Dean's Letter
This fall has brought a return of students in person to our beloved Dana Building, which recently celebrated its 118th year. It’s exciting to see our school, and the entire U-M campus, buzzing with activity again.
It’s also wonderful to have the opportunity to share with you our new issue of Stewards, which is the first print edition of the magazine since Fall 2019.
A lot has happened at SEAS—and the world—since then, and within these pages you’ll discover how SEAS is continuing its mission of turning thought leadership into action that advances environmental solutions, sustainability, and justice.
Thanks to generous gifts from donors, SEAS recently launched two major initiatives, the Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment and the Kathy and Steve Berman Western Forest and Fire Initiative, which are aimed at solving some of the world’s biggest problems: environmental injustice, as well as forest and wildfire management in an era of rapid climate change.
You can learn more about these initiatives in Stewards, as well as read stories about how SEAS is meeting the future of environmental justice and sustainable mobility. You’ll also read about an alumni couple whose work focuses on sustainable tree planting in Kenya, and about a recent grad whose work involves fighting wildfires and developing ways to mitigate them.
Be sure to check out Dana Sphere and Class Notes as well—lots of impactful work is being done by our alumni in the world at large, and I’m inspired by all the ways our alumni are building a better future. I am also energized by the passion of our vibrant SEAS community, and I hope you are too.
Wherever you are and whatever work you do, remember that we are on this planet and journey together, and I am grateful for your continued support and partnership in tackling Earth’s most pressing issues.
Be healthy, be well, and go Blue!
Peck
Jonathan T. Overpeck
Samuel A. Graham Dean and William B. Stapp Collegiate Professor of Environmental Education
P.S. Keep up with me and SEAS on Twitter @GreatLakesPeck and @UMSEAS.