The co-chairs of U-M's Year of Democracy, Civic Empowerment, & Global Engagement—Jenna Bednar, Rosario Ceballo, and Celeste Watkins-Hayes—provide an update to the campus community in this month's newsletter.
Dear Michigan Community,
As 2024 comes to a close, we want to reflect on the historic year across the globe, when more than 4 billion people across 40+ countries were eligible to vote this year. In Michigan, over 5.7 million people cast a ballot in November, once again setting a voter turnout record. On our campus, 14,932 members of our community utilized the UMMA and Duderstadt satellite clerk's offices to vote, tripling our previous campus records.
Our academic Year of Democracy, Civic Empowerment, and Global Engagement continues. We are excited to carry on our work. More information on our plans will be announced in the coming months, but as a preview, we will be investigating information's role in democracy and preparing for the 250th anniversary of the United States. We look forward to continuing to partner with you.
We are pleased to share a new funding opportunity, The Presidential Awards for Understanding Democracy. This major funding award of $10K to $50K will support up to five pilot projects from scholars across all University of Michigan campuses for transformative research and creative activities to enhance our understanding of democracy's operation and promise. Find more information on the Presidential Award on our website. Our other grant opportunities of $500 to $25,000 for cutting-edge research, curricular and co-curricular opportunities, and dynamic events & programming are still available and being reviewed on a rolling basis.
We are also looking for a small group of dedicated students to help guide our work for Winter 2025. These Student Consultants for Democracy will meet every two weeks with our team to shape programmatic and future plans for democracy work at U-M. Learn more and apply for this paid opportunity before January 31, 2025.
Let us remember that democracy is found not only at the ballot box. We participate in democracy through our everyday actions within our community. Let us carry forward the momentum from the Global Year of Democracy with us into 2025.
In partnership,
Jenna Bednar, PhD
Faculty Director, UMICH Votes and Democratic Engagement
Rosario Ceballo, PhD
Dean, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Celeste Watkins-Hayes, PhD
Joan and Sanford Weill Dean, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
