Alice has been motivated by a belief that strong, inclusive policies can transform lives.

Alice Kinney, originally from southwest Michigan, is a former federal employee and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer whose journey has been guided by service, education, and community impact. Today, she is pursuing a master of public policy at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy where she is building the skills to advance evidence-based policies that strengthen education systems and uplift communities across Michigan and beyond.

Alice’s commitment to service began early, shaped by growing up in a family where hard work and resourcefulness were daily lessons. That foundation inspired her to study English and Spanish Education at Western Michigan University, earning Phi Beta Kappa honors, a teaching certificate, and practical classroom experience. Driven to broaden her impact, Alice spent more than two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua and Ecuador, where she led teacher training programs, expanded access to education, and witnessed firsthand the power—and limitations—of systems to shape opportunity.

Following her return, Alice joined the U.S. Department of Education, where she worked for five years as a Grants Analyst and Education Program Specialist. There, she administered large-scale federal grant programs serving rural schools and individuals with disabilities, and played a key role in implementing emergency relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alice also contributed to the Institute of Education Sciences, helping spotlight innovations in educational technology.

At every step, Alice has been motivated by a belief that strong, inclusive policies can transform lives. Now at the Ford School, she is deepening her expertise in policy analysis, data-driven decision-making, and leadership. Looking ahead, Alice aims to bring her federal, international, and local experiences together to help set a new standard for excellence and ethics in governance and shape education policies that ensure communities thrive not despite policy—but because of it.

CEW+ celebrates Alice’s commitment to education policy and names her the Hillary Murt and Bruce Friedman Scholar.