Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy

Forbes just released its list of “New Ivies,” highlighting 20 universities, 10 public and 10 private, that continue to attract top students. We’re thrilled that Carnegie Mellon University made the list!

Read more in Forbes' article here! https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2025/03/26/the-new-ivies-2025-20-great-colleges-employers-love/

Meet Kelly Ufford, an Entertainment Industry Management student at Heinz College! After years of acting, she transitioned behind the scenes, and the program has been a crucial part of her journey.

Kelly has interned at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Aggregate Films, the Pittsburgh Film Office, and Ramo Law PC. Now in her final year, she’s living and working in Los Angeles, gaining real-world experience in the entertainment world.

We can’t wait to see what’s next for her!

🎬🍿Watch her highlight here! ➡️

Kelly's Journey from Performing to Entertainment Management After years as an actor, Kelly Ufford set her sights on working behind the scenes in entertainment. The Entertainment Industry Management program at Heinz Co...

Huge congratulations to Prasun Shrestha (Heinz '21) for being honored as a Tartan on the Rise!

As an AI/ML data scientist at Hala Systems, Inc., Prasun is using technology to save lives. His work on AI-powered systems for humanitarian causes, including airstrike warnings and documenting war crimes, is making a real-world impact.

We are inspired by Prasun’s commitment to leveraging data science for global good!

You can read about Prasun here! https://www.cmu.edu/engage/alumni/get-involved/tartansontherise/2025/shrestha.html

Another year, another Douse-a-Dean! Big thanks to Dean Krishnan for taking the plunge and helping raise money for a great cause!

Congratulations to Flavia Bleahu, PMP (Heinz '17) for being named a Tartan on the Rise!

At the U.S. Department of State, Flavia is leading efforts to counter disinformation, ensuring that the truth prevails in the face of foreign propaganda. From creating the department’s first data strategy to modernizing embassy operations, Flavia is helping shape the future of diplomacy.

We are proud to see Flavia’s leadership on the global stage!

You can read about Flavia here! https://www.cmu.edu/engage/alumni/get-involved/tartansontherise/2025/bleahu.html

Congratulations to Wasi Mohamed (HNZ 2021) for being named a Tartan on the Rise!

As Chief of Staff for U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, Wasi is leading efforts to pass legislation, including a bipartisan bill addressing abandoned wells and environmental justice concerns. His career has been rooted in advocacy, and now, at the federal level, he continues to work on impactful policy changes.

We are proud to see Wasi making a difference in communities and policy!

You can read about Wasi here! https://www.cmu.edu/engage/alumni/get-involved/tartansontherise/2025/mohamed.html

This past weekend, we welcomed admitted students to Heinz College for our Admitted Student Open House! It was great having Hamburg Hall full of future students getting to know Heinz, meeting faculty and staff, and getting a feel for Carnegie Mellon University.

To everyone who joined us, we hope you had an amazing time in Pittsburgh and left excited about what’s ahead. We hope to see you back on campus this fall!

Congratulations to Martin Gaynor, who has been honored with the Victor R. Fuchs Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Field of Health Economics by the American Society of Health Economists. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on the field through their research, leadership, and policy influence.

Professor Gaynor’s work on competition and antitrust policy in health care has shaped both academic research and real-world policy, influencing governments and institutions in the U.S. and beyond. His contributions have advanced the understanding of health care markets and helped drive meaningful policy change.

This recognition reflects a career dedicated to improving health care economics. Congratulations, Dr. Gaynor!

“It is no exaggeration to say that AI has emerged as the single most important intellectual development of our time.”

On Friday, Carnegie Mellon University and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made strides in generative AI.

CMU President Farnam Jahanian and Gov. Josh Shapiro met on campus to share the results of a yearlong AI pilot with OpenAI. State employees using ChatGPT saved an average of 95 minutes per day, improving government efficiency.

The Block Center for Technology and Society at Heinz College played a pivotal role, with graduate students conducting AI research to support the project. As Pennsylvania expands AI usage, the Block Center will continue providing expert support.

Read more here! https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2025/march/shapiro-unveils-ai-pilot-program-results-at-carnegie-mellon

Three Heinz College students, Busola Adeshina, Nicolle Vigil, and Michelle Menachery, just took first place at the 7th Annual Health Care Management Case Competition! 🎉🏆

Hosted by ACHE of Greater Philadelphia, this competition brought together teams from universities to pitch game-changing tech solutions for healthcare. Our team wowed the judges with their AI-driven maternal risk platform, designed to tackle severe maternal morbidity disparities in Philadelphia. Their solution uses predictive analytics and an LLM-powered chatbot to help doctors identify high-risk pregnancies early and provide personalized care recommendations. 💡🤖

Huge congratulations to Busola, Nicolle, and Michelle on this incredible achievement! 👏

Earlier this week, a group of our Master of Arts Management students traveled to Capitol Hill to advocate for the arts and arts education. After a briefing from arts advocates in D.C., they met with legislative staff from Sen. John Fetterman, Sen. Dave McCormick, and Rep. Summer Lee.

This was an incredible opportunity for them to share their voices and experiences, demonstrating the vital role of the arts in our communities!

We’re thrilled to share that second-year Public Policy and Management student Lily Neilsen and her team took home 3rd place in the prestigious Super Analytics Challenge!

This competition, hosted by the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh, brought together graduate students from multiple universities to tackle health care access for people experiencing homelessness!

A group of our first-year Public Policy and Management students are currently at Harvard University for the Policy Hackathon! Out of 401 teams and 1,560 participants, only 6 teams advanced to the finals in the policy track for the Harvard India Conference.

We’re thrilled to have Nicole Zhou, Mitul Jhaveri, Akin Joseph, and Arthur Spirou representing us in Boston for this prestigious event. Congratulations, and good luck today!