Keep an eye on Maddie Thomas, PPA’s first policy associate. She comes from a family of educators who fostered and developed curiosity and the desire to learn. Her novel college experience features a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan, a fistful of valuable internships, and the most prestigious of graduate degrees. We are excited to have her on our team. Here’s what she has to say.
You have an interesting educational background: a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in political science and cultural and global studies, and a master’s in educational policy and analysis from Harvard. Tell us a little about this.
I wanted to go to a place that sparked my curiosity, was nurturing, and got me excited to learn—Central was that place. The professors were reachable and several really took me under their wing. Additionally, the political science coursework was flexible, so I could supplement my classroom time with internships. I could spend one day in Lansing working for a representative, and the next day, I was back at Central, translating that firsthand experience into my course work. I often tell people, if I hadn’t gone to Central, I would never have gotten into Harvard.
Harvard was a very different experience. One of the biggest differences between Harvard and Central was the access you got to important thought leaders. The majority of my graduate coursework was focused on case studies. At the end of each case, our professor would bring in like a senior advisor to Arne Duncan (former U.S. Secretary of Education), to tell us how they would think through the case, the decisions they made in similar situations, and how they interpreted their impact.
While you were at Central, you interned for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, and state House Minority Leader Christine Greig. How will these experiences help your work at PPA.
Each internship gave me insights into different roles and responsibilities of the unique facets of our state and federal governments. I was a press intern in Gov. Whitmer’s office, I assisted with constituent relations for Leader Greig, and at Sen. Peters’ office, I did all sorts of things.
Through these experiences, I was able to see how different teams work, and how policy, constituent relations, and community outreach get done. Because every office functioned a little bit differently, I got to see how different teams flow and work to serve their constituents.
Before joining PPA, you were a talent initiatives specialist for the Detroit Chamber. What did that involve?
At the Detroit Chamber, I worked under the MichAuto brand, and my role focused on workforce and talent initiatives for the auto industry. I worked a lot with the region’s community colleges to scale up curriculum. I also worked a lot with nonprofits, including Square One Education Network, to increase internships and experiential learning experiences for students. It was a lot of coalition building with the ultimate goal of expanding access to high wages and in-demand automotive careers for people who have historically been shut out of those opportunities.
You have a unique job title as PPA’s first policy associate. What does that entail?
I will be working closely with (PPA Chief Strategy Officer) Dan Quinn. My work will include conducting policy research, analyzing data, and drafting policy documents. I am excited to help translate research into actionable solutions for the clients and coalitions I will be supporting.
You are less than two years out of college with impressive experience and credentials. Do you have a career plan?
Not really. At the end of day, I just want to help people. That’s what I want to do—just to help people. And, of course, make Michigan a place where every person can thrive.
What do you like to do outside of the office?
In the winter, I’m a big skier and love spending time in Northern Michigan. I love biking and exploring the bike trails of Southeast Michigan. I also like to read, play piano, and do yoga. I really enjoy cooking and sharing meals with family and friends.