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In a new video released today, Black members of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), the premier health science organization in the United States, are urging Black Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them.

The members initially made their case encouraging Black Americans to get vaccinated in a New York Times op-ed published on February 7, 2020.

Dean F. DuBois Bowman

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Americans have faced incredible challenges that have been met with tenacity and strength of the community,” said University of Michigan School of Public Health Dean F. DuBois Bowman, who was elected to the NAM in October 2020. “It is important that we acknowledge the hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine while we work to improve its trust.”

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Chris Kolb, who currently serves as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state budget director, has been appointed vice president for government relations at the University of Michigan.

Kolb has more than 20 years of public service experience in the government and nonprofit sectors, including three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives.

His five-year appointment — effective Jan. 19 — is authorized by President Mark Schlissel and follows the recommendation from a national search conducted by a search advisory committee. The appointment will be reported to the Board of Regents at its February meeting.

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On Tuesday, October 6th, the University of Michigan Club of Greater Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the U-M DC office, hosted a virtual panel discussion about space policy.

Thomas H. Zurbuchen (right) presenting slides during his keynote address

U-M’s Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering Alec Gallimore provided introductory remarks, including an overview of the cutting-edge research being conducted by the College of Engineering. The event featured a keynote address by NASA Associate Administrator and former U-M Professor Thomas H. Zurbuchen, where he discussed the state of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and the importance of STEM education. Dr. Zurbuchen invited a former student, Joan Ervin, to discuss how her U-M education uniquely prepared her for her current professional role.

The keynote address was followed by a panel discussion moderated by U-M’s Samuel A. Graham Dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) Dean Jonathan Overpeck, and featured Dr. Zurbuchen, as well as Dean Alec Gallimore, U-M SEAS Professor and Dean Emerita Rosina Bierbaum, and Head of Airbus’s U.S. Space Systems and U-M alumna Debra Facktor. The panelists answered questions about the future of space missions, the current projects they are involved in, and how the path towards decreased carbon emissions may look. Panelists discussed the ways that research can be transferred into private sector innovation, and Debra Facktor mentioned the impact that reusable launch materials from companies like SpaceX could impact the future of the space industry.