Director’s Message
With the 2024-25 academic year now a wrap, it’s a good time to reflect on what’s been happening and look forward to what’s to come This past year, Organizational Studies graduated some amazing students, including Shereen Shahid, recently featured by LSA Magazine for her love of car rebuilding, and Lucas Solomon, who was not only one of three students chosen to speak in the Big House for Commencement, but whose joy in “seeing my team beat the Buckeyes not once, not twice, not three times but four!” then went viral on TikTok
In addition to admitting an impressive new cohort of rising juniors, OS welcomed faculty member Martin Williams last year, as well as Student Services Coordinator Paige Barton Professor Williams, whose research focuses on public sector organizations in Ghana and other middle-income countries, offered a timely new course on “Making Public Services Work,” and another on “Organizational Performance and Reform ” Students appreciated his global knowledge base and his enthusiasm for active, engaged learning Paige has similarly become a valued and integral part of our team, bringing new ideas and a commitment to making OS accessible to groups like transfer students, who don’t always find out about us in time to apply
We also completed the first full year of our rebooted, alumni-led Organizational Studies Leadership Committee (OSLC) Made up of ten OS alums with graduation years from 1998 to 2019 and four current students, the OSLC kicked off with an all-day meeting on campus in September, where members got to know one another, connected with students, and made plans for the year Last semester, the OSLC launched “Alumni Office Hours,” where students have the opportunity to connect via Zoom with an alum to talk about careers, specific fields and industries, and life after college OSLC members also supported and worked to raise awareness of our Giving Blueday campaign, resulting in a 44% increase in donors over last year. I am so glad we have this new means to connect with our alums, and look forward to making plans for year two
ELIZABETH POPP BERMAN
Richard H. Price Professor and Director of Organizational Studies
And there’s a lot to look forward to next year As most of you know, OS has long had many more applicants to the program than we have been able to admit We love providing a small community within a big university, but have also been looking for ways to allow more LSA students to access all the opportunities OS offers and the doors it unlocks
After several years of planning, we are expecting to admit 80 students, rather than 50, in Winter 2026, with a target of 100 the following year We will cohort students into two groups to build community, but are also thinking about how to leverage the benefits a larger group can provide –for example, by creating more spaces for community among students sharing an OS pathway interest area We are working to build our capacity in other areas – advising, alumni resources, etc. – so the OS experience will stay as strong as it always has been The arrival of Professor Tiffany Brannon, a social psychologist joining us this fall from UCLA, will also allow us to offer new courses like Intergroup Relations I am excited about this expansion and the opportunities it will allow us to provide
Finally, I must close on a bittersweet note Any of you who passed through OS at any point since 2005 likely encountered Melissa Eljamal Originally working in student services, then serving for many years as our Chief Administrator, Melissa has led Organizational Studies with integrity, commitment, and an unwavering dedication to students – but she is retiring to start a new chapter of her life I am so grateful for having had Melissa as a partner over the last three years, and for all she has done for OS While she will be deeply missed here in Weiser Hall, I know she will stay in touch, and wish her the very best with the many plans she has for the years to come
Thanks to all of you who stay engaged with us, whether it’s through reading this newsletter, chatting with current OS majors, donating to our strategic fund, participating on an alumni panel, or in a myriad of other ways I wish you all an enjoyable summer, and, as always, GO BLUE!
COMMUNITY NEWS
2024-2025 OSLC RECAP
The Organizational Studies Leadership Committee (OSLC) has had a busy year launching new initiatives and restructuring under our new format. Our work this year focused on three primary initiatives:
Student Experience Stakeholder Engagement Fund Development
The OSLC was divided into three subcommittees, with each group focusing on one of the above In response to feedback from current and former OS students, our student experience committee focused its efforts on career resources, alumni networking, and resume resources This group initiated the first ever OS Alumni Office Hours, whereby current students could join with alumni on Friday Zoom calls to ask questions, explore career opportunities, and get advice We did have participation from a number of students and look forward to continuing the development of this and other programs The stakeholder engagement and fund development groups worked together to identify opportunities for outside networking and career development options through formal and informal events and processes
This year kicked off with an in-person meeting of the OSLC in September, which set the course of action for our work. The agenda for this day included an alumni lunch panel for students to join and hear about the many different career paths of some of our OS alumni and OSLC members The event was a big success with strong participation, great questions, and thoughtful discussions and networking
We look forward to building upon the work of this year ’ s OSLC going into next year, and are excited and grateful to be a part of such a dynamic and growing program!
