Lead when you need to lead, follow when you need to follow, and have the wisdom to know the difference. This is Kerry Duggan’s take on the Serenity Prayer, which was an overarching theme that she revisited throughout her commencement keynote to the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and Program in the Environment (PitE) Class of 2022. 

Duggan (MS ’06), founder and CEO of SustainabiliD and founding director of the SEAS Sustainability Clinic in Detroit, addressed the largest commencement in SEAS’ history in a first-ever outdoor ceremony on April 30 on Elbel Field. She drew from her experiences as a national political advisor, visionary climatech executive, and former government official, to relay to the graduates the importance of learning and acquiring new skills with every job they do, no matter how menial, and to recognize and utilize their strengths to impact change. “Recognize your superpower and skills that you have, fill the gaps that you don’t have, and use both strategically to move policy as far as you can, as fast as you can,” said Duggan. 

She shared that SEAS was the only grad school she applied to thanks to an inspiring talk she heard from Bunyan Bryant, the first Black faculty member at SEAS. Captivated by his remarks, she applied to have the opportunity to study with him and, when admitted, was excited to know that she’d be able to hone her skills and learn among the leaders and best. “SEAS truly gave me the foundation, skill set, and values-driven lens that I have brought with me to every stage of my career. It also sharpened my connection to my home, the great state of Michigan, and the city with grit like no other, Detroit, and allowed me to realize my passion for place-based work through my master’s project.”

Throughout her keynote, Duggan made analogies to her earlier basketball career and highlighted the ways the sport, in addition to various other life experiences, made an impact on her career path and contributed to her growing success. “I think about my eclectically weird resume often, as I get asked what the ‘right path' is to get to work at the highest levels of policy influence. And the only answer is that there is no right answer—because sometimes soft skills, like chit-chatting with the VP about your basketball career, can help you land you one of the most coveted jobs in the country,” said Duggan, who served as deputy director for policy for then-Vice President Joe Biden.

She wrapped up her speech with one final basketball analogy, likening the game's buzzer to the time left on the climate clock, and encouraged the students to get creative, to learn to take a hit (another basketball analogy) and to not be above the grunt work, and to be good teammates. She also told the graduates to give themselves permission to find joy in their daily work. 

Student speakers Jessie Williams and Maegan Muir also delivered speeches to their fellow graduates.

In her speech, Williams concluded that the challenges faced by the Class of 2022 as a result of the global pandemic will make them even stronger leaders in sustainability. “I’m here to say, that as tough as it can be to cope with change at times, the unique shaping of our college experience by forces outside of our control set us up to deal with uniquely intersectional and interdimensional problems as leaders in sustainability. The resilience you all have developed as part of the leaders and best during the pandemic years will encourage you to not back down in the face of adversity and uncertain scientific questions and socio-cultural futures,” said Williams.

Similarly, Muir reflected on all that the graduating class has cultivated despite the challenges they faced, and how they will be able to utilize their knowledge and experiences to shape the future. “All of us here understand that the impacts of climate change will not be distributed equally. The world may never be the same as it was, but we can all work together to apply pressure to those responsible and to those with the power to change the trajectory of our shared future. Today marks the beginning of our next chapter, and with it, a heartening promise for tomorrow.”

In addition to the keynote and student speakers, graduates heard remarks from Jonathan Overpeck, the Samuel A. Graham Dean and William B. Stapp Collegiate Professor of Environmental Education; Michaela Zint, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor of Environmental Education & Communication and an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor; and Shelie Miller, Director of PitE and the Jonathan W. Bulkley Collegiate Professor of Sustainable Systems.

More information:

Visit our 2022 Commencement webpage for further details and to view congratulatory messages.

Read profiles of our graduating students