Whether buying a new bicycle or planning a vacation, Julie meticulously researches all her options, weighs the costs and benefits, and triple-checks the numbers before making a decision. It is this innate desire to find the best solution that has led hJulier to explore a wide spectrum of issues—from helping cities across the state access and use ARPA funds to evaluating state and federal grant programs for their effectiveness. For Julie, the world is full of policy problems just waiting to be solved—all that is needed is an endless curiosity and a willingness to dig into the challenge.
As a director at PSC, Julie brings her research and problem-solving skills to the client services team, where she crunches data, facilitates policy leaders through strategic planning sessions, and connects with community members to understand how policy directly impacts them. She has designed, applied for, and implemented state and federal grants, which gives her a deep base of knowledge about both sides of the process. She also serves as one of the firm’s go-to resources for education policy, nonprofit management, and issues related to poverty, equity, and access to services.
Before joining PSC, Julie served as the director of resource development at the Habitat for Humanity Capital Region, as the director of research and data initiatives at the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, and as a research associate at the University of Wisconsin’s Center on Education and Work. She received a BS in Social Science and Affairs from Central Michigan University and an MPA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Q: Why do you work in community advancement?
I think it’s important communities have access to the resources they need to provide residents with the quality of life they deserve. There are so many opportunities out there, and I want to give communities the best chance of successfully attaining them. Funding systems are complicated, and I feel strongly about providing municipalities with technical assistance as they navigate those complex systems.
Q: What is one thing you wish communities seeking funding knew?
Not only do communities need to assess whether they have the capacity to apply for a grant, they also need to determine whether they have the capacity to implement it. Being able to honestly reflect on your capacity is an important component of deciding whether to apply for a grant. It’s okay to pass up an opportunity that isn’t quite right for your municipality.
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