Graphic design featuring an illustration of a rainbow surrounding Burton Tower and text: Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
The #UMich community celebrates pride during April while students are still present on campus. Spectrum Center has an incredible line-up of events to uplift the voices and experiences of our LGBTQIA2S+ community: spectrumcenter.umich.edu/pride-month
#WeAreRackham #UMich #GradSchool
Page one of a short article called Protecting Nature's Song, featuring a yellow-breasted Kirkland warbler. Text: As signs of spring emerge, we join Rackham alumna Alexis Lamb (D.M.A. ’25) in noticing and appreciating the soundscapes of the natural world as pathways to sustainability.
Page two of the article, featuring a photo of Alexis Lamb playing percussion instruments on a log. Text: Lamb is the the founder and artistic director of the Refugia Festival, an annual pay-what-you-can outdoor event in Nichols Arboretum that uses music and artistic expression as tools for environmental conservation and preservation.
Page five of the article, featuring people going on a nature walk. Text: Lamb urges everyone to “go for a walk without headphones—just listen.” The art of slowing down, finding a place to sit and listen for five minutes, jotting down the sounds you hear, and engaging in tactile listening can be calming and help people develop a stronger appreciation of their sonic environments.
Page six of the article, featuring trees in different seasons. Text: “Try listening to nature throughout the year—notice how soundscapes shift over seasons. Listening isn’t just for your ears—it’s for your whole body.”
With birdsong on the springtime breeze, Rackham alum, and Refugia Festival founder Alexis Lamb (D.M.A. ’25) encourages us to slow down and listen to what the natural world has to teach us.
Read the full story: myumi.ch/bVmbW
#WeAreRackham #UMich #GradSchool #UMichArts
A quote from and headshot of Emily Roberts: "You are going to have a relationship with money for your entire life. So there’s not a lot of pressure to get it right from the beginning. But if you're not engaging and learning and making mistakes, then nothing is going to change.”
Ready for a special GradWell podcast bonus episode? Emily Roberts, Ph.D., a personal finance educator for early-career doctoral students, discusses why finances are such an important part of well-being: myumi.ch/mRJZG
#WeAreRackham #GradWell
Graphic design featuring the Giving Blueday logo and a photo of Theresa Norpeli Lanyo.
Lanyo’s quote: “Rackham is the reason why I am here today. I may have been qualified, I may have been admitted, but if I did not have funding for my Ph.D., I wouldn’t be able to come here and do my Ph.D. and change the world in my own small way. To the leadership, management, funders, donors, and everybody making it possible: I am so grateful, sincerely.
🎉 Today’s the day! Support graduate education at #UMich by making your #GivingBlueday gift on March 18, 2026 and help unlock matching funds: myumi.ch/A18jd
#WeAreRackham
Graphic design featuring the Giving Blueday logo and a photo of Simon Rakei.
This #GivingBlueday, join Rackham in support of U-M graduate students.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! Giving Blueday is on March 18, 2026 and Rackham will match your gift 1:1 (while funds last): myumi.ch/A18jd
#UMich #GradSchool #GivingBlueday #WeAreRackham
Graphic design featuring the Giving Blueday logo and a photo of Jaylin, a person with long brown hair, pulled back in a bun, and glasses.
Jaylin’s quote: “I feel very hopeful knowing that other people care about and see the impact of my work, validating the time that I have spent working to advance accessibility research.”
This #GivingBlueday, join Rackham in support of U-M graduate students.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! Giving Blueday is on March 18, 2026 and Rackham will match your gift 1:1 (while funds last): myumi.ch/A18jd
#UMich #GradSchool #GivingBlueday #WeAreRackham
Graphic design featuring Giving Blueday logo and a photo of Kyle Smith.
Smith’s quote: “Rackham does so much extracurricular programming and offers so many supports, showcasing a true desire to make sure that we as graduate students feel supported and furthered in whatever avenues we may take.”
This #GivingBlueday, join Rackham in support of U-M graduate students.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! Giving Blueday is on March 18, 2026 and Rackham will match your gift 1:1 (while funds last): myumi.ch/A18jd
#UMich #GradSchool #GivingBlueday #WeAreRackham
Graphic design featuring the Giving Blueday logo and a photo of Kaiwen Sun, a person with shoulder-length hair, a U-M baseball cap, and glasses.
Sun’s quote: “I’ve been fortunate to connect with a wide array of support from Rackham Graduate School, from counseling services and childcare support to fellowships, research grants, and conference travel funds. I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Rackham whose programs have been pivotal to my growth as a scholar.”
This #GivingBlueday, join Rackham in support of U-M graduate students.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! Giving Blueday is on March 18, 2026 and Rackham will match your gift 1:1 (while funds last): myumi.ch/A18jd
#UMich #GradSchool #GivingBlueday #WeAreRackham
The 2026 King Talks speakers gather for a candid group photo after their talk.
