JULY 2022

Go Blue Goes North!

Dear Alumni and Friends, Summer is a special time of year here in Michigan. From the beauty of the windswept sand dunes along Lake Michigan’s shore to an exciting night out at a festival or ball game in Detroit to a quiet trek amid the vast wilderness of the Upper Peninsula, so many of our state’s greatest assets are available for us to explore. At the University of Michigan, this summer marks the beginning of a new season of change as our Board of Regents voted last week to appoint Dr. Santa J. Ono as the university’s 15th president. He will officially take over in October. I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Ono and his family to U-M, and I’m even more eager to see what lies ahead for our very special community of leaders and best. Dr. Ono will soon discover that the University of Michigan is exhilarating, competitive, forward-thinking and committed to the public good.  I wish him the very best.  The University of Michigan is Heading North I look forward to enjoying some of our state’s beauty this week as the Board of Regents hosts its July 21 meeting in St. Ignace, marking the first-ever gathering of the university’s governing board in the U.P. The meeting is a good reminder that the University of Michigan’s impact stretches well beyond our campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint to every corner of the Great Lakes State. It can be found in the students we educate and the patients we treat. It can be found in resources like the U-M Biological Station near Pellston and programs like Project Healthy Schools, which works in collaboration with community partners in more than 20 Upper Peninsula and seven northern Michigan schools. It can be found in our research that addresses some of the state’s most pressing economic, environmental and public health issues while contributing tens of millions of dollars to Michigan’s economy each year.  Since 2017, Michigan-based companies have received more than $517 million to supply goods and services for U-M research projects. That includes more than $9.4 million to support employment across large and small businesses in northern Michigan. We are proud of that impact. From Ann Arbor to Detroit, Dearborn to Marquette, and Flint to Traverse City, the University of Michigan is committed to the continued prosperity of our state and its people.  Have a great summer,

U-M Awarded $53M to Expand Great Lakes Research The $53M renewal is the largest sponsored award in U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability history and will expand CIGLR, the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, where researchers work with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory to help conserve Michigan’s natural resources.

Leadership Q&A: Regent Paul Brown on his 'Up North' Upbringing Ahead of the Regents' meeting in St. Ignace on July 21, Chair of the Board of Regents Paul Brown discussed the importance of U-M’s longstanding commitment to addressing challenges facing northern Michigan communities, ensuring U-M campuses are welcoming for everyone and emphasizing that U-M belongs to all Michigan residents.

UNIVERSITY OF (PURE) MICHIGAN  From the Big House to the Mackinac Bridge, the impact of University of Michigan research, faculty, staff, alumni and students spans far beyond the borders of our three campuses. Learn more about U-M’s Up North Impact, collaborations, community engagement and upcoming events: impact.govrel.umich.edu/up-north-impact

Space Startup Finds Success in the Upper Peninsula From the company's headquarters in Houghton, the Orbion Space Technology team—led by U-M alumnus Dr. Lyon (Brad) King—has developed revolutionary small satellite propulsion systems designed to make spaceflight more simple, affordable and reliable.

Project Seeks to Improve Health for Michigan Farmworkers The Michigan Farmworker Project is a community-based participatory research initiative led by School of Public Health epidemiologists aimed at improving the social and environmental health of Michigan's farmworkers, who play a critical role in the state's food supply chain.

SANTA J. ONO NAMED U-M'S 15TH PRESIDENT Santa J. Ono, an accomplished biomedical researcher and president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia, has been named the 15th president of the University of Michigan. President-Elect Ono will begin his appointment on October 13, 2022.

Inspiring College Plans An essential first step in going to college is filling out applications and securing financial aid. Through the Michigan College Advising Corps program (MCAC), recent U-M grads work as college advisors across Michigan to help first-generation and low-income students, and those from underrepresented communities, navigate the process.

MICHIGAN IN THE NEWS Crain's Detroit: U.P. Company Aims To Be 'The Ford of Satellite Engines' WLUC Upper Michigan's Source: Guardians of Keweenaw Ridge Caution About Scenic Pollution from Turbine Construction Great Lakes Now: 2022 Forecast: Smaller Than Average Amount of Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms for Lake Erie, But Hot Spots Possible The Manistee News Advocate: This Bird on the Brink is Staging a Comeback in Northwest Michigan WDET: Why Child Poverty is High and How We Can Fix It

Did we miss you last month? Check out the June 2022 Michigan Impact: What Keeps Michigan Awake At Night?

The Michigan Impact newsletter is a monthly communication highlighting the impact of University of Michigan research and projects throughout the state of Michigan. To learn more visit PublicEngagement.UMich.edu. Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe today to make sure you don't miss any news.

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