DTE Energy Foundation Advances U-M Energy Leadership with Professorship

DTE Energy Foundation has pledged $1.5 million to the College of Engineering and the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (MMPEI) to create the DTE Energy Professorship of Advanced Energy Research. The DTE Energy professorship will support a faculty member whose research will include alternative energy sources, energy storage and conversion, transportation, fuels or sustainability.  The gift reflects the robust and growing partnership between DTE Energy and U-M.

The DTE Energy Foundation was initially attracted to MMPEI because of the Institute's multidisciplinary approach to addressing complex energy issues. “This grant underscores DTE Energy’s commitment to leading our state and industry in creating an energy future that is sustainable and that offers reliable, affordable energy,” said Fred Shell, DTE Energy vice president of corporate and government affairs and president of the DTE Energy Foundation.

Launched last December, MMPEI facilitates multidisciplinary, energy-related research across the University of Michigan. It brings together University researchers, industry and government experts to tackle pressing technological challenges and to discuss innovative public policy that can enhance the effectiveness and implementation of technological breakthroughs.

"As the state's leading diversified energy company with a strong interest in encouraging creative approaches to energy challenges, DTE Energy is an ideal partner in the University's expanding energy education and research agenda," said MMPEI Director Gary Was. "This high-visibility partnership holds extraordinary promise for the future."

Ravi Chadha and the John Deere team with Ross School student leaders at the 2007 Black Business Students Association Annual Conference

John Deere & Company Reaffirms Commitment to U-M Partnership

The John Deere Foundation recently made a $100,000 gift to the University of Michigan to support students and faculty at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, the College of Engineering and the School of Information. John Deere’s gift provides scholarship support in business and engineering, sponsors a variety of student organizations, such as the Black Business Student Association, and funds hands-on student projects at the School of Information.

A graduate of the Ross School and Deere’s U-M campus ambassador, Ravi Chadha (MBA 1995), delivered the annual check to student representatives and staff in February 2007. Ravi is Group Director, Marketing Support Services of Deere’s Consumer & Commercial Equipment Division. He partners with John Deere’s U-M executive sponsor, James Jenkins (AB LSA 1967, JD 1973), Senior Vice President and General Counsel, to maximize Deere’s presence and build strong partnerships across campus. 

Like the University of Michigan, Deere & Company is an organization with international reach based right here in the Midwest. Deere has selected the University of Michigan as one of their key strategic university partners. Committed to innovative, quality products and services, Deere believes the talent and resources offered by U-M will help them achieve their goals for leadership in the construction, agriculture, landscaping, and forestry industries. The University of Michigan is very fortunate to have such an outstanding corporate partner.

Alcoa Supports Sustainable Energy Research at the U-M

The University of Michigan is honored to be the sole North American academic partner of the Alcoa Foundation's Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship Program. U-M was awarded a $844,000 grant over five years for graduate student support. This program, coordinated by the Center for Sustainable Systems and the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, will support six two-year post-doctoral fellows at U-M doing research on sustainable energy technology over a six-year period beginning in 2005. Eleven faculty from the School of Natural Resources and Environment, Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, and the Ford School of Public Policy serve as mentors to the Alcoa Foundation Fellows.

Two Fellows are already at U-M researching wind energy implementation and greenhouse gas emission reduction policies. U-M is one of five academic partners in this international program that will support approximately 30 academics and 60 sustainability practitioners around the world.The other four academic partners include: Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia; London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK; Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; and University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The periodic update on Alcoa Foundation's program highlights the groundbreaking work underway. You may view this newsletter on Alcoa's website.

Or you can opt to receive it directly by subscribing via the Alcoa page.