In October 2021, the Regents of the University of Michigan approved Provost Susan M. Collins’ recommendation to reappoint Michael S. Barr as Joan and Sanford Weill Dean of the Ford School for a second five-year term, effective August 1, 2022.
Barr’s first term was a remarkable success. With a leadership style characterized by openness, inclusivity, and innovation, Barr has guided the Ford School through a period of mission-centered growth and impact on the world.
Halfway through his first term, in March 2020, the pandemic scattered students, faculty, and staff to quarantined homes around the world. Barr’s talents shone in those early days of the crisis and over the many challenging months since. His transparency and empathy and his focus on putting people first earned high praise from students, staff, and faculty. At the same time, the school has remained open to innovation and focused on its strategic priorities—including real impact on urgent challenges such as racial injustice, COVID-19, and threats to American democracy.
NOTE: As S&H went to press, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Barr to serve as Vice Chair for Supervision of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. If confirmed, Barr would follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Ned Gramlich—stepping down as dean and taking a leave from his U-M faculty positions to serve on the Fed’s governing body.
Here are some school highlights from Barr’s first term as dean.
$60 million raised in gifts to the Ford School
6 new endowed professorships
Endowed support for seven Ford School-Rackham Master’s Awards, supporting promising graduate students
The Kohn Collaborative, consisting of five Kohn Professors, two Kohn Scholars, and funding for policy impact–launched in spring 2021 the hub was created with $17 million in gifts from Harold and Carol Kohn and the Kohn Charitable Trust and will promote social equity and inclusion
Launch and growth of the Leadership Initiative, led by new professor Morela Hernandez, providing all students with critical skills for leading organizations, others around them, and themselves
The University-wide Democracy and Debate initiative, co-chaired by Barr: a catalyst for learning, dialogue, and action around the 2020 election and beyond
Weiser Diplomacy Center—created with a $10 million gift from Ron and Eileen Weiser and launched in 2019 with campus visits from Hillary Rodham Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Samantha Power, Stephen Hadley, Steve Biegun, and more
The Conversations Across Differences initiative, designed to model and teach reasoned and evidence-based dialogue and explore issues around identity and difference
A community-wide process to articulate the school’s new mission and values statements