Have a great summer, and GO BLUE!
Ben Smith
OSLC Chair, 2024-25 (OS ‘02)
Learn more about the OSLC: lsa.umich.edu/orgstudies/ people/oslc0.html
2024-25 OSLC members: Kate Balzer (OS ‘10), Elizabeth Popp Berman (Program Director), Melissa Eljamal (Chief Administrator), Alyssa Fuentes (OS ‘25), Benjamin Gordon (OS ‘25), Lisa Henry (OS ‘00), Colleen Hoy (OS ‘98), Naomi Makofsky (OS ‘10), Joseph Reichelt (current student), Shereen Shahid (OS ‘25), Ceren Share (OS ‘01), Ben Smith (OS ‘02), Miguel Solari (OS ‘99), Brenda Vasconcelos-Ramirez (OS ‘19), LeAnne Wintrode (OS ‘04), David Wolmer (OS ‘98)
Ben Smith (left) and Naomi Makofsky (right) at the Fall 2024 OSLC Luncheon
VISUALIZING OS PROGRAM GROWTH
Officially founded in 2001, the Organizational Studies program has served more than twenty cohorts of OS students in its current form Its origins date back to 1989 when students started designing their own independent concentration programs (ICPs) in organizational studies within LSA These ICPs gained popularity by the late 1990s, so U-M administration reviewed and ultimately established the official OS program Over time, our program has undergone various changes To envision future program growth, it’s crucial to understand the many ways in which OS has expanded student, academic, and co-curricular opportunities
FROMICPTOOS
From its inception, the Organizational Studies program has been defined by its interdisciplinary foundation, combining economics, psychology, sociology, and other academic fields Within a few years of the program ’ s formation, OS admission rates stabilized around 30%, with its student cohorts consistently achieving some of the highest cohort GPAs in LSA OS Advisor Cathy Philbin writes, “The students who seek out OS have always been interested not in one siloed area of study, but in connecting numerous related fields to create a more thorough and nuanced understanding of the world The idea that the OS program is not just an academic endeavor but also a community has been central to who we are, and the program ' s history and evolution have made it a truly unique program at U-M ”
“[T]he OS program is not just an academic endeavor but also a community...”
Cathy Philbin, OS Major Advisor
CURRICULUMDEVELOPMENT
As our program has evolved, so too has the course material offered to students To provide OSers with practical experience to supplement theory-driven classes in other units, OS introduced its first departmental course in the fall of 2002. This senior-level course, “Advanced Research Methods in Organizational Studies,” focused on applied research within organizations and allowed students to work directly with local companies As curriculum development continued, this course (OS 410) became a signature capstone of the program Our core courses, OS 305 “Inside Organizations” and OS 310 “Formal Organizations and Environments,” soon followed
OS also introduced additional topics-based courses in the early years of the program to allow faculty with expertise in organizational fields to share their research with students As these courses developed more demand, popular topics such as Negotiations and Nonprofit Organizations became regular OS offerings up until today
Some of our newest courses focus on faculty research areas like Urban Inequality and Policy in US; Organizations in the Developing World; Organizational Wrongdoing; Race and Organizations; Prosocial Leadership; Organizational Culture; Racial Disparities in Policing; Behavioral Science for Social Impact; and Data, Work and Organizations This dynamic course material serves to support all of our students with interdisciplinary interests and equip them for their varied careers
30% admission rate
GROWINGSTAFFANDFACULTY
The development of our faculty and staff has supported continual program growth Each new staff or faculty member contributes uniquely to our community of interdisciplinary learning and innovation In the initial years of OS, the original director Rick Price hired Suzanne Jones in 2001 as a key administrator She would go on to hire advisor Cathy Philbin, who contributed to the community-centric, student-driven focus of the program Cathy currently remains on the OS staff and has seen flocks of staffers, faculty, and students come and go over the decades Melissa Eljamal, the second longest-standing staff member in OS, joined the team as key administrator in 2005
The program ' s growth was also marked by the hiring of its first faculty member, sociologist Jason Owen-Smith, in the 2002-2003 academic year Over the years, more faculty members would be brought into the program, including social psychologists, sociologists, and political scientists When Jason Owen-Smith became director, he hired Sara Soderstrom with a business and environmental engineering background Jason Owen-Smith is currently the cofounder and Executive Director of the Institute for Research on Innovation and Science (IRIS) at U-M The following director, sociologist Mark Mizruchi, who is now a professor in the Sociology department, also spearheaded several major initiatives to restructure the OS Advisory Committee, introduce new research funding opportunities, and create study abroad opportunities for students Even now, OS continues to expand its faculty under the leadership of current director Elizabeth Popp Berman Berman reports, “With the support of LSA, we have been able to hire outstanding new faculty in the last few years, most recently Professor Martin Williams, whose classes on organizational performance and civil service organizations have been extremely well received, and Professor Tiffany Brannon, an award-winning social psychologist who will be joining us from UCLA in the fall ”
