Ono highlights impact of state support on student success, affordability, economic growth

Santa Ono, 15th president of the University of Michigan

In testimony before the Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges in Lansing on April 30, President Santa J. Ono reinforced the vital role state funding plays in furthering the success of students, driving economic development, and maintaining affordable access to a world-class higher education experience for students across the state.

  1. graphic of boy looking for gun in cupboard

    More weapons in U.S. homes since pandemic

    Days before a 15-year-old allegedly killed four students and wounded others at an Oxford, Mich., high school, his father purchased the firearm used in the attack. A U-M study shows gun ownership among parents of teens spiked with the pandemic.

  2. Megan Rubiner Zinn and Fred Zinn, 2021

    Maize, blue, and a destiny for two

    Some people believe our destiny is written in the stars. But for the families of Megan Rubiner Zinn, BA ’88, and Fred Zinn, it was written in the text of a 1946 admissions letter produced on a manual typewriter with a wonky ‘e.’

  3. A leaf from the Tappan Oak

    The Tappan Oak: A tale of life, death, and rebirth

    On a sad day in November, U-M foresters felled the Diag’s decayed ‘Tappan Oak,’ so named by the Class of 1858. But thanks to a solitary student, that is not the end of the story.

  4. Dripping faucet with Michigan map

    Water affordability crisis looms

    Water and sewer service affordability, at both household and community levels, is a widespread problem across Michigan. A new study warns it may get worse if left unchecked.

  5. Herb Elfring on Oahu, ca 1941

    ‘This line of bullets missed me by 15 feet’

    Herb Elfring, BS ’50, is one of the few remaining survivors of Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. At age 99, the Army radar specialist remembers this ‘day that will live in infamy’ as though it happened yesterday.

  6. Michigan Wolverines, BigTenChamps2021

    Wolverines win Big Ten Championship

    Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines won the 2021 Big Ten Championship Dec. 4, ending a 16-year drought. Michigan football marked a decisive victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes, winning 42-3. The No. 2-ranked team will make its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff, facing No. 3 Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl Dec. 31.

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.