Missed the 2026 King Talks? Watch online anytime: https://myumi.ch/NrqpR
🎉 A big congratulations to the 2026 King Talks Speakers on an incredible evening of storytelling and exchange.
#WeAreRackham #UMich #GradSchool
Graphic design to share a Discover Rackham news story entitled "Pioneering Accessibility," featuring an archival photo of a 1950s computer switchboard on the U-M campus and text: "Brought together at U-M in the early 1960s, Rackham alumni Jim Thatcher and Jesse Wright went on to create IBM’s first screen readers for blind and low-vision computer users. Over six decades later, a Rackham alum and his faculty mentors are preparing the next leap in accessible computing."
Archival photos of Jim Thatcher, a bespectacled balding person in an office, and James Wright, a person with a crew cut wearing a bow tie. Text: Jim Thatcher (Ph.D. 1963) and his professor-turned-colleague Jesse Wright (MA 1945, Ph.D. ’51), who was blind, first met at U-M’s Logic of Computers Group, where they joined interdisciplinary researchers in asking the broad questions of early computing, like: “Are computers giant electronic brains, similar to people’s brains? Can they think?”
A photo of Codex, the NewHaptics braille technology product, featuring buttons and rows of dots. Text: Flash Forward: Next Generation Accessibility - Over six decades later, a collaboration born at U-M between two faculty members and a Rackham alumnus is advancing accessible computing technology yet again. NewHaptics is an Ann Arbor tech startup that is the result of years of cross-disciplinary collaboration that started at U-M. The company is currently poised to release Codex, a new braille display technology.
A photo of hands navigating a laptop with accessibility symbols displayed on the screen. Text: Learn more about how Rackham alums and faculty have played a role in shaping the evolution of accessible computing in our latest feature article for Discover Rackham: rackham.umich.edu/news
From the world's first screen readers to today's cutting edge digital braille technologies, Rackham alums are behind critical hallmarks in the evolution of accessible computing: myumi.ch/JPgAn
#WeAreRackham #UMich #GradSchool
📸 Photos courtesy of @umichbentley and IBM Corporation ©️ (2025).
Theresa Norpeli Lanyo, Ph.D. Canidate in the School of Nursing, with her headshot and a quote about her goals: “As a midwife, a nurse, and as a healthcare researcher, I want to make sure that women go through pregnancy safely, have the best experience, and do not die from preventable causes, both here in the U.S. and globally—and also make sure that our babies are born safely.”
A black and white image of a person holding their pregnant belly gently with their hands. Text: Learn more about Theresa Norpeli Lanyo's research in our latest feature article for Discover Rackham: rackham.umich.edu/news
After 11 years of midwifery in her home country of Ghana, Rackham and University of Michigan School of Nursing Ph.D. candidate Theresa Norpeli Lanyo decided to pursue her doctoral degree to address some of the barriers to adequate prenatal care.
Learn more: https://myumi.ch/pV469
#WeAreRackham
Close-up view of a hand gently holding a Monarch caterpillar on a leaf, with text overlay about 2026 Rackham Public Scholarship Grants and upcoming application deadlines.
Rackham Public Scholarship Grants provide support for publicly engaged scholarly projects created between Rackham students and community partners.
➡️ Proposals for the 2026-2027 academic year are due by 1/12. Learn more: https://myumi.ch/R3Jjm
#WeAreRackham #UMich #GradSchool #PublicScholarship
A promotional graphic for Gradwell, featuring guest Elizabeth Rhor's quote:“Over the past decade, the changes and how people think about graduate students, graduate student needs, and graduate student wellbeing has shifted remarkably.”
On this week’s episode of GradWell, Rackham Wellbeing Advocate, Elizabeth Rohr, discusses ways that well-being in graduate education has evolved over the years: myumi.ch/mRJZG
#WeAreRackham #GradSchool #GradWell
Graphic design for the GradWell podcast, featuring an episode quote from Patricia Deldin, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry: "“Emotions and feelings are normal and helpful. They help us communicate to ourselves and others. Without emotions, we wouldn't survive… So normal anxiety, normal sadness, normal stress are perfectly healthy.”
On this week’s episode of GradWell, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, Patricia Deldin, discusses healthy ways to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress: myumi.ch/mRJZG
#WeAreRackham #GradSchool #GradWell
A promotional graphic for the November 12 episode of the GradWell podcast featuring a headshot of podcast guest Kat Nic and her quote: “You are the one propelling yourself through graduate school. You can do this, but there are lots of resources out there to help you. It's just kind of finding all of them and piecing them together.”