INCREASINGSTUDENTINVOLVEMENT
The OS program has worked to include students in community leadership and development In order to capitalize on the value of peer-to-peer marketing in the program, the role of Peer Mentor was created to serve as student advisors who held office hours and appointments, helped students to develop concentration pathways, and organized student events “After two very ambitious peer mentors (Jenna Fiore and Anna Moloney, class of 2015) expanded their work area to meet programmatic needs beyond advising and found there was so much additional work that could be done to foster greater community, they proposed the basic structure of an OS Student Leadership Team and advocated for all positions to be paid,” Chief Administrator Melissa Eljamal explains
What began as a pair of Peer Mentors is now a flourishing, vibrant community of leaders including an events team, recruitment team, social media team, and climate committee The larger team meets bi-weekly to keep one another apprised of sub-team activity and brainstorm collaboration or new programs “These large group meetings of the student leadership team allowed for me to stay in touch with one of the areas of higher education I have been most passionate about: helping students to connect with each other, explore their strengths, and plan for their futures,”Eljamal adds
Looking forward, OS Student Services Coordinator Paige Barton expects more cross-team work next year “Fostering a strong community of student belonging, mentorship, and support in OS will continue to be a priority for upcoming years ’ Student Leadership Teams, who will spearhead efforts to ensure this focus remains central to the program as we grow in size “
DYNAMIC
EXPANDINGOURPHYSICALSPACE
OS has also grown in more tangible ways OS’s original home was in the Modern Languages Building (MLB) and then moved to the Dennison building for a number of years. From Winter 2015 to Fall 2017, OS staff had a temporary home in Ruthven Hall as the transformation of Dennison Hall to Weiser Hall took place Organizational Studies shifted from its original location on the 7th floor of the building to the 8th floor of Weiser Hall As our faculty numbers grow and a need for research lab space becomes more urgent, we have also recently expanded into the 7th floor of Weiser Hall, with several offices and a lab run by Professor Nick Camp and Lab Manager Ara Jo Excited about our enhanced facilities, OS students and faculty no enjoy more collaborative
8thfloor
Make-up of the OSLC
history, our c c e our alumni a fu mit our first c m maintain a stro D development d eaders
“Next February, we will admit our first cohort of 80..."
—Director Elizabeth Popp Berman
The Organizational Studies Leadership Committee (OSLC) wa board of LSA alumni donors of all majors to a group with direct an OS program alum or as alumni who pursued an Individualize formalization of the program The OSLC also includes current crucial role in achieving financial sustainability for our early pro capture diverse perspectives from all of our vital constituents in students thrive “We are delighted with how active and engaged s first full year, ” says Director Popp Berman “They have already Alumni Office Hours, are helping build our fundraising capacit w
OSer LUCAS SOLOMON’S BIG HOUSE SPEECH GOES VIRAL
Recent graduate and OSer Lucas Solomon was selected to speak at this year ' s Big House Commencement Ceremony for the graduating class of 2025 Lucas’s impassioned speech went viral online, garnering coverage from popular outlets like Barstool Sports and ESPN News. While his speech may have already crossed your social media feeds, we spoke with Lucas to delve deeper into his preparation for the big day, his academic and cocurricular pursuits, and his journey through the OS program
What initially drew you to the Organizational Studies program, and how did it shape your understanding of effective decision-making and leadership?
Your Big House commencement graduation speech went viral and resonated with so many people. What do you think made it so impactful? How did you prepare for your speech, and what was it like to introduce Derek Jeter? Lucas: It was the idea that I can explore all my different interests I can challenge what I know and can learn by being around different people, professors, and courses OS has put me in various scenarios to learn what effective leadership means, whether that's in class or real life, from leading a team project to being the captain of my intramural hockey team I was able to take what we learned and put it into action This was really helpful because, in the past four years, I've had my ups and downs and haven't been a good leader at times OS has helped me understand my mistakes and ultimately be a better leader
Can you share a specific OS project or class that was particularly impactful for you?
