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Public Sector Leaders Cap Off a Busy Fall for Ludwig Program

Professor Zachary Liscow and Shalanda Young seated at a table
Professor Zachary Liscow and Shalanda Young at an October event.

There’s no shortage of opportunities to explore public sector leadership at Yale Law School, according to Margie Adler, co-head of The Tsai Leadership Program and executive director of the Carol and Gene Ludwig Program in Public Sector Leadership at Yale Law School.

Student fellows in the Ludwig Program spent the fall term attending lectures, speaker series, and networking events, and meeting with public sector leaders.

Ludwig fellows also had the opportunity to meet with Clara Wu Tsai, co-founder of the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation’s Social Justice Fund, along with the Fund’s Executive Director Gregg Bishop.

Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. 

The program highlights leaders from the national, state, and local spheres. During the fall Citizenship and Equality Speaker Series, guest lectures included public sector leaders Judge David S. Tatel, former senior judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit; Shalanda Young, 43rd director of the Office of Management and Budget; and Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. of the Cherokee Nation along with Kimberly Teehee, the Cherokee Nation’s delegate to Congress.

Speakers discussed their experiences working in public service and the skill sets public sector leaders need to navigate challenges, both on the bench and in government, and answered questions.

Jeffrey Schatz ’26, a Ludwig fellow, said he attended as many Ludwig events as possible. A standout event, for him, was Chief Hoskin’s visit to the School.

“I’ve been increasingly interested in tribal law and environmental law, and it was genuinely inspiring to hear Chief Hoskin speak to us about the strides the Cherokee Nation has taken in recent years,” said Schatz.

After the talk, Schatz attended a smaller gathering with Teehee, which provided an opportunity to discuss how students can make a difference. “It was very direct career advice from someone doing really interesting things,” he said.

"I appreciated hearing Ludwig Program speakers discuss their varied public-sector career trajectories," added Bryce Morales ’26. "I especially enjoyed the lunch with OMB Director Shalanda Young, who spoke about her own experiences navigating federal government employment and about developing the skills that have served her professional success."

This spring, the Ludwig Program will host additional events in the Citizenship and Equality Speaker Series and a “Leadership, Organizing, and Action” training event offered in collaboration with the Law and Political Economy Project. More details about upcoming events can be found on the program’s website.

The Ludwig Program provides focused educational and professional support to Yale Law School students who aspire to nontraditional careers and leadership roles in the public sector, and helps prepare students for careers in areas such as government, nonprofits, and other institutions focused on serving the public.