Virtual Event
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Join leaders from Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, the three universities that make up Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) on a virtual forum to hear how URC tech transfer responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, advances industries and drives our economy forward, even in uncertainty.

Partnering with the MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and the U-M Wolverine Caucus, Michigan Entrepreneurs, Inventors and transfer leaders from the three universities will discuss:

• Emerging COVID-19 startups: who they are and how they help
• University Tech Transfer: What is it, and why you should care
• What’s happening nationally and how Michigan stacks up
• What Michigan needs to do to compete and keep innovation in our state

Click HERE to RSVP by Friday, September 25
Questions? Please contact Lynne Small (517) 999-4007

Speakers:
Peter Falzon, President and CEO, Ripple Science Corporation
Jack Lipton, Chair and Professor of MSU Department of Translational Neuroscience
Braden Robison, Chief Operations Officer, Seraph Biosciences, LLC
Joan Dunbar, Associate Vice President, Research, Wayne State University
Kelly Sexton, Associate Vice President for Research – Technology Transfer and Innovation Partnerships, University of Michigan
Rich Chylla, Executive Director, MSU Technologies

Moderator:
Britany Affolter-Caine, Executive Director, Michigan’s University Research Corridor

Governor Rick Snyder was joined by Rep. Joe Graves (R-Linden), Rep. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), representatives from the business and non-profit community, as well as the members of the UM Unemployment Clinic commemorating the passage of the recent Unemployment Insurance Act overhaul.

When Representative Joe Graves wanted to fix the Michigan unemployment insurance system that wasn’t working he called on the experts from the University of Michigan Law School Unemployment Insurance Clinic to help. Rep. Graves assembled a bi-partisan workgroup that included Clinic Director and Clinical Assistant Professor Steve Gray and law student members of the MLAW Clinic.

From left to right:
Clinical Assistant Professor of Law Steve Gray, MLAW students Schuyler Ferguson, Seth Tangman and Lauren Fitzsimons, and Representative Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores)

Seventeen members of the workgroup representing both employers, claimants and the Unemployment Insurance Agency collaborated to craft legislation to address problems with the existing system. In October 2017 eight bills were introduced to the Michigan House of Representatives. Two weeks later those bills passed the House with unanimous support.

A month later those same bills unanimously passed the Michigan Senate. The legislation was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder in December 2017.

Professor Gray made note of the Clinic’s participation in the process.

“What a great experience for law students to be a part of this unique bi-partisan lawmaking workgroup and to be involved at every stage of the process to help fix serious problems that impact so many families in financial crisis across the state. Clinic faculty and students were involved in research, analysis and bill drafting as well as legislative committee testimony to support the legislative fixes.”

Professor Gray has proposed a policy clinic course for students. His proposal was approved by the University of Michigan Law School, and the course will be offered in fall 2018.

Rackham Student Government holds a day of advocacy luncheon.

The successful day resulted in nine meetings with Michigan legislature representatives and staff.

The Rackham Student Government strives to improve the graduate student experience at the University of Michigan through academic and professional programs, extracurricular engagement, community service, and multi-level advocacy.

From left to right: Tom Jurkiw, Lucca Henrion, Angela Kimber, Sarah Bork, Nocona Sanders, Ayesha Wahid

Rackham students pose with Senator Steve Bieda from Macomb County