The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board’s video and podcast series

interviews Dr. Hackshaw and is facilitated by alumni Delisha Thompson (UMD 18’).

This interview is part of a series focusing on Black faculty members with several themes: Black women in positions of leadership, progress from faculty perspectives, where the School of Public Policy (SPP) needs to move in the future, and trying to place the changes at SPP into a broader context for changes happening in academia nationwide.

Alana Hackshaw, PhD, is an associate clinical professor and serves as the School's Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Her courses focus on governance, social identity and the creation of public policy and leadership. Hackshaw’s professional experiences include work as a researcher and a consultant in the nonprofit community. Her work concentrated on analyzing policies that foster economic security, asset-building and entrepreneurship within the Black diaspora in the US.

Hackshaw holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Michigan and a BA in political science and history from the University of Rochester. Her research interests include the impact of racial equity plans on city governance, patterns of political incorporation among first and second-generation Black immigrants in the US and the impact of US immigration policy on immigrants of color in the US.

In this interview, we discussed:

The interview was produced by Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11) of Empathy Media Lab. The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series interviews new faculty Brandi Slaughter and Ebonie Cooper-Jean and is facilitated by alumni Delisha Thompson (UMD 18’).

Brandi Slaughter is the Associate Clinical Professor; Program Director, The Karabelle Pizzigati Fellows Initiative in Advocacy for Children, Youth and Families. Brandi brings a wealth of public policy experience to her roles at the University of Maryland having served nonprofits and government in advocacy and lobbying roles. Slaughter is an ordained clergy with the Church of God in Christ and has served in various ministry positions. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morgan State University, and a Juris Doctor from Capital University with a concentration in Child and Family Law.

Ebonie Cooper Jean is a lecturer and is connected to UMD’s Do Good Institute. Ebonie is a trusted consultant and social entrepreneur, Ebonie is the Principal of Friends of Ebonie, LLC, and Executive Director + Founder of the Young, Black & Giving Back Institute (YBGB). For the past decade, Ebonie has used her research, thought-leadership, and expertise to inform national and local projects and speaking engagements related to nonprofit DEI, African American donor engagement, church ministry, partnership development, and fundraising strategies. In 2013 Ebonie released the groundbreaking research as an NYU scholar entitled: African American Millennials: Discovering the Next Generation of Black Philanthropy for the Effective Communication of Non-Profit Organizations. Findings from his report inform her career pedagogy: Engage, Enrich, & Empower.

In this interview, a few highlights we discussed:

The interview was produced by Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11) of Empathy Media Lab. The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.

Episode 25 interviews Robert C. Orr who serves as Dean of University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. The discussion is hosted by Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11).

Dean Orr also serves as United Nations under secretary-general, and special advisor to the UN secretary-general on climate change. Dean Orr joined the United Nations from Harvard University where he served as the executive director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School of Government. Prior to this, he served as director of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC.

He has also served as United States ambassador to the United Nations and director of global affairs at the National Security Council, where he was responsible for peacekeeping and humanitarian affairs.

In this conversation, we discussed:

You can follow Dean Orr’s work at: https://spp.umd.edu/.

The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.

Episode 24 interviews Robert Sandoli of the Department of Energy. The talk is hosted by Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11).

Robert Sandoli is the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the Department of Energy. He previously served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary where he led a diverse energy efficiency program and R&D portfolio that included advanced manufacturing, federal energy management, low-income weatherization, and intergovernmental partnerships.

Robert has also held high level positions at the U.S. Department of State, the White House Office of Management and Budget and as a Professional Staff Member in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from Rutgers University, a Master of Science in Microbiology from Cornell University, and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland.

We discussed:

The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

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The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.

Episode 23 interviews Maryland State Senator Paul Pinksy representing District 22. The talk is hosted by Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11).

Senator Pinsky became a member of the Maryland Senate in 1994 after serving two terms in the House of Delegates. He serves as Chair of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee where he is a champion of progressive causes, especially in relation to education, healthcare, and the environment.

Senator Pinsky has also led efforts to reform Maryland’s tax structure by closing corporate tax loopholes and creating a progressive tax structure as well as providing health care for all Maryland residents.

Previously, Senator Pinsky taught high school history for twenty years.

We discussed:

You can follow Senator Pinsky’s work at: https://senatorpinsky.org/.

The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.

Episode 22 focuses on alum Raymond Nevo’s campaign for Maryland’s Prince George’s County Council District 2. Participants also included Campaign Manager Hugo Cantu and host Evan Papp.

Raymond is an advocate who uses his lived experience and policy expertise to enact equitable and just policies for residents in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

We discussed:

The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.

Episode 21 focuses on public policy with Diva Shrestha. Participants also included Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11).

Diva has over 10 years of experience in the education sector in the U.S. and Nepal and is currently a Strategy Consultant for the Ullens Education Foundation based in Nepal. Previously she was the Director of the Nepal Leadership Academy.

We discussed:

The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.

Episode 20 focuses on public policy with Kelly Veney Darnell. Participants also included Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11).

Kelly Veney Darnell is the Chief Operating Officer for the Bipartisan Policy Center, which is a Washington, DC-based think tank to promote health, security, and opportunity for all Americans.

Kelly has held political positions as the Federal Affairs Director for the City of Atlanta and as a Legislative Assistant for Congressman John Lewis in the U.S. House of Representatives.

She received her B.A. in Economics from Spelman College and a Master’s of Public Management from the University of Maryland. She received her law degree from the American University, Washington College of Law.

We discussed:

The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.

Episode 19 focuses on ethics and public policy with Dr. Chloe Schwenke. Participants also included Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11).

Dr. Chloe Schwenke is an international development ethicist, practitioner, human rights activist, researcher and educator. Her career has focused on gender equality and social inclusion, LGBTQ+, governance, peacebuilding, and human rights.

Chloe is President of The Center for Values in International Development, which is a new non-profit organization comprised of both practitioners and ethicists, working together to make secular, universal moral values explicit,  informative, persuasive, and influential in international relief and development policy, programming, advocacy, monitoring, evaluation, and learning. She served as a political appointee at USAID under the Obama Administration, as Senior Advisor on democracy, human rights, and governance in sub-Saharan Africa, and on LGBTQ+ issues. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland at College Park.

We discussed:

The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.

The University of Maryland School of Public Policy Alumni Board's video and podcast series called Policy Dialogues discusses current events through a policy lens.

Episode 18 focuses on Legislating Policy with Matt Verghese (UMD SPP ‘10). Participants also included Evan Papp (UMD SPP ‘11).

Matt Verghese is the chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Anthony Brown who represents Maryland's 4th congressional district. Matt has also served as a senior advisor on the Van Hollen for Senate campaign as well as Political and Communications Director for the Maryland Democratic Party, and as Senior Legislative Aide in the Montgomery County Government.

We discussed:

The views expressed do not represent official positions of the school or alumni network.