized for her work with US Department of Justice’s ICITAP

News

Boots on the ground: Annual trip gives students perspective on policy work in DC

Feb 25, 2019

While Graduate Career Service’s yearly DC trip is only two days, its benefits reverberate to influence students’ career trajectory plans. On February 7 and 8, 35 Ford students took part in panels and information sessions around Washington, DC, on a...

Boots on the ground: Annual trip gives students perspective on policy work in DC

News

Greetings from the Dean - Feed June 2018

Jun 1, 2018

Dear friends:Greetings from beautiful springtime Ann Arbor! We’re feeling tremendous pride and excitement in our newest alumni (view videos from a beautiful Commencement Ceremony here), our growing faculty, and in our school’s momentum and bright...

Greetings from the Dean - Feed June 2018

News

U-M launches a program in practical policy engagement with a gift from Power Foundation

Apr 25, 2018

A new program at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy will encourage partnerships between U-M faculty and students and people and organizations outside the university who are actively working on—and have the capacity...

U-M launches a program in practical policy engagement with a gift from Power Foundation

State & Hill

Ford School faculty members share seven key strategies for effective collaboration

Apr 28, 2017

Ford School faculty members often engage in collective problem-solving--with other scholars, of course, but also with policymakers and practitioners all around the world. The goal of these collaborations? Finding better solutions, and mutually...

Ford School faculty members share seven key strategies for effective collaboration

News

Greetings from the dean, Susan M. Collins, for the winter 2017 Ford School feed

Jan 26, 2017

The first few days of President Trump’s administration have seen our faculty appear in newspapers and media outlets around the world. Professor Marina v.N. Whitman, a nationally regarded expert on the U.S. auto industry, is quoted in an AP story...

Greetings from the dean, Susan M. Collins, for the winter 2017 Ford School feed

State & Hill

Engaged learning in Ford School classrooms--beyond the big-ticket experiences

Dec 23, 2016

The Ford School has a long history of emphasizing engaged learning. Many of the big-ticket experiences, like the Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE), Applied Policy Seminar (APS) now called Strategic Public Policy Consulting (SPPC), International...

Engaged learning in Ford School classrooms--beyond the big-ticket experiences

News

Announcing associate dean leadership transitions at the Ford School (2016-2018)

May 31, 2016

Associate dean for academic programs. As many of you know, Kathryn Dominguez, the Ford School’s associate dean for academic programs, was nominated for a position on the Federal Reserve Board last summer. While Congress has not yet held hearings on...

News

Applied Policy Seminar project cited in MLive story on economic potential of Kalamazoo River

Apr 6, 2015

An MLive story published this weekend on the economic potential of the long-polluted Kalamazoo River cited the work of a six-member team in Elisabeth Gerber’s 2012 Applied Policy Seminar (APS) course, now called Strategic Public Policy Consulting or...

Applied Policy Seminar project cited in MLive story on economic potential of Kalamazoo River

State & Hill

Skin in the game, Applied Policy Seminar puts students to work for local governments, NGOs

May 1, 2014

When Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA), wanted to document the economic impact of her organization and others like it around the state of Michigan last fall, she sought help from the Ford...

Skin in the game, Applied Policy Seminar puts students to work for local governments, NGOs

News

Greetings from the Dean - Feed January 2014

Jan 28, 2014

A new year begins, and I write with the warmest wishes that 2014 will bring health, peace, and prosperity to you and yours, and to the many wonderful communities you serve. For the Ford School, 2014 is a very special year: our centennial anniversary...

Greetings from the Dean - Feed January 2014

News

Crowdfunding guides prepared by Ford School students circulated by Crowdfund Insider

Dec 14, 2013

Legislation allowing intrastate crowdfunding in Michigan, which will allow the sales of securities to an unlimited number of non-accredited investors, passed unanimously in the Michigan Senate. As the bill heads back to the House for final approval...

News

Ford students testify in Lansing on equity crowdfunding legislation

Oct 17, 2013

Christopher Falcone (MPP '14), Matthew Papadapoluos (MPP/MA '13), Erin Sullivan (MPP '14), and Jessica Teng (MPP '14) appeared in front of the House Commerce Committee to testify on House Bill (HB) 4996 which would allow equity crowdfunding in...

Ford students testify in Lansing on equity crowdfunding legislation

News

Revamped Applied Policy Seminar launches students into "real world" policy challenges

Jan 24, 2012

For the Winter 2011 Applied Policy Seminar (APS), now called Strategic Public Policy Consulting or SPPC, Huron Consulting Group tasked Kim Dunham (MPP '11) and her team of MPP students with assessing the firm's ability to extend into a new market....

News

Greetings from the Dean

Sep 8, 2011

Dear Alumni and Friends, I’ve recently returned from Jackson Hole, Wyo., where I participated once again in the Federal Reserve Bank’s annual Economic Policy Symposium. This year’s focus was long-term global economic growth. With volatile financial...

News

Greetings from the Dean

Sep 8, 2011

News

Elisabeth R. Gerber, MPP students cited in articles about proposed Macomb County task force

Feb 16, 2011

Research by MPP students in Elisabeth R. Gerber's Applied Policy Seminar was cited in multiple press reports about a new Macomb County task force. The task force will work to promote and expand Macomb County's already significant share of economic...