On this week’s episode of GradWell, Senior Disability Access Coordinator for Graduate Students, Kat Nic, shines a light on accommodations and support: myumi.ch/mRJZG 🎧
#WeAreRackham #GradSchool #GradWell
Graphic design featuring a definition of the noun, "first-gen:" a person who is the first generation in the family yo attend and graduate from college. firstgen.umich.edu #UMich1stGen
Celebrate #FirstGenWeek on the #UMich campus w/ a suite of events through November 7 w/ the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) & U-M First Gen, a student organization dedicated to raising awareness of, welcoming, & helping first gens: firstgen.umich.edu
#WeAreRackham #UMich1stGen
Graphic design featuring GradWell podcast guest Ed Sarath and his quote: “A huge part of creativity is critiquing the patterns we've inherited from life as a whole—cultural backgrounds, disciplinary backgrounds, the academy—that actually confine our thinking, our awareness.”
On this week’s episode of GradWell, Professor of Music, Department Chair at U-M, and Co-Director of the Program in Creativity and Consciousness Studies, Ed Sarath, explores creativity, consciousness, and tapping into our potential: myumi.ch/mRJZG
#WeAreRackham #GradSchool #GradWell
Graduate student presenters at the 2025 Exhibitions of Excellence event pose for a group photo. Students featured, from left to right: Jenny Flores, Sayre Satterwhite, Valeria Ortiz Villalobos, Katie Waddle, Kyungeun Song, Adrian Porras Laura, Chesta Bisht, and Jose Melendez.
A big thanks to our graduate student presenters at the 2025 Exhibits of Excellence event: Jenny Flores, Sayre Satterwhite, Valeria Ortiz Villalobos, Katie Waddle, Kyungeun Song, Adrian Porras Laura, Chesta Bisht, & Jose Melendez. More: myumi.ch/JP5xx
#WeAreRackham
2025 inductee of the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, a person in academic regalia with a black cap and blue gown with black and gold trim, standing in front of a wooden door.
Promotional image featuring a quote about the impact of The Bouchet Society on diversity and mutual support, attributed to Ph.D. candidate Janae Bouchet, with a small portrait of Janae Bouchet at the bottom. Background includes a faint silhouette of a world map.
The Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.
Learn more and apply by November 3: myumi.ch/pV2E5
#WeAreRackham #BouchetSociety #UMich #GradSchool
A group of people gather on a farm field under a blue sky. A text overlay promotes actions needed for participation in the 2026 Rackham Public Scholarship Grants, including a draft proposal deadline of 10/31 and a final submission deadline of 1/12.
Rackham Public Scholarship Grants provide support for publicly engaged scholarly projects created between Rackham students and community partners.
➡️ As part of the application process, students have the option to submit a draft proposal by 10/31. Learn more: https://myumi.ch/R3Jjm
#WeAreRackham
Graphic design featuring October 15 GradWell podcast guest and Social Work and Developmental Psychology at the University of Michigan Ph.D. candidate Sunghyun Hong and her quote: “Seeing resilience as a dynamic process, you really need to be able to hold both truths, which is recognizing and being proud of the areas that we're thriving and also being able to be kind to ourselves and tend to areas that we need help.”
On this week’s episode of the GradWell podcast, Sunghyun Hong, a Ph.D. candidate in Social Work and Developmental Psychology, shares strategies for adopting a strengths-based framework for resiliency development: myumi.ch/mRJZG
#WeAreRackham #GradSchool #GradWell
Graphic design featuring two student leaders speaking and text to promote the Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Program, accepting applications for the Winter 2026 semester now.
Interested in participating in the Rackham Doctoral Intern Fellowship Program this winter? The deadlines are coming up quickly!
Learn more: https://myumi.ch/gR9PG
#UMich #GradSchool #ProfessionalDevelopment #WeAreRackham #Internship
Quote from a Ph.D. student and 2025 Bouchet Honor Society inductee, Sara N. Steiner, discussing the impact of the Rackham chapter of the Bouchet Honor Society on their professional development and outreach efforts. The image includes a portrait of the student at the bottom.
The Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.
Learn more and apply by November 3: myumi.ch/pV2E5
#WeAreRackham #BouchetSociety #UMich #GradSchool
Promotional graphic for the October 1 release of the GradWell podcast, entitled "The Imposter Phenomenon," part 1 of a 2 part podcast featuring Danielle Rosenscruggs, a Ph.D. candidate in Developmental Psychology.
Graphic design featuring a headshot of Danielle Rosenscruggs and her quote from the podcast: “We are not seeing things clearly and accurately when we convince ourselves that we are frauds… That's just not possible in these really competitive, high achieving, high stress environments. There are so many gates you had to get through to get into this room.”
Promotional graphic for the October 1 release of the GradWell podcast, entitled "The Imposter Phenomenon," part 2 of a 2 part podcast featuring Dianna Alvarado, a Ph.D. candidate in Developmental Psychology.