Lucas: I would say the core classes, like 305 and 310, were particularly impactful For me, OS 305 was all psychology It was understanding the decisions an individual makes, the behaviors they display, and how it impacts a broader organization or team And OS 310 was broader, more economic and sociological Those two classes, coupled together in the same semester, were a great experience for me as a student
Lucas: When I was writing the speech, I was thinking: When people try out for this, what story are they going to tell? What comes to mind right away is to tell your “Michigan” story That story is going to be about one person, and it may be sad, motivational, inspiring, or experiential But I wanted to give a speech that was different one that could also connect with the common Michigan student experience
My mom is a huge supporter of mine, but when I first came up with my speech, she actually did not like it She wanted me to be a little bit more specific about myself, but I believed in the idea of the speech, which starts as my story and why I chose Michigan but then becomes bigger than just me It's about what it means to be a student at Michigan, especially at a school that is able to combine athletics and academics I think that shared experience made it resonate with everyone in the audience that day, and the students and families all experienced it together I realized my speech was landing with the crowd once I was on stage and started to see their reactions, and it proved that this speech wasn't about me It was about us It was about the people in the crowd
Their cheers, especially during the part about Ohio State, fired me up That was a really cool moment for me on stage
Lucas: The school did a great job They gave all the student speakers a speechwriter and a speech coach The speechwriter didn't touch a word in my speech; they gave feedback on what needed to be pushed further This helped me make it even more impactful and powerful I also met with the speech coach three days prior to the speech, and I felt like I was on Broadway He brought me into the Stamps auditorium, just me and him He helped coach me to bring out the energy needed for the speech And I'm already an energetic person, but he really found it in me, and it made a tremendous impact on the delivery of the final speech
I also had dinner with Derek Jeter the night before the Big House commencement It was an honorary graduate dinner that the student speakers were invited to, and when I introduced myself to Jeter, he recognized my name I assume he knew I was introducing him the next day, and he asked if I was nervous I told him not really, and he said the same The next morning, I asked him what he does to prepare when he feels nervous
I wanted to give a speech that was different one that could also connect with the common Michigan student experience.
Lucas Solomon (OS ‘25)
before a big game Jeter said it all comes down to preparation, and “the more prepared I feel, the more confident I am stepping onto that field I look myself in the mirror, and I know I have a love for the game It fuels my drive to compete ” Hearing those words from Derek Jeter reminded me that I, too, was prepared I had never been more ready for something in my entire life, and that's because of all of the preparation I did From getting up early in the mornings and reading my speech outside to going into a Ross classroom alone, listening to pump-up music, and then delivering the speech to an empty crowd I think these moments ultimately fueled me
there as a Michigan student and someone who played youth sports, I realized I probably wouldn't be here without those experiences They shaped my leadership, work ethic, and communication skills That realization made me understand that some kids can't afford or access these opportunities I felt this need to help find a solution for this issue From there, I created the Michigan Youth Sports Initiative (MYSI) Michigan has influenced MYSI greatly helping me develop the idea in the first place, building me up as a leader, and shaping me into a collaborator with other MYSI members and U-M students
What are your plans after graduation, and how might your OS education be influential in shaping them?
Lucas: I’m moving to New York to start my full-time job in September at Accenture I'm going through a two-year rotational program that puts you through different areas of the consulting and business operations at the company, and they really invest in your development I think OS will help me tremendously These companies want someone that can communicate and build trust with their clients or team members, and these are all skills we ' ve cultivated inside and outside of the OS classroom What do you see as the future of MYSI?
Lucas Solomon (OS ‘25) I had never been more ready for something in my entire life.
What inspired you to start the Michigan Youth Sports Initiative (MYSI), and has your U-M education influenced this work?
Lucas: It all started in a Michigan classroom I was taking Sociology 102, a prerequisite for Organizational Studies This class, Sports in Society, had a unit focused on the pay-to-play gap many youths face in sports Sitting
Lucas: The ceiling is extremely high In ten years, I see MYSI impacting the Ann Arbor area, running programs at many schools, and having a presence in Detroit I'd love for MYSI to have its own facility We've received interest from people and organizations to help us do that This could be a sports complex run by us that allows us to host sports free-of-cost for underserved youth I'd also love consistent funding from grants or donors to achieve our goals Our only cap on what we can do is money The more money we have, the more people we can help, the more shoes we can buy, the more pay-to-play fees we can help people avoid, and the more outreach we can do A big part of our growth will be tied to securing future funding
[Youth sports] shaped my leadership, work ethic, and communication skills.
