2026 BLI Graduation

Class of 2026,

Dear Bargies, it has been inspiring to witness your leadership growth and dedication to promoting dignity, well-being, and peace in your communities. These are precarious times to think about your future, as AI, robots, and other technologies present new opportunities and challenges for navigating your vision to be a mindful leader. We have faith in you and your ability to innovate, reaffirming your commitment to your leadership vision and to tackling the technological changes that empower your communities. We have enormous hope in your resilience to transform technological challenges into new forms of connectedness at the personal, social, and ecological levels.

Remember, staying connected will keep your motivation high and strengthen your community as you continue to lead through change.

Congratulations!
Keep in Touch!!
Go Blue!!!

With Metta,
Ram Mahalingam, Ph.D.
Director, Barger Leadership Institute

Barger Leadership Institute
Class of 2026

It is with great pride that we announce the Barger Leadership Graduates who have participated in our advanced leadership programming!

Applied Leadership Fellows at the BLI serve as the liaisons between the BLI's professional staff and its student members, allowing the Institute to maintain a close connection to the community that we serve. These students deepen their leadership and professional development by working to learn in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment. This year's graduating seniors are:

Elizabeth Borg
Isabella Di Fiori
Amitabh Kunchey (December)
Eliza Phares
Christian Loza
Emily Williams

Leadership Teaching Fellows at the BLI mentor fellow students to develop their leadership by instructing the BLI leadership courses. These students play a significant role in developing course content, leading discussions, modeling the habits, and supporting student project teams. This year's graduating seniors are:

Isabella Di Fiori
Thomas Gala-Garza
Samantha Howden
Christian Loza
Praneet Voleti

The Social Transformation Fellowship supports undergrads with the exploration and development of their ideas. Teams are supported in designing and implementing evidence-based projects that seek to bring about small (and big) wins for the complex, ambiguous problems that exist in our deeply interconnected world. In this experience, BLI provided teams with funding, mentorship, training, and opportunities to master effective leadership habits. This year's graduating seniors are:

Isabella Di Fiori
Pooja Kannappan
Tianyu Zhou

In collaboration, M-LEAD and the BLI offers the Leadership Certificate at the University of Michigan to recognize exceptional student leaders on campus who involve themselves in experiential, class-based, and service leadership learning. This year's students graduating from the Leadership Certificate program are