Graphic design featuring a headshot of Dianna Alvarado and her quote from the podcast: “Even very capable students can burn out, so protective strategies can give them the tools to stay engaged and to thrive, even in environments that sometimes can feel competitive or isolating.”
Do feelings of fraud & self-doubt feel like they're creeping into your #UMich #GradSchool experience? This week's episodes of GradWell explore Impostor Phenomenon w/ two Developmental Psychology Ph.D. candidates: Danielle Rosenscruggs & Dianna Alvarado.
🎧 Listen now: myumi.ch/mRJZG
#WeAreRackham
Promotional image featuring a quote about the values of being a member of the Bouchet Honor Society, attributed to Ph.D. candidate Andrea Valenzuela, a society inductee. The quote emphasizes the importance of supportive community, professional development, and research funding.
The Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement & promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.
Learn more & apply by 11/3: myumi.ch/pV2E5
Attend the October 2 info session: myumi.ch/A1eQp
#WeAreRackham #UMich #GradSchool
A blurred cityscape with vibrant lights for a Rackham news article titled 'Open Your Eyes: Co-Designing Accessible Tech.' Text: Rackham doctoral candidate and human-computer interaction researcher Jaylin Herskovitz co-designs accessible tech with blind people, improving their experience with the world, online and off.
Close-up of a person holding a green canned food item, with a text overlay discussing Herskovitz's research on AI: "Herskovitz's research reveals that blind users are frustrated by AI’s current capacity for interpreting imagery, finding it far too general to be efficient."
Three smartphone screens displaying different stages of ProgramAlly, a software application to help blind people get specific information. Text: To address this issue, Herskovitz used techniques from the field of end-user programming—the practice of designing for non-programmers to create and modify software for their own specific needs—to create ProgramAlly, an application for blind people to write small custom programs to target the specifics of what they’d like to see.
Promotional graphic featuring a quote about AI programming from Jaylin Herskovitz alongside her professional headshot. Her quote: “Programs could include things like finding a specific route number on a bus or finding the title of a book—essentially creating simple commands for people to specify exactly what they’re looking for that the AI can understand."
Rackham Ph.D. student Jaylin Herskovitz is a human-computer interaction researcher who designs greater tech accessibility with blind people.
Read the full story: myumi.ch/XyQmn
#WeAreRackham #UMich #GradSchool
A vibrant red sculpture on a university campus with a rainbow in the background, accompanied by text about Rackham Public Scholarship Grants application deadlines.
Rackham Public Scholarship Grants provide support for publicly engaged scholarly projects created between Rackham students and community partners.
Learn more and register for the required 10/3 grant workshop: https://myumi.ch/R3Jjm
#WeAreRackham #UMich #GradSchool #PublicScholarship
A graphic promoting 'The Importance of Cultivating a Sense of Belonging,' the episode of the GradWell podcast released on September 17, featuring guest Vanessa Thompson, Ph.D., an Academic Program and Engagement Professional from Rackham.
Promotional graphic featuring Vanessa Thompson, Ph.D., Academic Program Manager at Rackham's Professional Development and Engagement Office, and her quote: "A solid sense of belonging for graduate students looks like they can show up as their whole selves.”
🎧 On this week’s episode of GradWell, VaNessa Thompson, an academic program manager in Rackham’s Professional Development and Engagement Office, shares more about the importance of cultivating a sense of belonging: myumi.ch/mRJZG
#WeAreRackham #GradSchool #GradWell
Promotional image featuring a quote about investing in community success, attributed to Terra Molengraff, Ph.D., Director of First-Generation Multicultural Initiatives at Rackham. The logo for GradWell is present at the bottom.
Promotional image featuring a quote about the importance of mentorship from Dorian Bobbett, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan, displayed alongside their photo and the logos of Rackham Graduate School and GradWell.
Portrait of Sam Hobson, smiling, wearing glasses and a dark jacket, against a peach background. Text indicates Sam is a host, producer, and Ph.D. candidate at GradWell.
Promotional poster for Season 2 of the 'GradWell' podcast, featuring a multicolored floral-like design at the top and the premiere date of September 3. Created for and by graduate students to explore well-being, presented by Rackham.
Welcome to GradWell, the Rackham podcast all about supporting grad student well-being at @umich.edu. 🎧 New episodes drop every other Wednesday through Dec 10, 2025!
Get started with the first two episodes, available now: myumi.ch/mRJZG
#UMich #GradSchool #WeAreRackham #GradWell
Four individuals at an outdoor University of Michigan event, engaging in conversation around a booth with informational posters and wearing matching blue t-shirts with the university's logo.
"My one piece of advice for new grad students is to spend as much time stewarding the relationships that ground your work as you do any other part of your career. Relationships are power."
— K. Malulani Castro, 2025-2026 Rackham Predoctoral Fellow
Share your advice: myumi.ch/613D2
#WeAreRackham