Lucas Solomon (OS ‘25)
STUDENT SECTION
LSA Magazine Highlights an OSer’s Passion for Cars
Recent graduate and OS major Shereen Shahid (Class of 2025) was featured in the latest issue of LSA Magazine, A Second Look. The article, "Too Fast, Too Furious," explores her passion for cars and her journey restoring a 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo she found on Facebook Marketplace Shereen connects this hobby with her Organizational Studies major, saying, “You take your own path to figuring out solutions… We can see how cars progress over time, while thinking about ways to innovate.” Read more about Shereen's story and her passion for the Motor City's unique car culture in the full article
“It fits perfectly with Organizational Studies.”
Shereen Shahid
Full story by Stephanie Wong
Photography by Josh Scott Photo
Illustrations by Matt Vierling
INCOMING OS STUDENTS CREATE THEIR OWN SUPERHEROES
In March, the incoming OS class of 2027 participated in a new community-building activity called "Superhero Origin Stories." Each student was tasked with writing a unique experience or skill on a puzzle piece. These personal anecdotes were then shared in small groups and collectively used to create each group ' s very own original superhero.
These final creations each with their own name, personality, and origin story were displayed on the 8th floor of Weiser Hall for the remainder of the winter semester This activity showcased both the individuality and strong sense of community within our program, which is made of diverse students with a variety of backgrounds and interests Read more about the newest OS Superheroes!
The Traveling Pillsbury Dough Boy
Armed with teleportation and expert baking skills, this hero seeks world peace through bake sales and the power of dance The Traveling Pillsbury Dough Boy reflects these students’ love for travel, creativity, and diplomacy
The Heart Runner
This character uses their speedy running and flight abilities to bring Zingerman's delights to those in need all powered by a unique heart-shaped birthmark with healing properties The Heart Runner represents these students’ desires to be active, eat Zingerman’s, and help others!
The Funny, Fit, Fluent Frank
With the power to teleport across the world and speak any language, this beauty queen hero embodies adaptability and a wide range of cultures The Funny, Fit, Fluent Frank highlights these students’ global backgrounds, personal hobbies, and communication styles.
The Multi-skilled Maestro
Equipped with plant control and the ability to always succeed at something on the first attempt, this hero's origin began by eating a magical biscoff cookie while on an airplane The Multi-skilled Maestro speaks to these students’ love for nature, varying skills, and sense of humor
The Worldwide Wolverine
This multilingual martial artist and songwriter spreads cultural appreciation through love songs and Tae Kwon Do matches The Worldwide Wolverine represents these students’ varied personal interests and shared appreciation for art and kindness
The Singer Snow Stopper
Harnessing sonic screams to thwart avalanches, this Mexican-born, Aspen-raised superhero combines her sewing skills and sonic powers to protect civilians on the slopes The Singer Snow Stopper represents these students’ diverse upbringings and sense of community
The Multilingual Masquerading Mastermind
This hero uses multilingual expertise and clever communication skills to navigate the world as a magical problem solver The Multilingual Masquerading Mastermind represents the typical OSer trained in problem-solving and decision making!
The Worldly Wonder
After a fateful equestrian accident, this brainy hero with a fish sidekick named Pinky Pie awakes from a coma with unmatched efficiency, language mastery, and cupcake decorating powers The Worldly Wonder showcases these students’ varying academic and personal interests.
Mr. 734!
As a Social & Community Warrior, Mr 734 possesses the powers of special cultural awareness, impressive dance moves, and the unique ability to identify any major city based on its surrounding highways This modern hero also has a green thumb and represents many of the values and interests of our incoming students!
The Singer Snow Stopper
The Multilingual Masquerading Mastermind
The Worldly Wonder
Mr. 734!
