ASPIRE

Sam Hallman

ASPIRE Curriculum Lead

Sam Hallman is the Curriculum Lead for the ASPIRE Program in the Youth Policy Lab at the University of Michigan. A proud first-generation college student, she received her joint Ph.D. in Social Work and Psychology in 2015 from the University of Michi...

Carrie Hammerman

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Carrie Hammerman joined the Youth Policy Lab in 2024 as its new Director of Strategic Partnerships. In this role, she seeks to increase YPL’s visibility and policy impact while ensuring funding sustainability to support ongoing research and project d...

Shiyu Nitsos

Administrative Specialist

Shiyu Nitsos joined the Youth Policy Lab in September of 2021. Before YPL, she provided extensive administrative support for the Graduate Career Service & Alumni Relations Office at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Shiyu grew up in China a...

News

Youth Policy Lab welcomes Morehouse and Spelman students to 2026 ASPIRE summer program

Apr 27, 2026

The Youth Policy Lab at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research is proud to announce the 2026 Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE) cohort. This summer, Spelman students Toni Flemmi...

Youth Policy Lab welcomes Morehouse and Spelman students to 2026 ASPIRE summer program

In the News

Spelman Students Selected for Prestigious 2025 ASPIRE Program at the University of Michigan

Sep 9, 2025 Spelman College

Spelman celebrates four students — Ke’Zhiah Chapman, C’2026, Chloe Fite, C’2027, Angelica Pierce, C’2026, and Brooklynn Vesey, C’2027 — for being selected for the 2025 Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE) with the Youth P...

ASPIRE 2025 cohort posing with Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes

News

Analyzing the numbers: 5 ASPIRE students reflect on a summer of policy research and personal growth

Aug 11, 2025

Rising Morehouse College senior Tyler Mathieu had one goal in mind when he arrived in Ann Arbor for the Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE): stay open-minded. “When I applied, it was a shot in the dark,” he said. “Now I ...

News

Youth Policy Lab welcomes Morehouse and Spelman students to 2025 ASPIRE summer program

Jun 2, 2025

The Youth Policy Lab (YPL) at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research is proud to announce the 2025 Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE) cohort. This summer, Spelman students Ke'Zh...

Youth Policy Lab welcomes Morehouse and Spelman students to 2025 ASPIRE summer program

News

ASPIRE program bridges research and real-world impact

Aug 6, 2024

When Chaelee Farquarson learned about the Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE), she applied out of curiosity. As a rising senior studying psychology at Spelman College, much of her research was theoretical. “I was drawn t...

ASPIRE program bridges research and real-world impact

News

Youth Policy Lab welcomes Spelman and Morehouse students to 2024 ASPIRE Summer Program

May 24, 2024

Summer 2024 brings another exceptional cohort of undergraduate students from Spelman College and Morehouse College to the University of Michigan’s Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE). Launched in 2023, the eight-week s...

Youth Policy Lab welcomes Spelman and Morehouse students to 2024 ASPIRE Summer Program

News

Inaugural ASPIRE cohort enjoys rewarding summer research experience with the Youth Policy Lab

Aug 24, 2023

Summer 2023 proved to be eventful and rewarding for the inaugural Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE) cohort. The program, a collaboration between the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and Spelman College, provided ...

Inaugural ASPIRE cohort enjoys rewarding summer research experience with the Youth Policy Lab

News

Spelman students chosen for the Youth Policy Lab’s summer policy research experience

May 23, 2023

This summer, four outstanding undergraduate students from Spelman College will participate in the University of Michigan’s Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience (ASPIRE)—a seven-week summer program run by the Youth Policy Lab (YPL)...

Spelman students chosen for the Youth Policy Lab’s summer policy research experience

News

Ford School joins Spelman College Research Day, lends support

Apr 25, 2023

In a return to her alma mater, Ford School interim dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes visited Spelman College to elevate the visibility of the Ford School at the nation’s top-ranked Historically Black College and to strengthen the relationship between the t...

Ford School joins Spelman College Research Day, lends support

2025 ASPIRE Final Presentations

Jul 25, 2025 1:54:15

The 2025 ASPIRE participants presented their research findings, marking the culmination of their experience in the eight-week summer program. ASPIRE (Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience) is a program run by the Youth Policy Lab a...

Corinne Salter discusses her experience as a 2024 ASPIRE participant

Sep 4, 2024 0:00:58

Corinne answers questions about why she applied to ASPIRE and what she studied during the program. She offers advice to prospective students and gives a shoutout to a member of her cohort.

2024 ASPIRE Final Presentations

Jul 26, 2024 1:47:01

The 2024 ASPIRE participants present their research findings, marking the culmination of their experience in the eight-week summer program. ASPIRE (Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience) is a program run by the Youth Policy Lab at ...

2023 ASPIRE Final Presentations

Jul 28, 2023 0:56:32

The 2023 ASPIRE participants present their research findings, marking the culmination of their experience in the seven-week summer program. ASPIRE (Applied Social Policy Internship and Research Experience) is a program run by the Youth Policy Lab at ...