What is Life-Changing Education?

Life-Changing Education (LCE) is a two-year, university-wide exploration of how learning changes lives and how we can make that change more intentional, joyful, and widely shared.

It is Michigan asking itself: What does education make possible? How do we keep learning from one another? How can we build better futures together?

Across this impact area, students, faculty, staff, and community partners are advancing ideas, sharing discoveries, and developing new approaches to learning within our campuses and across the state. The work grows from the university’s Look to Michigan vision to expand access and opportunity and builds on last year’s Democracy, Civic Empowerment, and Global Engagement initiative.

We bring Michigan's research strength and collaborative spirit to the shared work of learning, connecting classrooms, labs, studios, and communities to strengthen education and opportunity everywhere we serve.

Crafting the Future of Learning

At Michigan, Crafting the Future of Learning means staying curious about how people grow and keeping joy at the center of that work. Every lab, classroom, clinic, studio, research project, and community partnership is a place to learn something new about one another and about what education can make possible.

We do this by creating spaces for better questions, building relationships across communities, and sharing what we learn so others can build on it.

Three principles guide this work:

  • Stay curious. Ask questions that open doors and invite new perspectives.
  • Work together. Connect classrooms, communities, and workplaces.
  • Share openly. Make discoveries visible so others can carry them forward.

Together, these principles shape how Michigan keeps learning and lead naturally into the Four Ways that organize this work.

How We Work

  • Grants: funding for research, planning, events, and storytelling

  • Programs: core initiatives like Talking Maize & Blue, ED Talks, and design challenges that explore education’s possibilities

  • Events: conversations, workshops, and gatherings that bring people together around learning

  • Stories & Results: real examples and public resources that show how education changes lives and help others adapt what works

  • Learning Community: periodic gatherings where participants share lessons, connect across projects, and shape what comes next

What Success Looks Like

Here's what we're working toward:

Depth of partnerships

Sustained, reciprocal relationships rather than one-off events

Breadth of engagement

People from every school, college, unit, and community contributing ideas and energy

Visible results

Stories, resources, and examples others can use and build on

Scholarly contribution

Research and insights that improve how we understand and advance learning

Our Core Team

Three co-leaders guide Life-Changing Education across the full arc of learning, from early education through graduate study and beyond. A faculty director coordinates the day-to-day work, supported by a project manager and communications specialist who develop programs and tell stories. Working groups help shape core programs throughout the year. Reviewers and partner communities contribute ideas, feedback, and collaboration.

Co-Leadership

Elizabeth Birr Moje smiles whilst looking at the camera

Elizabeth Birr Moje

Dean; George Herbert Mead Collegiate Professor of Education and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Marsal Family School of Education

Angela D. Dillard with arms crosses, smiles at the camera

Angela D. Dillard

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education; Interim Vice Provost for Access and Opportunity; Richard A. Meisler Collegiate Professor of Afroamerican & African Studies, History

Michael Solomon smiles at the camera

Michael Solomon

Dean, Rackham Graduate School & Vice Provost for Graduate Education; Bernard J. Lucci Professor of Chemical Engineering,

Coordination & Support

Demetri L. Morgan leans on a railing and smiles at the camera

Demetri L. Morgan

Faculty Director for Life-Changing Education; Associate Professor of Education

Photo of Zari E. Mahoney-Johnson

Zari E. Mahoney-Johnson

Project Manger

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Coming Soon

Marketing & Communications Specialist

Get Involved

Life-Changing Education is an invitation. Join us in shaping the future of learning:

stairs, wall of photos, and students marveling at it all

Find opportunities to take part in Life-Changing Education on campus and in the community.

students listing to each other speak around a poofy ottoman

See how education at UM transforms lives through open inquiry, expanding access, future-focused design, and community partnership.

A student explains a concept to another student

Tell us how education has shaped your journey. Your story helps others imagine what learning can make possible.