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2023 BLI Graduation

  2. Professional Staff
  3. Applied Leadership Fellows
  4. Leadership Teaching Fellows
  5. 2023 BLI Graduation

Dear Graduates,

You enriched our BLI community during your stay here. You learned the art and science of being a mindful leader and a follower. All your creative energy and commitment to making a difference in the world has been an inspiration. You are off to a new chapter in your life. Let your values and commitments guide your leadership goals and decisions. Your BLI learning will make you a strong leader and a change agent.

Congratulations! Keep in touch!! Go Blue!!!

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

Barger Leadership Institute
Class of 2023

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

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:

  • Allison Bell
  • Kavya Chandra
  • Maleny Crespo
  • Gautham Jayaraj
  • Ananya Mangla
  • Renuka Murthi
  • Anna Chiara Russo
  • Saniya Shahid
  • Megan Shohfi
  • Adithi Voleti
  • Becky Woolf

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:

  • Shan Shan Chen
  • Siddarth Marthi
  • Renuka Murthi
  • Saniya Shahid
  • Megan Shohfi
  • Aaron 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:

  • Shan Shan Chen
  • Justin Colorundo
  • Alberto Della Torre
  • Elena D'Souza
  • Hailey Espinosa
  • Imani Jabari
  • Renuka Murthi
  • Mas Syuhada Shaik Abdul Razak

The Social Transformation Fellowship, formerly the Capstone Experience, 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 8-month-long experience, BLI provided teams with funding, mentorship, training, and opportunities to master effective leadership habits. This year's graduating seniors are:

  • Kishor Bharadwaj
  • Sarayu Dandamudi
  • Jacob Domagalski
  • Nikitha Kamath
  • Emily Lancaster
  • Siddarth Marthi
  • Jon Musai
  • Amulya Parmar
  • Yash Patel
  • Amanda Putti
  • Aparna Reddy
  • Corey Brown Schneck
  • Maya Shih
  • Grant Veldhuis
  • Aaron Williams
  • Aina Zaidi

On April 14 the BLI hosted our graduation event to recognize seniors who have participated and contributed to the BLI community. 

BLI Graduation Celebration on April 14, 2023

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Message from Dean Curzan

Dear BLI Graduates,

Congratulations on your accomplishments and on your upcoming graduation! This is a major milestone in your lives. So I hope you won't rush through it. Take a moment to reflect on where you were when you started at UM, what you have learned, and where you want to go next--and why. As a member of the BLI community, you have had the opportunity to understand the value of mindfulness, and I hope this is a moment when you can be truly present, with your peers and mentors, and others who have helped you get here. This is a big "life moment."

While definitions of leadership can sometimes focus on the leader, I think it is important to focus on the verb at the heart of the words 'leadership' and 'leader': 'to lead.' Leadership is about inspiring others; it is about motivating people toward a shared goal in support of a shared mission. As leaders, may you continue to think about how you can inspire and both foster and celebrate the accomplishments of others. May you lead with wisdom, integrity, and grace.

Congratulations again, and Go Blue!

Sincerely,
Anne Curzan
Dean, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

Favorite BLI Memories

My favorite BLI memory was attending the Michigan versus Maryland football game in the suites with the incredible Dave Barger and fellow senior BLI members! - Shan Shan Chen

My favorite BLI memory is just being in the office and listening to everyone's stories. It felt great to be a part of a space where people love to share a piece of themselves and show up for each other. - Saniya Shahid

Putting on a health equity conference with grant funding from BLI! - Amanda Putti

One of my favorite BLI memories is on the Mindful Leader Retreat F21. I remember that after the activities that day a group of us went back to the art room and got the chance to chat and get to know each other while doing crafts we probably wouldn't have had the time and supplies to do anywhere else. - Anna Chiara Russo

I loved exploring France with new and old BLI friends alike. - Renuka Murthi

Making memories on the 8th floor Weiser with awesome people and amazing food :) - Megan Shohfi

Social Cohort dinners with my LC peers! - Allison Bell

Barger Leadership Institute
Weiser Hall, Suite 800
500 Church Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
734.764.8200
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