Voices of Victors

Alumni Association President and CEO Corie Pauling, '93, and former President and CEO Steve Grafton discuss the evolution of the organization, celebrating its 125th anniversary and finding new ways to connect with alums. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes the ongoing fight for environmental and climate justice a civil rights issue? In this episode, we explore environmental burdens and their disproportionate impacts on indigenous communities through conversations with United Tribes of Michigan leader Frank Ettawageshik, '70, and climate justice advocate Juan Jhon Chung, MS'20, MUP'22. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why are there higher rates of mental health concerns among people in the LGBTQ+ community? We discuss access to mental health support for LGBTQ+ students and recent grads with U-M professor Dr. Gary Harper, U-M assistant professor Dr. Craig Rodriguez-Seijas and recent U-M grad Ini-Abasi Ubong. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What is it like to host several Afghan refugees? We explore refugee resettlement efforts through an inside look into the hosting experience with the first-hand story of Afghan refugee host Jules Pieri, '82, and expert insight from Dr. Odessa Gonzalez Benson, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How does vaccine misinformation negatively impact public health, and how can we find reliable information on this topic? We speak with three experts: U-M professor Scott Campbell, Elisabeth Michel SPH '17, and Abram Wagner MPH '12, PhD '15. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What is authentic allyship? We discuss performative allyship, the white-savior complex, and ways we can think more creatively about deconstructing systemic racism and building community with Professor Angela Dillard, '92, PHD '95, and Dr. Deborah Willis, '93, PHD '07. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Voices of Victors podcast is back for Season 2. New host, James McRae, '97, discusses a lack of paid parental leave in the United States and the disparity this causes women, particularly women of color, with Tiffany Marra, MS'98, PHD'06, (Executive Director at the Center for the Education of Women+ at the University of Michigan), Andrea Robb, '96, (HR expert with experience at Airbnb, Lucasfilm, and Autodesk, among others), and Lori Pierce (Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Michigan). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

U-M experts across multiple disciplines are devoting their careers to tackling the challenges of climate change. In observance of Earth Day, we share some of their insights. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Father-son duo Braylon, ’17, and Stan Edwards, ’81, reflect on their years as U-M students and football players as well as the ways they continue to connect to the University. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we share two Michigan Musings.A Life-Saving Friendship by Sarah Scantamburlo,’01, MSW’03Learning to Love Humanities by Carol A. Seidl, ’82, MSE ’84 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When then-Sen. John F. Kennedy spoke to students in October 1960, he inspired them to take the first steps toward the establishment of the Peace Corps. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the creator of the “bit,” Claude Shannon became known as the “father of the digital age”—the man responsible for technology that evolved into today’s computers and other digital technology. On this podcast, biographers tell the story of his University of Michigan years. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is the Voices of Victor's Podcast and in this episode, Romance is in the Air as we discover through two love stories from University of Michigan Alums. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the 1960s, Ann Arbor had it all: JFK, MLK, LBJ, and the CIA; hawks, doves, panthers, and pigs; sit-ins, teach-ins, lock-ins, and sleep-ins; radicals on the left, reactionaries on the right, and a great mass of mystified in the middle. Written by Alan Glenn - Alan is president of the Michigan History Project, a nonprofit educational organization currently assembling the definitive history of Ann Arbor in the 1960s. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Michigan Musings: The Accidental Wolverine“Sometimes, a person just needs a new hat for opportunities and connections to emerge.”By Sharon FormanMichigan Musings: Maize and Blue Through and ThroughThe small high school I attended, boasting a mere 125 students, was a college-prep school, which meant students studied hard to get into a good university.By Kelly Daly Flynn, PhD’98 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The medical historian who coined the phrase “flattening the curve” views pandemics through the lens of history and offers insights to head off killer viruses in the future on this episode of the Voices of Victors podcast, titled The Next Big One and written by Claudia Capos, University of Michigan class of 1973. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, this is the Voices of Victor's podcast and in this episode the holiday season is warming up, or depending where you live, cooling off and it is traditionally a time to reflect and spend time with family. We'd like to share with you two stories from your University of Michigan family. The first comes from Debbie Stevenson Pecis, Class of 95, and and the second story is from class of 98 Alumni, Eric Sullivan. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, this is the voices of Victor's podcast. In this episode, we're catching up with Trey Burke. If you know Michigan Wolverines basketball, you know who Trey Burke is. In the 2012-2013 season, he earned National Player of the Year and led the Wolverines to the championship game of the NCAA Men's Division One basketball tournament. Shortly after the tournament, he declared his eligibility for the NBA draft and most recently was playing for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. Our own Steve Friess got to sit down with Trey Burke and talk about his journey, his recent time in the NBA, what's ahead of them for the latest round of free agency? