“Yes, and…” In the best tradition of the arts, I believe this rule of the theater has much to teach us.

You may be familiar with the convention of improv comedy known as “Yes, and…” The idea is that one scene partner must accept the premise the other puts forward and build on it. Reject the premise and the scene dissolves.

In the best tradition of the arts, I believe this rule of the theater has much to teach us. We are, after all, scene partners of reality itself, constantly faced with new premises and constraints. The university as a whole is no different. This moment challenges us all to respond with the indispensable theatrical reply for those who want to keep the scene moving. After we accept the premise, then what is possible?

“Yes” to Greater Accessibility

As October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month concludes, I’m reflecting on Haben Girma’s keynote at this year’s NDEAM Resource Fair, hosted by our Disability Equity Office. Haben is an award-winning advocate, bestselling author, and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School.

In a wide-ranging, candid, and inspiring conversation, she described how organizations and communities can open new possibilities by adapting their practices and creating better systems for everyone. The changes they make benefit people who are disabled — and ultimately everyone else too, through innovations like touchscreen technology, email, and countless other breakthroughs that began as accommodations but became universal tools.

Turning Questions Into Action

Can we create a campus where every faculty and staff member thrives? Six teams funded through our Disability Scholarship Initiative are proving the answer is “yes.” Their work on the Ann Arbor campus has already shown remarkable creativity and collaboration in addressing real barriers and making improvements in health and well-being across the university. This kind of transformation doesn’t happen by accident. It requires asking the right questions and committing to meaningful change.

John Vasquez embodies this approach. As a two-time alumnus and former student of the Comprehensive Studies Program in LSA, John recently returned to U-M as assistant vice provost for student success and CSP’s senior director. Can someone who once navigated our support systems as a student help reimagine them for the next generation? John’s doing exactly that — bringing his experience to strategic leadership and opening new pathways. Read our Q&A with John here.

Learning From Leaders Who Said “Yes”

The coming weeks bring conversations that explore how leaders might transform major challenges into opportunities:

On Oct. 29, the School of Information and the Michigan Institute for Data and AI in Society asked: Can AI amplify human capabilities rather than replace them? The Human-Centered AI Symposium at Rackham Auditorium brought researchers and industry leaders together to chart a future where technology serves people, not the other way around.

On Nov. 3, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum and Dr. Ruth Simmons join us for Peril & Promise: A Conversation on College Leadership. Both women asked and answered a fundamental question: Can colleges lead with integrity during periods of intense pressure and scrutiny? Dr. Tatum navigated this as president of Spelman and Mount Holyoke. Dr. Simmons did the same at Smith College, Brown University, and Prairie View A&M. Their conversation will explore how institutions stay true to their missions when the stakes are highest.

On Nov. 4, Vladimir Kara-Murza will receive the Wallenberg Medal and deliver this year’s lecture. The Russian politician, author, and former political prisoner poses a stark question: Can one person resist authoritarian power and survive to tell the story? Twice poisoned, imprisoned, and ultimately freed, his answer demonstrates courage that most of us will never need to summon, but all of us can learn from.

Questions Large and Local

Can a public university excel at research while staying committed to access? Can we attract top students from around the world while serving every corner of our home state? Can we build welcoming communities while maintaining academic excellence? The data says yes, but only because thousands of people across this campus answer those questions every day through their work.

All across campus, every day, we transform doubt into questions worth asking — and invest our answers with courage, innovation, and hard work.

I trust this semester is bringing you exciting challenges. Contact me at [email protected] with your stories, concerns, and feedback.

Warm regards,

Laurie