A new cohort of University of Michigan faculty will step out of the classroom and onto the road — traveling hundreds of miles across the state as part of the university’s long-running Michigan Road Scholars program.
From May 4-8, participants will take part in a five-day traveling seminar intended to deepen their understanding of Michigan’s communities, economy and public challenges, while exploring how their teaching and research can connect more directly to the state.
“The Michigan Road Scholars program is about listening, learning and building real connections across the state,” said Chris Kolb, vice president for government relations. “It gives our faculty the opportunity to see firsthand how their work intersects with the lives of Michiganders, and to better understand the role U-M plays in communities across the state.”
This year’s Road Scholars cohort reflects the breadth of the university, bringing together faculty from a wide range of schools, colleges, and disciplines.
Participants include:
- Shalanda Baker, School for Environment and Sustainability
- Udo Becker, LSA
- Shonita Black, Stephen M. Ross School of Business
- Erin Bronstein College of Education, Health, and Human Services, UM-Dearborn
- Frederic Brunel, School of Management, UM-Dearborn
- Rona Carter, LSA
- Rob Carter, College of Arts, Sciences & Education, UM-Flint
- James Cutler, College of Engineering
- Michele Day, Engaged Learning – Military Officer Education Program
- Paul Draus, College of Arts, Science and Education, UM-Dearborn
- Olivia Halabicky, School of Nursing
- Megan Hartline, University Library
- Amy Kilbourne, Medical School
- Sheng-Hung Lee, A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
- Cheng Li, College of Engineering
- Annelise Madison, LSA
- Mohamed Wiem Mkaouer, College of Engineering and Computer Science, UM-Flint
- Thye Peng Ngo, School of Nursing
- Kyongson Park, College of Arts, Science and Education, UM-Dearborn
- Devon Payne-Sturges, School of Public Health
- Melissa Pilewskie, Medical School
- Lionel Robert, School of Information
- Miranda Rogers, Medical School
- Kevin Stange, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
- Chris Torres, Marsal Family School of Education
- Chris Vrenna, School of Music, Theatre & Dance
- Wei Xiang, LSA
- Nari Yoo, School of Social Work
- Kai Zhu, SEAS
Together, the cohort represents expertise spanning sustainability, business, education, and the liberal arts, creating space for rich interdisciplinary dialogue throughout the week.
Participants will spend the week engaging with communities across Michigan, and learning from one another. Participants will meet with local leaders, educators, industry experts, and community organizations to gain firsthand insight into the issues shaping communities across the state; from economic development and workforce training to health disparities, education systems, and regional history.
The tour also introduces faculty to the places many U-M students call home, helping to ground their work in the lived experiences of communities across Michigan.
Over five days, the cohort will travel from southeast Michigan to the Upper Peninsula and back down through west Michigan and the state capital, with stops that highlight the state’s diversity and complexity.
May 4
The tour begins in Monroe and Detroit, with visits to the Opportunity Center and River Raisin National Battlefield Park, followed by stops at Michigan Central Station and Focus: HOPE. The day includes discussions on health disparities and concludes in Bay City with a dinner focused on mental health partnerships.
May 5
Scholars travel north, visiting the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum before heading to St. Ignace and Cedarville. Stops include the Marine Trades Institute and local businesses like Massey Fish Co., offering a look at maritime industries and regional economies.
May 6
The group continues through northern Michigan with a meeting at Northwest Education Services Career Tech Center and a visit with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in Peshawbestown. The day also includes a stop at Black Star Farms, highlighting regional agriculture and tourism.
May 7
Traveling south, participants will visit Wolverine Power Cooperative to learn about energy infrastructure, followed by stops in Grand Rapids including the Grand Rapids Gold and Hope Network.
May 8
The final day includes visits to the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the city of Holland, before concluding in Lansing with a lunch with state legislators, a tour of the Michigan State Capitol, and a presentation on Indigenous education initiatives.
Since its inception in 1999, the Michigan Road Scholars program has aimed to strengthen connections between the university and communities across the state.
“By giving faculty a deeper understanding of Michigan’s people, industries, and challenges, the program encourages new ways of thinking about teaching, research, and public engagement,” Kolb said. “It also reinforces a core principle of the university’s mission: that the work happening on campus should be informed by, and in service to, the broader state of Michigan.”
