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The Dow Sustainability Fellows Program, supported by Dow and administered by the Graham Sustainability Institute, will award over $800,000 in student funding this year. The 2025 funding will support 32 outstanding graduate students from 12 University of Michigan (U-M) schools and colleges, continuing the program’s tradition of fostering sustainability leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration.

 

This year marks the beginning of a renewed three-year commitment from the Dow Company Foundation, further strengthening the program’s impact. Dow is a global leader in innovative and more sustainable materials science solutions.

 

“We are incredibly grateful for Dow’s continued generosity and partnership,” said Jennifer Haverkamp, Graham Family Director of the Graham Sustainability Institute. “This new commitment underscores Dow’s dedication to advancing sustainability and its confidence in the Dow Sustainability Fellows Program.”

 

Dow’s support provides essential funding and meaningful engagement opportunities for student participants. Through site visits to Dow headquarters and mentorship from Dow professionals, Dow Fellows connect with the company’s extensive network, receiving valuable career development and practical insights into real-world sustainability challenges.

 

“The Dow Sustainability Fellows Program exemplifies Dow’s innovative approach to collaboration,” Haverkamp continued. “Our partnership aligns with U-M’s Vision 2034 strategic plan, fostering synergies that advance shared goals and highlight the commitment of both institutions to addressing complex sustainability challenges.”

 

New Leadership and Expanded Opportunities

 

The program also welcomes its new director, Dr. Shelie Miller, the Jonathan W. Bulkley Collegiate Professor of Sustainable Systems and Co-Director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability. She directed U-M’s undergraduate Program in the Environment from 2018 to 2023. Miller succeeds Dr. Jen Maigret, Professor of Architecture, who served for two years and is now leading Taubman College’s Climate Futures Initiative.

 

“The Dow Sustainability Fellows Program not only equips students with the skills and resources they need to make a difference but also builds a network of leaders committed to driving sustainable change across industries and disciplines,” said Miller. “I’m honored to lead such a dynamic and impactful program.”

 

Each 2025 fellow will receive a $25,000 stipend along with supplementary project funding, professional development opportunities, and hands-on experience collaborating with external organizational partners.

 

A Legacy of Innovation

 

Now in its thirteenth cycle, the Dow Sustainability Fellows Program continues to set the standard for sustainability leadership development. Fellows are chosen through a competitive nomination and application process designed to attract and recognize top talent from across U-M’s academic disciplines.

 

“This year’s cohort brings together an extremely talented and diverse group of students who reflect the values and goals of the program,” said Bridget Gruber, Dow Sustainability Fellows Program Manager. “We look forward to the important work they will undertake in the coming year.”

 

The 2025 Dow Fellows, listed below, will complete projects with Sidewalk Detroit, the Western Lake Erie Basin Coalition, Hope Village Revitalization, Wayne County’s Sustainability & Innovation Division, the National Wildlife Federation, Michigan’s Office of Rural Prosperity, and the Association for the Sustainable Development of Rural San Jose.

 

  • Libby Antonneau (Law)
  • Michele Baston (Nutritional Sciences)
  • Sarah Backstrand (SEAS)
  • Josh Bretthauer (Law)
  • Ke'Asha Cargill (Public Policy)
  • Amanda Casetti (Medicine)
  • Cale Colony (Robotics + SEAS)
  • Jamie Connor (SEAS)
  • Cayla Ellis (Architecture)
  • Tracy Gao (Business)
  • Kayla Guzman (Public Policy + Health Behavior & Education)
  • Jacob Inosencio (Social Work)
  • Sabrina Lanker (Social Work)
  • Hayden O'Shaughnessy (Nursing)
  • Magdalia Campobasso (SEAS + Mechanical Engineering)
  • Saj McBurrows (SEAS + Urban and Regional Planning)
  • Saron Mechale (Business)
  • Giuliana Motta (Environmental Health Sciences)
  • Prakriti Pahari (Business)
  • Craig Reiley (Business + SEAS)
  • Saima Rashid (Public Policy)
  • Saloni Kapoor (Urban and Regional Planning)
  • Alexander Kutsupis (Information + SEAS)
  • Andrew Zhang (Medicine)
  • Elisa Wang (Public Policy + SEAS)
  • Qingru Yang (Architecture)
  • Taylor Juleen (SEAS)
  • Camille Johnson (Urban and Regional Planning)
  • Dhanush Kumar Mallu (Computer Science & Engineering)
  • Melanie Stewart (Medicine)
  • Amy Zhao (Medicine)
  • Xiaojia Nicholas Zhang (Dentistry)

 

As the program continues to evolve, the renewed support from Dow ensures that the next generation of sustainability leaders will be well-equipped to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

 

“We are proud to partner with Dow in this transformative endeavor,” said Haverkamp. “Together, we’re shaping a more sustainable future.”