Now in its third year, ASPIRE (Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience) is a key pillar of YPL's goal to foster high-quality training and mentorship for future and early-career policy professionals. The ASPIRE program fields applications and selects 5-6 Spelman and Morehouse students with backgrounds in economics, sociology, psychology, public health, political science or other social science fields, and who have a demonstrated interest in applied quantitative social science research. Over eight weeks in the summer, the students gain an understanding of the types of applied questions social scientists pursue, the methods researchers use to answer these questions, and the ways in which research can influence policy, improve the delivery of services and, ultimately, improve the lives of people. ASPIRE helps participants form a close-knit community with their peers while building relationships with faculty members and staff who offer personalized attention and intensive support.
We are quite proud of the exceptional Spelman and Morehouse students who have joined us. Through their critical thinking and analytical skills, commitment to learning, and enthusiasm for using research and policy to transform people's lives, they excelled in their time in the program. In only two short months, they identified compelling research questions, learned and applied new analysis tools and methodology, and developed and shared exemplary presentations to share their findings.
We are deeply grateful to the many people that have supported and engaged in the ASPIRE program. We are thankful to Ford School Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes's active leadership in fostering our connection with Spelman College (her alma mater) and for giving of her time and attention to the students during their time in Ann Arbor. We also appreciate the generosity of the Ford School, Institute for Social Research, and Survey Research Center for their support in helping YPL bring this program to fruition as well as the individual staff engagement in programs and speaker sessions. Moreover, we are thankful to all of our speakers, both those from the university and those out in the community; the ASPIRE students have shared that these small-group conversations are very meaningful and thought-provoking as they consider their next steps in both the academic and career realm. Finally, we appreciate the time and commitment of our devoted ASPIRE mentors. In this most recent year, five University of Michigan PhD students studying economics, public policy, public health, education, and sociology provided guidance and support to the ASPIRE participants, helping them to succeed during their time in Ann Arbor and serving as a sounding board for them even beyond the summer.
ASPIRE continues to evolve thanks to feedback from past cohorts and our commitment to meeting the unique needs of each group. Notably, we have shifted more of the technical guidance for student projects to YPL's expert faculty and research team, allowing mentors to focus on providing holistic guidance and support as students consider their next steps. We have also expanded opportunities for group gatherings and speaker sessions—creating a more cohesive, supportive cohort—and enhanced curricular alignment to match the students' project progress. Based on student input, we increased the frequency and accessibility of office hours to ensure ample support, and broadened our speaker lineup to include dynamic voices, such as Spelman alum and Washtenaw County Public Defender Delphia Simpson, as well as U-M alum Sean White, who led a memorable tour at Michigan Central.
Feedback from previous participants has been invaluable in shaping ASPIRE's direction—from speaker selection to the structure of group and individual support. Our alumni now play a vital role in recruitment, sharing their experiences during info sessions to give new cohorts a genuine sense of community and purpose. We are immensely proud of what our Spelman and Morehouse students have achieved and look forward to seeing how their experiences with ASPIRE will shape the future of policy leadership.