The Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) has announced its incoming cohort of fellows for the 2023 calendar year. The incoming class is a diverse group of 24 promising leaders from across the state of Michigan and includes a St. Joseph woman, Monica Palmer. It is split between ten Democrats, ten Republicans, and four fellows identifying as political Independents.
Monica Palmer (R), St. Jospeh, Berrien County: Monica is currently the finance business analyst supporting Experity’s sales and marketing teams. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting Information Management from Davenport University. Monica is currently serving as the Executive Director for League of Our Own and sits on the MI Leadership Committee for The Policy Circle.
The program, founded in 1992, is managed by the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) at Michigan State University (MSU) and is intended to develop future political leaders here in Michigan. Over the past 30 years, over half of the program’s 700 graduates have gone on to be elected or appointed to positions in government.
“Michigan faces a litany of challenges in the 21st century, and the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research is proud to help develop the political leaders that will tackle these issues.” said Matt Grossmann, Director of IPPSR. Grossmann continued, “If our state is to continue to prosper, we need the right combination of good leaders, sound policy, and bipartisanship. These are the three things the Michigan Political Leadership Program has promoted over the past 30 years, and its results have been truly astounding.”
This year MPLP received a record number of applicants who were reviewed by the program’s co-Directors, Former Republican State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker and Former Democratic State Representative Rudy Hobbs. Beginning in February, the twenty-four fellows will begin a ten-weekend tour of Michigan in which they will discuss the state’s significant issues and experience firsthand the diversity of Michigan’s local communities.