2025: TOP 25
Wondering what our current OSers are interested in these days? Our students voted for their favorite places, people, and latest trends! Check out this year ’ s “Top 25” ranking
BEST OF—
Best study spot: 8th Floor of Weiser
Best coffee shop: Argus
Hottest party spot: Rick’s American Cafe
Best late-night snack spot: Bodega Bros
Best pizza joint: Joe’s
Best new restaurant: Echelon
Favorite campus selfie spot: The Big House
Most interesting discovery on campus: The Arb
Best place to gather/hang out: Law Quad
Best outdoor space/hiking spot: The Arb
Best brunch spot: Stray Hen
Favorite OS professor: Steve Samford
Favorite OS staff: Cathy Philbin
Favorite OS course: OS 405 Negotiations
Most fun OS event: OS Craft Night
Favorite OS item: OS sweatshirt
YEAR IN REVIEW—
Hottest song of the year: Denial is A River by Doechii
Favorite TikTok Trend: “this is the whole point” videos
Popular clothing trend: Cutting off your shirt collars
Best album of the year: Lana by SZA
Best TV show: Severance
Best movie: Wicked
Cost of everyday items: Expensive AF
Most notable celebrity: Alex Consani
Favorite social media: Instagram
SENIOR CELEBRATIONS:
OS CLASS TRADITIONS AND FAREWELL
The Class of 2025 took part in a series of beloved senior OS traditions this past semester, culminating in a special graduation ceremony and farewell to this outstanding cohort Check out some of their escapades below
One of the highlights was a private tour of the Big House arranged by our dedicated graduation committee This exclusive tour allowed our students to learn more about the athletic facilities and have some fun on the iconic field
Senior Week began with a brunch featuring paper plate superlatives and a campus-wide scavenger hunt Some of the challenges included:
Spinning the Cube
Jumping over the Block M in the Diag
Walking through the fountain toward Rackham
Scoring 200+ in skeeball at Pinball Pete’s
Feeding a campus squirrel
Laying in the grass in the Law Quad
Posing with your favorite UMMA exhibit
Taking a selfie in the 8th floor Weiser atrium
Hugging a friend in front of the Union
Pointing at the letters “O” and “S” in Graffiti Alley
Holding a hippie hash from Fleetwood Diner
Standing next to your first-year dorm building
Holding the Michigan Daily in front of the Daily building
Giving an Org Studies elevator pitch to a stranger
The winning team members took home some OS swag and well-earned bragging rights!
GRADUATION
Senior week came to a close with the OS graduation ceremony taking place at Kahn Auditorium, otherwise known as the “Pringle ” Families celebrated with an intimate ceremony and dessert reception During the ceremony, Professor Sara Soderstrom delivered the keynote speech and introduced the nominated student speaker OS senior Brandon Keyes (pictured right) then delivered a heartfelt speech about our collective responsibility in cultivating inclusion: “ Inclusive, resilient communities can be built anywhere even across age, background, or life stage if we are intentional ”
Special recognition was also given to outstanding individuals in our community for their many contributions!
Senior Alyssa Fuentes received the Lansing Leader Scholar Award, and senior Kamryn Harty accepted the Jordan Harris Social Justice Award OS Advisor Cathy Philbin was also honored with the Suzanne M Jones OS Spirit Award
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Reflections from OS Chief Administrator Melissa Eljamal
CLASS NOTES
Julie (Stacey) Palmer
(OS-ICP ‘95) made a big leap to her dream job in a large city where she will have a bigger impact She is proud of the journey that led her here and is thrilled to be in the events industry where her gifts shine
Patrick Smitowski
(OS-ICP ‘96) is celebrating 25 years working at U-M, 20 of which have been in LSA! He has been profiled by Segal Sibson Consulting and Professor Emeritus Bob Quinn from Ross as a “master performer” in the HR profession as part of a U-M project to study effective HR across higher education Patrick was also the only HR professional selected to attend the Provost's Budget and Resource Management Academy for High Performers In addition, he helped found and remains a steering committee member on the U-M HR Community of Practice, an internal professional organization that has inspired the creation of similar communities at other universities and for other professions at U-M (and led that community of practice for 3-4 years)
Stephanie Klempner
(OS-ICP ‘98) co-founded a nonprofit foundation, the Pollination Project
(OS-ICP ‘98) recently became a Board Advisor for a startup company called Airvet
Adam Mesh (OSICP ‘98) is approaching 20 years with her company, spanning roles in sales, operations, as business CIO, architecture & engineering, and now digital Shaina (Green) Rosenberg
Richard Kovacik
(OS-ICP ‘99) recently celebrated the 2-year anniversary of Healthcare Growth Group, the latest company he founded HGG has officially provided two years of transformational growth services for their healthcare innovation clients
Laura (Gaviglio) Morris
(OS-ICP ‘99) welcomed current OS student Edward Lee to shadow her at GE Appliances for the Malkin Shadowing Scholarship (pictured to the left below)
Carrie Brzezinski-Hsu
(OS-ICP ‘00) has been a board member on the University of Michigan Sports Management Advisory Board for 10 years She was also the commencement speaker for the 2022 University of Michigan School of Kinesiology graduation
Sean K Heslin
(OS-ICP ‘01) celebrated 3 years as an independent LPL Wealth Manager in Palm Springs, CA this past March
Marquina Iliev
Melissa (Lagodzinski) McDonald
(OS-ICP ‘01) developed the Philosophy of Well-being and Culture of Health Workshops at the University of Michigan during her tenure here, as well as a Customer Experience training program for all associates in customer-facing roles at the AF Group She is currently developing sales training for all sales associates at the AF Group
Malissa (Carpenter) Clark
(OSICP ‘02) published a book last year (“Never Not Working: Why the AlwaysOn Culture is Bad for Business- and How to Fix It”; Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press) that has been widely recognized It was selected as one of 12 new idea books to launch 2024 by Adam Grant and listed as one of the Next Big Idea Club’s February 2024 must-read books and Top 40 nonfiction books of 2024, top 5 HR books in 2024 by People Management, top 8 new books of 2024 by Management Today, top 40 Porchlight business books of 2024, top 5 Best Management & Workplace Culture Books of 2024, and as one of nine books to help shape your science career in 2025
Lindsay (Schultz) Laneville (OS-ICP ‘01) lives in NYC and does most of her book launch consulting remotely She’d love to help make your book launch a success!
