February 2026 Message from the Dean

February has been a full month for us at Michigan Ross, and so I wanted to recap some highlights:

• We launched the new AI Business Transformation Speaker Series in partnership with the Handleman Lecture Series. The first event featured Mary Barra, chair and CEO of General Motors, and Mike Hanley, GM’s vice president and chief information security officer. Barra and Hanley offered eye-opening perspectives on AI’s influence in automotive innovation and mobility. Matt Baer, CEO of Stitch Fix, joined us for the second event in the series this week, sharing how AI shapes the retail and tech worlds. Both events offered rich perspectives, and I’m excited to continue these thought-provoking conversations throughout the year.
• Our Business+Tech team did a terrific job orchestrating the first AI Hackathon, jointly delivered by Ross and the College of Engineering. This is another example of how great things happen when we bring together business and engineering students. It also gave participants the opportunity to solve a real challenge using AI. There were 225 students and 53 teams who participated, with the winning team creating an innovative text-first application that uses AI connected to Canvas and Google Calendar to help prevent students from aimlessly scrolling and to focus on their schoolwork. We were also grateful for sponsorship and engagement from Oracle for this event.
• The Sanger Leadership Center hosted its annual Leadership Crisis Challenge. This event puts students in the roles of business leaders as they navigate an organizational crisis. More than 380 U-M students participated, with support from 89 alumni and faculty who provided valuable feedback throughout the challenge. It was truly action-based learning at its finest, equipping our students to handle real-world uncertainty with confidence. A huge thank you to the Sanger team and faculty and staff volunteers who made this event possible.
• The Zell Lurie Institute’s Zell Entrepreneurs Program hosted a summit welcoming partner programs from the Zell Global Entrepreneurship Network. Guests from around the world spent two days exploring Ross and the emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem in Detroit. I enjoyed interacting with these students and learning about their entrepreneurial ventures. There was a good mix between those starting their own businesses and those pursuing entrepreneurship through acquisition (a path that we have been expanding in our MBA program, too).  
• Progress continues on innovations to our Full-Time MBA program. The faculty approved two new changes to the first-year core that will provide students with additional opportunities to personalize their educational experience, support their success in working effectively in teams, and offer greater flexibility during key recruiting time periods. These are part of the larger set of ongoing innovations related to the program’s structure, content, and delivery. Special thanks to the FTMBA team, student leaders, and all of our faculty for the very thoughtful conversations and insights related to these important changes.

Thank you to everyone who joined our All Staff Meeting and participated in Staff Development Days. I’ve received very positive feedback from many of you, and I hope the sessions offered staff useful ideas, supported your professional growth, and strengthened connections across the Michigan Ross community.

As we look forward to the month ahead, I want to highlight our upcoming meeting-free day on March 18. I encourage you to take advantage of this meeting-free day to focus on meaningful work, make progress on key priorities, or simply step back and connect with your fellow coworkers. For those who would enjoy a social break, the Dean’s Office will host a Coffee Hour from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and Bingo from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Tauber Colloquium. I hope you’ll stop by if you can.

As always, I welcome the chance to connect with you during office hours, which are listed on the dean’s office webpage. In March, I will hold office hours in the Davidson Winter Garden on:

• March 11, 4:15–5:00 p.m.
• March 18, 4:15–5:00 p.m.

Finally, I want to express my sincere appreciation for everything you do. While the break next week offers students a well-earned pause, I know it is often a very full and productive time for faculty and staff. Whether you are preparing courses, supporting ongoing work, or moving important initiatives forward, your commitment makes a meaningful difference to our community. Thank you for all that you do.

Kind regards,

Sharon