The order that launched the Revolutionary War, 250 years later

A portion of a yellowed letter with text written by quill and ink.

The ‘shot heard ’round the world’ can be traced to one manuscript containing the orders for the Concord Expedition on April 18, 1775. The quill-to-paper draft orders, penned by British Army officer Thomas Gage, sparked the Battle at Lexington and Concord the following day. U-M’s Clements Library holds the document.

  1. Inside the University of Michigan-led Automotive Research Center (ARC), researchers and students work on the next generation of military vehicles. Here, the team works on an autonomous vehicle that will be fully immersed in a digital environment for experimentation. Simulation allows the U.S. Army to save time and money versus traditional physical experimentation. Image credit: Levi Hutmacher/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Communications and Marketing

    Off-road autonomy: U-M’s Automotive Research Center funded with $100 million through 2028

    The U.S. Army has extended its long-running relationship with the U-M Automotive Research Center, reaching a new five-year agreement of up to $100 million to boost work on autonomous vehicle technologies. As automakers explore self-driving cars, the Army-funded center will figure out how to take the tech off-road.

  2. Couple in Michigan gear.

    Sometimes the ‘hero’s journey’ takes an unexpected turn

    John Levinson, MBA ’75, is a passionate Wolverine who has attended 587 consecutive Michigan games, peaking with the 2023 national championship. Now adapting to a diagnosis of ALS, the indomitable Levinson plans to be back in the Big House — and on the road — next fall.

  3. On-campus voting location

    Michigan Minds podcast: Presidential election season ‘will not be normal’

    The 2024 election season is underway — as more voters pay close attention to which candidates and policies best serve them. But unlike previous years, the battle for the White House will be anything but normal because democracy could be jeopardized, says University of Michigan political expert Vincent Hutchings.

  4. January 1952 front page of the Michigan Daily announces "Plan Huge Huron Campus"

    The ‘super-university’ moves north

    When U-M regents broke ground on North Campus in 1952, they were responding to more than a postwar growth spurt in admissions. They were signaling the University’s full embrace of research applied to the demands of an urban, industrial society.

  5. Out of the woods and into the ethos: Unique business course still resonates

    One year on, Michigan Ross students assess the impact of an inaugural management course that took them to the wooded, lakefront campus of U-M’s Biological Station. The goal? To align their highest character ideals with the realities of a business career. So, how’s it going?

  6. Image credit: Joe Freeman Jr. A group of sailors dressed in whites enjoys the sun while perching on the pieces of oddly shaped sculpture that can shore up seawall infrastructure.

    Art or infrastructure? Depends on the climate

    ‘Migration Stage,’ an outdoor installation along Seattle’s Elliot Bay, serves a once-and-future purpose, says artist Buster Simpson, MFA ’69. Its movable ‘kit of parts’ provides a unique place to gather, while it functions as ‘sea armor’ to protect shoreline infrastructure against extreme storms. (Image credit: Joe Freeman Jr.)

Creativity and connection across prison walls

One of the world’s largest and longest-running exhibitions of incarcerated artists is back with new programming designed to foster connection and deepen public understanding of incarceration in Michigan. The 29th annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons, curated by U-M’s Prison Creative Arts Project, showcases 772 artworks by 538 artists incarcerated in 26 state prisons. The Duderstadt Center Gallery on U-M’s North Campus is presenting the artwork through April 1.

  • Most Wanted by Samantha Bachynski

    The exhibition features diverse styles and media, including paintings, portraits, tattoo imagery, landscapes, sculpture, fiber arts and found materials. Each fall, volunteers, including students, select the pieces and visit every prison in Michigan to interact directly with the artists. (See original image)

    Colorful night sky shows through tree branches. 2025 PCAP exhibition.

  • Tangerine Dreams by Matisse Bravo

    For over 35 years, PCAP has worked to bridge the gap between incarcerated individuals and the broader community through artistic collaboration, mutual learning and growth. The program has expanded to include undergraduate courses, weekly art workshops in Michigan prisons, an annual literary review and year-round events to foster dialogue and connection. (See original image)

    A plate of tangerines and tangerine slices on a green table with yellow wall. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Peacefulness by Susan Brown

    According to Emily Chase, PCAP’s exhibition and curatorial coordinator, themes of community and mentorship emerged strongly in this year’s collection. (See original image)

    Colorful landscape with stripes and a mountains. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Paths #2 by Kendall Leonard

    The exhibition allows incarcerated artists to have their voices heard beyond prison walls. “Their voices are so often silenced, and this is one of the few areas where they can feel heard,” says Mattie Levy, PCAP community engagement coordinator. (See original image)

    Colorful abstract painting from the 2025 PCAP exhibition.

  • Mountain Honey by Terry Stinebeck

    “We witnessed experienced artists mentoring newcomers and saw how the artistic efforts of one individual can motivate and inspire others,” says PCAP’s Emily Chase. (See original image)

    A serene landscape with a yellow sky and mountains. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • House of Kards by Michael Browning

    Visitors to the Duderstadt exhibition can experience an audio tour that features select stories from some of the artists. (See original image)

    Abstract painting of a face card from a deck of cards. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Happiness Within by Groot

    This year, the exhibition introduced a new event, “Art and Music: A Collaborative Concert,” in which students performed original musical compositions inspired by select artworks. (See original image)

    Abstract image of youth with a surreal balloon. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Garden Escapades by Tim Brownell

    The concert that complemented the exhibition was a way to empower and unite with people impacted by the justice system through a shared love of creativity, says Ty Bloomfield, one of the event’s organizers. (See original image)

    A farm scene with crops growing in rows and red barn. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • DMX by David Hudson-Bey

    The 2025 exhibition was presented with support from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the U-M Residential College. (See original image)

    Abstract of DMX painting with blues and greens. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Did I do that? by Daniel Teriberi

    For nearly three decades, the exhibition has provided a platform for incarcerated artists to share their work with the public, shedding light on personal narratives and the power of artistic expression. (See original image)

    Colorful abstract painting in 2025 PCAP exhibition.