“Be Anything, Be Yourself, Be Kind” Dr. Preeti Malani, U-M Chief Health Officer, Office of the President School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases

Your pain does not negate your power, purpose, and presence! Chanel Barnes, Communications and Media Major, Entrepreneurship and Community Action and Social Change (Double Minor), Marketing and Media Assistant (WolverineWellness), Co-Chaplain (Michigan Gospel Chorale), Student Advisory Planning Group (2020 DEI Summit), Community Outreach Committee (UMichBSU)

Abigail Eiler, LMSW, MSW, QMHP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work Chief Diversity Officer, Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Athletic Counseling, UMich Athletics “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman

“Mothers and female scientists have faced unprecedented challenges during this pandemic. As a mother in STEM who focuses on women’s health research, I hope the pandemic has shined a light on the need to invest in these critical and at risk areas.”
Brigid Gregg, Assistant Professor Pediatric Endocrinology and Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health

“What I hope to remember most from last year is gratefulness and compassion.“
Paula Goforth, Associate Research Scientist, Department of Pharmacology
Director, Neural Control of Metabolism Lab, Medical School

Durga Singer M.D., Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Medicine “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

“Remember – the world doesn’t owe you a living. It’s you who owes a debt – to those who helped you. Pay your debt by making this world a better place.” Faith M. Strickland, Ph.D., U-M Research Senior Supervisor

“As I work with others towards positive social change on and off campus, I’m anchored by the words of Fannie Lou Hamer: “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.””
Danyelle Reynolds, Assistant Director for Student Learning and Leadership, Ginsberg Center, Chair, Washtenaw County Community Action Board

“As an artist, one of my goals is to have an impact on underrepresented communities like mine. A great way to summarize how I view art is reflected in this quote by Wendell Pierce: ‘The role of Art is to ignite the public discourse. Art is where we come together as a community to confront who we are as a society, to decide what our values are, and then to act on them.’”
Sehrish Hussain, Junior, Dual Degree – Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Business Administration

“In every space I enter, I always strive to leave the place better than I found it. As a faculty member, that means pushing to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the academic spaces I exist within.”
Lola Eniola-Adefeso, Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Michigan Engineering (2004), University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Chemical Engineering, Miller Faculty Scholar, Vice Chair for Graduate Education #FundBlackScientists

“No Rain, No Flowers.”
Charlotte Gu, @UMichLSA Freshman, Economics and Computer Science, Kappa Delta Sorority, Phi Beta Lambda Business Fraternity, Salto Dance Company, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)

“Over the past year, while we have been physically separated, we also see the positive aspect that we are more intellectually and emotionally connected.”
Liuyan Zhao, U-M Assistant Professor of Physics, LSA

“It is such a privilege to be a physicist exploring the cosmos in search for answers to the deepest of questions: ‘What is the Universe made of? How does it evolve?’”
Marcelle Soares-Santos, Assistant Professor of Physics, Sloan Research Fellow, Cottrell Scholar, LSA

Anna Saewert, Junior, U-M Nursing, Research Assistant, MedBuddy, Kappa Delta Sorority, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, Mayo Clinic Extern, Empower Through Health (ETH)
“Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.” – Buddha

“This year, I’ve been constantly amazed by watching the public health community rise to this challenge. It has been so inspiring to watch colleagues at U-M and around the state and the country venture into new roles and unfamiliar spaces in their efforts to make us safer.”
Dr. Emily Martin, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, COVID-19 Campus Health Response Committee

“I’m so glad to be working with and supported by amazing women in the Dolinoy Lab. This past year would have been a lot more challenging without them and I am grateful for all the things they helped me accomplish.”
Rachel Morgan, MPH, 3rd year PhD candidate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Toxicology and Epidemiology Fellow, Career Training in Reproductive Biology Fellow

“These last few months have reminded me that hope is living with courage and confidence, not fear. We must embrace life as a lesson for opportunities, empowering growth and accomplishments.” Crystal James, Deputy Chief of Police, U-M Division of Public Safety and Security
Melissa Overton, Deputy Chief of Police/Public Information Officer, U-M Division of Public Safety and Security, Eastern Michigan University Graduate, Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command (2009), FBI National Academy (2011)
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

“I am very proud of my department as a whole with their ability to adapt and change to address new issues as they arise in support of the University’s mission.” Danielle Sheen, Executive Director of Environment, Health & Safety, U-M Alumna
“The teamwork from across the University and beyond supporting the COVID-19 effort has been amazing over the last year.” Pam Rutter, Manager Environment, Health & Safety, U-M Alumna

“As I reflect upon this last year, I appreciate the resilience of my Facilities and Operations Human Resources team, our Leadership in Facilities and Operations, and every front line staff member who “Make Blue Go!” You may not notice them on a daily basis, but our campus wouldn’t be the same without them! Thank you, facilities and operations!”
Leti Delgado Rastigue, Associate Director, U-M Human Resources, Facilities and Operations

Three things I learned this past year as a woman in Engineering:
1. Don’t apologize!
2. Take up space
3. Always proofread
Shreya Ghai, Control Systems Engineer, U-M Electrical and Computer Engineering Alumna, U-M Supermileage – Electric Motor Lead 2019-2020

Trachette Jackson, Professor of Mathematics
“It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in soul.” – Sofia Kovalevskaya, Mathematician

Beth Ann Blanchard, Director of U-M Towsley Children’s House, U-M Alumna
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

“This year has brought to light the bravery, perseverance, and necessity of child care teachers. I’m proud of how they have continued to show up for our community and its littlest members during an extended time of great uncertainty.” Christine Snyder, Director of U-M Health System Children’s Center

“Being able to show up as my best self in my work and home life amidst this challenging year has meant holding space for the self care acts that help me thrive–play, longer hugs, solo dance parties, and leaning into curiosity when things get uncomfortable.”
Julia Koumbassa, Director, U-M North Campus Children’s Center

“I have fallen prey to thinking I have to, or should be able to, be superwoman, and that can end in disaster, especially when self-care is what suffers. “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.””
Cindy Corridore, U-M Assistant Treasurer, ’97 Michigan Ross Grad

Harika Kolluri, Junior BBA with a minor in Law, Justice, and Social Change, Director of Internal Operations for Lean In, Finance Chair for the South Asian Awareness Network, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce Member of Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity
“I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change…I’m changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Davis

Cheryl Soper, Controller and Director of Financial Operations, CPA, Michigan Ross Alumna/BBA, UMS Presents Sustaining Director, Michigan Radio Supporter
“For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it, if only we are brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman

Tiffany Ng, Assistant Professor of Music, University Carillonist, SMTD and Digital Studies Institute
“The only way to survive is by taking care of one another.” – Grace Lee Boggs

Chelsey Spriggs, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” – Shirley Chisholm

“I’m incredibly proud of how our community members have supported each other during the pandemic. Our students, faculty, and staff have risen to the challenge with flexibility, empathy, and creative problem-solving skills.”
Lori Ploutz-Snyder, Professor and Dean, School of Kinesiology

ElleAnna Casterline, Junior, Dual Degree – Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Arts (Communication and Media Studies), Vice President of Tri Delta Sorority, Growth & Development Director of We Are Queens Inc. Nonprofit
“There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.” – Martha Graham