Photo courtesy of VP Communications, Regents of the University of Michigan

One pleasure of a place like the University of Michigan is that learning doesn’t resolve mysteries so much as relocate them. The pursuit of knowledge means venturing into new buildings, new relationships, and even new fields of study.

That’s part of what draws me to the work of Dragan Huterer, associate chair of the Department of Physics and professor of physics in LSA. Professor Huterer’s work focuses on the roles of dark matter and dark energy in the creation of stars, planets, and galaxies. Even with everything we can measure, the most important pieces of the cosmic stories he discovers resist easy explanation. That humbling gap is where curiosity lives.

The same dynamic plays out on campus. The longer we’re here, the more collaborations we touch, the more we realize how much life-changing research and education are unfolding in parallel, often just down the hall from one another.

Reflecting on the role of humility in our pursuit of knowledge, I am excited that we will soon welcome a new leader and partner to join in our discoveries. There are many reasons to be optimistic about Kent Syverud’s appointment as U-M’s 16th president: he was unanimously appointed by the Board of Regents, and he is the first U-M alumnus in nearly a century to be appointed president. But the one that intrigues me most is his reputation as a “fearless listener” – much in keeping with the humility at the core of discovery. I’m grateful for the excellent stewardship of President Grasso, who will continue in the role until President-elect Syverud officially begins.

As always, the future of the university hinges on innovations and partnerships driven by our community. The Strategic Initiative Fund is welcoming proposals through Feb. 9, and will invest $1 billion over 10 years for initiatives that advance the university’s mission and create lasting, transformational changes across society. Faculty and staff across all three campuses and Michigan Medicine are invited to apply, and final funding decisions will be communicated this March. I hope you’ll consider applying, whether your idea is brand new or already gathering momentum.

I have no doubt that the satisfaction, rewards, and challenges of your ongoing contributions to U-M will be matched by realizations of how much we have yet to learn – and I would love to hear about your latest inspiration at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Laurie