Skip to main content

Strategic Priorities

Strategic Priorities

Strategic Priorities

In alignment with Graham’s vision, mission, and values, as well as U-M’s three-fold commitment to research, education, and service, our strategic priorities are to enhance collaborative research, develop sustainability leaders, and inform policy and practice. We pursue these priorities in collaboration with, and in support of, a broad range of university and external partners, and they serve as the institute’s levers for fostering a more sustainable future.

Collaborative Research

Enhancing Collaborative Research

We catalyze, bolster, and amplify wide-ranging research efforts that share a common commitment to partnering with communities and decision makers. By providing seed funding, facilitating connections, supporting stakeholder engagement, and creating translational science products, we help faculty increase the real-world impact of their research. See objectives in our strategic plan »

Learn how Graham supported the following projects and research efforts.

Detroit River Watershed Assessments

Top: Zach Haslick; Lower: Robert Lawton (left), Michigan Sea Grant (center and right)
Watershed Assessment of Detroit River Phosphorus Loads to Lake Erie
About Graham's Support for:

Watershed Assessment of Detroit River Phosphorus Loads to Lake Erie

In an effort to control the cyanobacteria blooms and dead zones that plague Lake Erie each summer, the United States and Canada in 2016 called for a 40% reduction in the amount of phosphorus entering the lake’s western and central basins, including the Detroit River’s contribution. Both countries then developed domestic action plans that outline strategies to meet the new Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement targets.

To support reaching these targets, a U-M Water Center-based program team characterized sources and evaluated management options for the St. Clair-Detroit River System watershed. This team, led by Water Center Director Jen Read, developed four models to simulate the dynamics of this complex, binational watershed that includes extensive urban and agricultural environments, as well as the large, shallow, productive Lake St. Clair, which receives and processes the loads upstream of the Detroit River.

A diverse project advisory group assembled by the Water Center provided feedback on the policy context, planned research approach, and resulting products. The work was funded by the Erb Family Foundation.

Learn more about this project»

Flaring & Fossil Fuels: Uncovering Emissions & Losses

Flaring & Fossil Fuels: Uncovering Emissions & Losses
About Graham's Support for:

Flaring & Fossil Fuels: Uncovering Emissions & Losses

The F3UEL (Flaring & Fossil Fuels: Uncovering Emissions & Losses) project aims to improve the understanding of emissions from natural gas flaring and offshore systems, characterizing how flares behave in the real world, identifying what portion of the offshore system is responsible for emissions, and determining how such systems can be monitored.

This work will provide updates to emissions estimates and explore new monitoring strategies for a large and neglected sector of the oil and gas industry of interest to scientists, policymakers, industry, and an engaged public invested in the impacts of our energy production supply chain.

Graham’s primary role in the project is designing and implementing the engagement strategy to optimize real-world impact. While many members of the multisector advisory board have existing relationships with the researchers, Graham handles the management of that group—from scheduling to meeting facilitation and record-keeping—allowing the researchers to participate fully as scientists. Graham also hosts a website for the project, provides translational science communications support, and coordinates with NGO partners like EDF.

Learn more about this project»

Hydraulic Fracturing in Michigan

Photo credit: Heather Rousseau, Circle of Blue
Hydraulic Fracturing in Michigan
About Graham's Support for:

Hydraulic Fracturing in Michigan

To understand what hydraulic fracturing options exist for Michigan decision-makers today and how to minimize any negative future impacts, U-M researchers undertook a comprehensive examination of hydraulic fracturing options in the State of Michigan and identified policy approaches for decision-makers to consider.

Using the IA process of facilitating a structured dialog among scientists and decision-makers, project teams established the guiding question: “What are the best environmental, economic, social, and technological approaches for managing hydraulic fracturing in the State of Michigan?” Based on this idea, researchers from diverse disciplines gathered and assessed information to help inform decision-makers.

The project was a partnership convened by Graham and included the U-M Energy Institute, the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, and the U-M Risk Science Center. Graham spearheaded the project, convening a multisector advisory group to scope the project, facilitating an interdisciplinary team of students and faculty, running extensive public engagement and peer review processes, and leading outreach and communications.

Learn more about this project»

See all projects in our project finder »

Be Counted Among U-M’s Sustainability Experts

Join U-M's Sustainability Experts Database, maintained by Graham, to help make our collective sustainability expertise transparent and accessible. 

Learn more

Learn About Phosphorus

Learn how phosphorus affects the lake and explore practical resources for agricultural contexts.

Explore P basics

Watch Lake Erie Webinars

Gain expert insights on the most pressing issues facing Lake Erie and what’s being done to address them.

Watch the 2025 Winter Webinar Series

Leadership Development

Developing Sustainability Leaders

We cultivate future sustainability leaders through individual and team-based experiential learning opportunities. Engaging all U-M units, our programs build leadership competencies, model inclusion, and foster interdisciplinary, collaborative, and just approaches. See objectives in our strategic plan »

Flooding on road

Wayne County Resilience Hub Network
Dow Sustainability Fellows Program

A bioretention garden manages stormwater in the Warrendale neighborhood of Detroit.

A bioretention garden manages stormwater in the Warrendale neighborhood of Detroit.
Approaches to Neighborhood-Led Green Infrastructure in Detroit
Dow Sustainability Fellows Program

Plant with raindrops

Rain Garden Rebate Program
Catalyst Leadership Circle Fellowship

See all projects in our project finder »

Explore U-M's Many Sustainability Courses

Each year, hundreds of sustainability courses are offered across U-M's schools, colleges, and academic programs. To explore courses in everything from Environmental Science to Public Policy, check out our sustainability-specific course guide.

View Courses

Be Counted Among U-M’s Sustainability Experts

Join U-M's Sustainability Experts Database, maintained by Graham, to help make our collective sustainability expertise transparent and accessible. 

Learn more

Get Involved in Campus Sustainability

Complete the Planet Blue Ambassador online training to learn about sustainability efforts at U-M and how you can contribute.

Become an Ambassador

Policy and Practice

Informing Policy and Practice

We are committed to extending research and educational experiences beyond the academic environment and into the everyday world. Through our work, we facilitate opportunities for U-M sustainability scholars and change makers to inform policy and practice through collaborative, evidence-based approaches. See objectives in our strategic plan »

Be Counted Among U-M’s Sustainability Experts

Join U-M's Sustainability Experts Database, maintained by Graham, to help make our collective sustainability expertise transparent and accessible. 

Learn more

Get Involved with the GLNF-CESU

Join the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (GLNF-CESU) Network, a consortium for informed resource stewardship.

Learn more

Join Water@Michigan

Water@Michigan is a gathering table for U-M researchers and communities that have been disproportionately affected by historic inequities to develop just, equitable, and sustainable approaches that address community water priorities.

Learn More