Meredith (Berg) Klein
(OS-ICP ‘01) is married with 3 children, 2 of whom have severe food allergies She is seeking her MSW to support sufferers and their caregivers with the invisible mental health challenges that accompany living with and caring for food allergy anaphylaxis
(OS-ICP ‘02) and her husband are raising their 13-year-old son and identical twin daughters, who are 10 They are truly enjoying this season of parenting as they watch their kids grow Lindsay happily calls Ann Arbor home; and while her career has spanned two decades with multinational corporations, she is now fortunate to coach individuals around the world all from just down the street from where she first found her professional inspiration during her Organizational Studies days at the University of Michigan
Rana Lustyan
(OS ‘05) works with women up to age 30 on goal-setting, productivity, time management, confidence, perseverance, motivation, task initiation, and emotional regulation to feel in control of their emotions, their time, their grades and their friendships to tackle life's challenges with the right mindset
Megan Moore
(OS ‘07) welcomed a second child, her son Arin
Elizabeth Marics
(OS ‘19) graduated from Harvard Business School in May
Natalie Cadotte
(OS ‘21) married her high school sweetheart Ian Hogg on March 22, 2025
Alexa, or Lexi, Posey
(OS ‘21) is starting a master of science in speech language pathology this upcoming fall at Northwestern University
(OS ‘09) has a baby girl arriving in late June who will join her big sister Emma
Brock Strasbourger
Megan (Mitrovich) Boyle (OS ‘09) launched a MFO called Targa Partners 3 years ago and has 13 families on the platform and ~1 25B AUA Brock is also continuing to scale Heli an adventure travel marketplace that has since begun acquiring destinations in a propco/opco structure and now also owns Great Canadian Heli Skiing and Silverton Mountain
(OS ‘10) was signed to Tiny Totz Kids label and Wardlaw Publishing Her song Space Shuttle was chosen by Spotify Editorial as one of the top kids songs of 2024 Kate (Singleton) Connaghan
Brittani Kagan’s
(OS ‘10) son Jesse was born in July 2024
Stefanie Scari
(OS ‘13) moved outside of Boston and had her first baby, Charlie, in November Her husband Kyle (Michigan ‘12) is starting a fast-casual Tex Mex restaurant in Boston
Adam Rubenfire
(OS ‘14) is now Health Content Lead at Guidehouse, a top 10 consulting firm He also recently married another Michigan alum on May 25, 2025
Sandra Charipper
(OS ‘19) graduated from Harvard Business School (MBA) in May
Adam Gawron
(OS ‘22) and his girlfriend just moved to the South End in Boston, MA They are super excited to be there and would love to meet up with some OS alumni who may also be in the area!
Kayla Zhang
(OS ‘23) is excited to join the OS community in London this fall (Chloe Zhou '22, Amanda Shao '22, and Gina Farrell '22) She will be starting her PhD in Organisational Behaviour at London Business School
Alexa Cohen
(OS ‘24) has committed to grad school! She will be starting her PsyD in the fall at St John’s University
Highlights, Awards, and Accolades
DEPARTMENT KUDOS
Cathy Philbin
received the annual Suzanne M. Jones OS Spirit Award this year Nominations and votes for this award come from the entire OS community, including faculty, staff, and students Cathy, our dynamic OS advising coordinator, provides constant and thoughtful support, guidance, and advice to OS students As one student writes, “Cathy is deeply connected to the OS network of students, staff, faculty, and alumni She is well-informed about everyone ' s current activities Leaving Cathy's office without a relevant connection is nearly impossible!” Congratulations to Cathy!
