Bridge Builders

• A conversation about the book Abundance with Dr. Jenna Bednar, professor of political science and policy: Explored the green-energy transition and societal implications.
• Michigan politics with State Representative Jason Morgan: Examined how elected officials and communities can engage more constructively across differences.
• Firearm injury prevention with Dr. Cynthia Ewell Foster, clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry: Focused on how constructive dialogue and community engagement can reduce firearm injuries.
• Gun violence prevention amidst federal funding cuts with Rob Wilcox, president and CEO of the Fund for a Safer Future: Discussed how philanthropy and cross-sector collaborations are helping to sustain gun violence prevention efforts.
• Understanding conflict in the Middle East with Dr. Mark Tessler, Samuel J. Eldersveld Collegiate Professor of Political Science: Explored the political, cultural, and social differences in one of our world's most enduring conflicts.

Adiah Bailey (MBA/MPP '28) grew up in rural South Georgia, where she developed a deep interest in understanding barriers and pathways to economic opportunity. She earned a B.A. in economics and international Studies, with minors in Spanish and anthropology, from Case Western Reserve University in 2021. She began her career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland as a research analyst, contributing to work on housing and eviction policy, labor market dynamics, and international central bank digital currencies. She also published research on poverty cycles and monetary policy. Before coming to the Ford School, she served as a senior Community Reinvestment Act analyst at KeyBank, where she conducted CRA performance reporting to ensure bank actions aligned with community needs to exceed regulatory obligations. At the Ford School, she aims to leverage finance and strategy to advance social impact initiatives and equitable economic development, with long-term aspirations to lead a nonprofit. Outside of policy, she enjoys volunteering with youth mentorship organizations like Youth Opportunities Unlimited and loves attending theater performances, collecting art, and traveling internationally.

"As part of the second Bridge Builders cohort, I'm most excited to use my dialogue skills to blend the worlds of business and policy in my career. Although those two disciplines can often be quite at odds with each other, they are equally important in my journey to understand the barriers and pathways to economic opportunity."

Joshua Crook (BA ‘26) is a senior from Roseville, MI, studying public policy with a focus on economics and development and minoring in international studies. Josh is heavily involved in the Ford School community, where he is a peer advisor in the Student and Academic Services office, where he advises undergraduate Fordies on their degree requirements and course options. Josh is also the Ford School Alumni Board's student representative and the Ford Undergraduate Council's vice president. Outside of the Ford School, Josh serves on the Provost's Undergraduate Advisory Council, where he provides feedback and advice to the Provost to help improve students' academic experiences. After graduation, Joshua plans to pursue a master's in public policy and utilize his communication and constructive dialogue skills in the social policy space.

"I joined Bridge Builders in 2025 to strengthen my ability to facilitate constructive dialogue and conversations across differences among the Ford School community."

Adriana "Ana" Werdin (BA ‘26) is a senior from New Freedom, Pennsylvania, studying public policy with a focus in national security, intelligence, counterterrorism policy and minoring in entrepreneurship. Outside of the classroom, Ana serves as the Event Management chair for Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan (DMUM), the largest student-run nonprofit on campus, where she helps raise funds and awareness for pediatric therapies at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. She also fosters community as a Campus Day tour guide, welcoming prospective students and their families to Michigan, and competes as the goalkeeper for Victor's FC Women's Soccer. After graduation, Ana plans to apply the collaborative and communication skills gained through the Bridge Builder program to the national security field, a space where dialogue and understanding are vital for meaningful progress.

"I joined the Bridge Builders program in its inaugural cohort to strengthen my ability to engage in constructive dialogue across political and ideological divides, and to help others develop the same skill."

Jadden Kirchoff (MPP ‘26) is a second-year Master of Public Policy candidate from Ypsilanti, MI, studying at the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy with a concentration in public and nonprofit management and a focus area in social policy. She is involved in Women and Gender in Public Policy and Students of Color in Public Policy. Before attending Ford, Jadden earned her undergraduate degree in Public Policy with a minor in Leading Organizations at Michigan State University. While at MSU, she served as a policy advocate for March for Our Lives, where she worked to advance legislative change and raise awareness about gun violence prevention. These experiences strengthened her commitment to public service and shaped her understanding of how policy can address systemic inequities and improve the lives of marginalized populations. At the Ford School, Jadden focuses her academic and professional interests on social policy issues, particularly improving conditions for unhoused populations and communities living in food deserts. After graduation, she plans to combine her policy expertise, community engagement, and leadership skills to create innovative, evidence-based solutions for underserved populations and to build bridges between communities and the policies that impact them.

"I joined Bridge Builders to help Ford students engage in conversations about difficult topics while maintaining constructive dialogue. Through this work, I hope to create spaces where students feel heard and supported while tackling challenging issues in policy and society."

Madina Mohsini (BA ‘27) was born in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, and immigrated to the United States in 2010, where she has since grown up as a true Michigander. She is a junior studying Public Policy with a focus on Climate Governance and Justice and a minor in Earth Sciences. Madina joined the Bridge Builders program in winter 2026 and quickly connected with its mission to cultivate meaningful dialogue across differences, something she has always valued through her own experiences navigating multiple cultures and perspectives. At the Ford School, Madina serves on the boards of Women and Gender in Public Policy and Students of Color in Public Policy. Outside of Ford, she is the President of What the F, a feminist magazine at the University of Michigan, and President of the Honors Resident Advisors, where she focuses on building strong and supportive communities. After graduation, she plans to pursue an MBA and eventually a law degree, and work at the intersection of climate policy, law, and global governance.

"Through Bridge Builders, I hope to strengthen my ability to facilitate thoughtful conversations across different viewpoints."

Breah Marie Willy (BA ‘26) is a senior from Metro Detroit studying public policy with a focus in urban inequality and development and minoring in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences. She joined the Bridge Builders program in 2024 to strengthen her skills in facilitating dialogue across differences and reducing political polarization. Outside the classroom, Breah advocates for positive change as Co-President of the Michigan Institute for Progressive Policy and builds community through song as Vice President of the UofM Women's Glee Club. After graduation, she plans to apply her Bridge Builder, policy, and quantitative analysis skills to advance housing justice in Michigan.

"I deeply value this work and believe that active listening, asking constructive questions, and engaging purposefully with those who hold different views can build not only better policy spaces, but also more empathetic communities."