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mere days after the coronavirus caused governments to impose stay-at-home orders, once-vibrant downtowns became desolate. As those orders have been lifted and many businesses have reopened, albeit with new social-distancing and public-safety protocols, cities face their greatest challenges — and opportunities — in recent decades.Municipalities, business districts, and neighborhood groups are turning to architectural and urban designers, such as Kit Krankel McCullough, for help in reinvigorating urban spaces. A lecturer in the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, McCullough has designed and directed revitalization projects for cities as diverse as Washington, D.C., and La Grange, Georgia.“In many ways, the coronavirus shutdown accelerated changes that were already under way in American cities,” says McCullough, who has a private consulting practice and teaches urban design, neighborhood development, transportation, and urban economics at Taubman.During the spring peak of the virus crisis in April, for example, telecommuting and distance learning skyrocketed while traditional commuting plummeted. Many cities closed off streets to vehicles, allowing more space for residents to walk and bike. Home delivery of food and other items burgeoned. Downtown parking spots were redeployed as pickup and delivery zones.The pandemic also brought unexpected benefits, such as a reduction in traffic deaths, rush-hour backups, and air pollution. Cities saw their cleanest air in decades. Yet McCullough and other urbanists are concerned about the long-term viability of American cities. She wonders whether hard-hit urban areas will experience a coronavirus-driven exodus reminiscent of white flight in the 1960s.“Before the pandemic, downtowns were ascendant and growing, because people wanted to live, work, and play in densely populated urban spaces with lots of activities,” McCullough says. “If people no longer feel safe coming downtown and mingling with large crowds, I’m worried our cities will suffer.”What American cities need now more than ever, she says, is a survival kit to repair the damage wrought by the pandemic and to speed the recovery process. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, this is the voices of Victor's podcast. In this podcast, we focus on homecoming.Do you remember your first time at the Big House? We'll share an essay from an alum whose first trip to the big house was a life defining moment. And we'll share the story of an academic icon who became an inspiration for fans and students alike. This year has been like no other on campus in recent memory.How are today's students and faculty navigating the age of covid? We'll talk about it. Plus, our plans for celebrating homecoming virtually and more. Let's get started.When the fall term began at the University of Michigan, everything looked a little different. Students had committed to wearing face coverings and social distancing. The university adapted new policies for entering facilities to lessen the spread of the disease. Everything from how students are graded to the academic calendar itself needed to be modified for a new normal.And the Big House sat quiet at the start of the academic year. The Big Ten conference had postponed all four sports due to covid-19 by mid-September. The football season was also modified in tune with the pandemic. With an eight game schedule starting the weekend of October 2013 24th, the big house will be packed not with actual people, mind you, but with cutouts of fans in the stands. Hey, at least the cutouts will do well braving the elements. This brings us to our first story. This essay written by Sarah Sala and read by Katie, reflects on a pivotal moment in her life when she first felt the electricity of attending a Michigan football game.My father is a man of few, but potent words, a man strengthened by his integrity, generosity and devotion to his children. He's worked doggedly every day of his life to provide me with the best he can. Yet no amount of travel, fashion, a fancy dining could have inspired me more than the Saturday. He took me to a Michigan football game in the car ride to the stadium.My father explained that because he has no sons, I must be one for him today. His words held no negative connotation, but seemed to convey genuine joy. I quickly consented and my heart drum louder and louder as the miles between the football stadium and me diminished as we parked a quad cab and commenced a long journey to the game. I couldn't help but steal glances of the man ahead of me as one of four daughters. There were not many occasions when I had my father completely to myself. Because of this, I kept staring up at his face, studying it, trying to memorize all of its detail, savoring my good fortune to be his sole companion for the day. As we came up to a chaotic intersection, he grabbed my hand, I'm never going to forget the fleeting moment of safety as we cross the street and made our way toward the game, people poured from every direction, trickling out of cars and swarming over the grass. And we were swept along with them to beans in the thick snarl of humanity.The big house rose up before us. It's rough brick and iron gates, both welcoming and awe inspiring, hallway after hallway, flight after flight of stairs. We wound through the stadium, shadowy chambers, hotdog vendors, pretzel stands and fan gear with large embroidered block ends all world together in my recollection. And my father stopped short in the midst of all of it.My eyes snapped to his and he hesitated, laying his right hand on my shoulder. We had reached the final flight of stairs through the shadows that enshrouded us. I made out the blazing light at the top of the step, beckoning me to ascend my heart caught in my chest, a wave of emotion washed so quickly over my father's face that I became alarmed.Dad, Dad, are you OK? I thought maybe he was queasy. Maybe there was something I could do.He didn't immediately respond, but a slow smile tugged at the corners of his... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan's Voices of Victors podcast, No matter where you are, the Voices of Victors podcast will keep you connected and informed with news and features about the university and your fellow alumni. Subscribing is easier than spinning the cube. You can do it wherever you listen to podcasts. Or just ask your smart speaker to play the voices of Victor's podcast. Join your fellow classmates on the voices of Victor's podcast and go blue. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.