Sara Soderstrom
played an instrumental role as a co-investigator in establishing the new Environmental Justice + Humanities Hub this past fall, supported by a nearly $4 million grant from the Mellon Foundation This hub aims to integrate humanities with environmental justice to prepare students to address complex issues and combat paralyzing climate anxieties Congratulations to Professor Soderstrom for all her hard work!
Elizabeth Popp Berman
was quoted in a number of media outlets this year for her research on universities and federal funding, including: Planet Money, Marketplace, Toronto Globe and Mail, Nature, All Things Considered, and Mashable Congratulations to Director Popp Berman for the many recognitions of her important work!
Faculty Additions
MARTIN WILLIAMS REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST YEAR IN OS
Martin Williams
joined the OS community this past year as our newest Associate Professor in Organizational Studies and (by courtesy) Political Science Williams specializes in policy implementation, public service delivery, and bureaucratic reform He previously worked at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford Reflecting on his first full academic year at U-M, Martin shared, "I've loved my first year in OS It's been wonderful to get to teach classes on some of the topics I'm most passionate about and that matter most for young people entering the professional world, like Making Public Services Work and Organizational Performance and Reform Most of all I've been impressed by the thoughtfulness and curiosity of our OS students, which has made the classroom a lively and engaging place "
Congratulations to Professor Williams for completing a terrific first year!
Our Community Staff
Paige Barton, Student Services Coordinator
Emily Buckley, Events & Communications Coordinator
Tanya Randhawa, Executive Assistant
Melissa Eljamal, Chief Administrator
Cathy Philbin, OS Advising Coordinator
Ara Jo, Lab Manager
Faculty
Elizabeth Popp Berman, Richard H Price Professor, Organizational Studies and Sociology (by courtesy)
Nicholas Camp, Assistant Professor, Organizational Studies and Psychology (by courtesy)
Lisa Fein, Lecturer IV, Organizational Studies
Jeremy Levine, Associate Professor, Organizational Studies and Sociology (by courtesy)
Davon Norris, Assistant Professor, Organizational Studies and Sociology (by courtesy)
Steven Samford, Associate Professor, Organizational Studies
Sara Soderstrom, Arthur F Thurnau Professor, Associate Professor of Organizational Studies and Environment
David Sweetman, Lecturer II, Organizational Studies
Catherine Thomas, Assistant Professor, Organizational Studies and Psychology
Martin Williams, Associate Professor, Organizational Studies and Political Science (by courtesy)
Affiliated Faculty
Denise Anthony, Professor of Health Management and Policy, Rubin Department Chair of Health Management and Policy
Elizabeth A Armstrong, Sherry B Ortner Collegiate Professor, Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies
Michael Bastedo, Professor, Marsal Family School of Education
Gerald F Davis, Gilbert and Ruth Whitaker Professor, Business Administration and Sociology
Richard Gonzalez, Amos N Tversky Collegiate Professor, Psychology and Statistics
Kathryn Heinze (OS '05), Associate Professor, Sport Management
Andy Hoffman, Holcim (US) Inc Professor, Sustainable Enterprise and Management and Organizations
Robert S Jansen, Associate Professor, Sociology
Ramaswami Mahalingam, Professor, Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies
Mark S Mizruchi, Robert Cooley Angell Collegiate Professor, Sociology and Management and Organizations
Demetri Morgan, Associate Professor, Marsal Family School of Education
Jason Owen-Smith, Professor, Sociology
Shobita Parthasarathy, Professor, Public Policy and Women's and Gender Studies
Richard Price, Organizational Studies Program Founder and Professor Emeritus, Psychology and Organizational Studies
Lance Sandelands, Professor, Psychology, Organizational Behavior, and Human Resource Management
Denise Sekaquaptewa, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, Psychology
Dan Slater, James Orin Murfin Professor, Political Science
Gretchen Spreitzer, Keith E and Valerie J Alessi Professor, Business Administration, Organizational Behavior, and Human Resource Management
James P Walsh, Arthur F Thurnau Professor, Gerald and Esther Carey Professor, Business Administration, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, and Corporate Strategy
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