Faces of UMSI: Back-to-school edition
Thursday, 09/16/2021
Welcome to the new academic year! As the University of Michigan campus comes back to life, we are excited to welcome new and returning members of the University of Michigan School of Information community.
Hear from UMSI students back on campus about what drew them to the School of Information, what they’re looking forward to in their degree programs, and their aspirations for themselves, their industries and their communities.
Alex Liu, first-year PhD from Rochester, NY
“I did my undergrad in computer science. During the tail end of my undergrad, I got interested in societal issues related to the things I studied — and through that, discovered the School of Information,” says Alex Liu, from Rochester, New York. “I’m interested in auditing algorithms for things like bias, discrimination and predjudice. But, who knows — this is only my first year and I can totally imagine my interests changing. I really love how diverse the academic backgrounds are at UMSI. I think a lot of the research topics that people at SI look at require (more than one) discipline.”
Yeshashree Prasanna, first-year MSI from Bangalore, India
“I did my undergrad in computer science and so I have a background in software development, and I wanted to get into UX,” says Yeshashree Prasanna, first-year Master of Science in Information student from Bangalore, India. “I am really excited about the intersection of people and technology and that’s something that UMSI does really well. I like how it brings the human factor into technology. Just recently, I have been really into virtual reality. I have vertigo and a fear of heights -- so in a lot of games, they don’t have a floor. And when you look down, I’m like ‘ahhhhhh,’ I just get so scared. I wish (developers) would consider little things like that. I want to make VR more accessible.”
Morgan Miller, BSI junior from Chicago
“I want to make sure technology is available and accessible to all people,” says Morgan Miller, Bachelor of Science in Information junior from Chicago. “I’m excited to be here as a Black woman in tech. I feel that this is something that I need to do for representation and to show other Brown and Black girls like myself that you are able to code. You are able to be in these spaces. You are able to excel. I hope to be a mentor for those who come after me.”
KJ Green, first-year MSI from Saint Thomas
“What interested me in the MSI was that it is an interdisciplinary program encompassing so many different areas,” says KJ Green, first-year Master of Science in Information student from Saint Thomas. “For me coming from a business background, I felt like I could thrive and succeed. I’m also a veteran of the armed forces and I saw that U-M values veterans for the skills that we bring.” KJ is also Co-President of the student org Black@SI, focusing on marketing and member engagement, and is working to create events that connect students with alumni to help them navigate through their careers.
Lilia Duncan, second-year MHI from Sterling Heights, MI
“I was looking for a combination between being involved in the healthcare field and technology,” says Lilia Duncan, second-year Master of Health Informatics student from Sterling Heights, Michigan. “MHI was the perfect program for me because it brings in elements of public health, but then also in order to solve those issues, utilizes technology. I think that there are endless opportunities right now to develop programs and devices that can improve health on a large scale.”
Meet some of the current students and recent alumni who typify the wide range of interests and backgrounds at the School of Information via the 200+ full Faces of UMSI profiles on the UMSI website.