University of Michigan School of Information student Robin Kocher, along with a multidisciplinary team of U-M graduate students, received an Anti-Racist World Challenge Prize during the Center for Socially Engaged Design’s Annual Innovation in Action awards showcase on April 9. 

The challenge was sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in partnership with the U-M Center for Socially Engaged Design, the U-M Arts Initiative and the U-M Center for Academic Innovation’s XR initiative.

The Master of Science in Information student (MSI), partnered with teammates Amoolya Kumar of UM-Dearborn’s College of Engineering and Computer Science; Gabriela Chen of the School of Public Health and Rackham Graduate School; and Kelly Chan of the School of Education. The group competed against more than 60 students across 17 U-M schools. They received honors for their work on Shift, a personalized platform dedicated to helping individuals become more aware of ways to be anti-racist.

Kocher noted that the group’s goal is to “encourage and support individuals in their shift to a commitment to lifelong learning and a growth mindset. Through our humanized, user-centric design, we aim to improve trust, transparency, accountability, and organizational culture in communities.”

A part-time master's student at UMSI studying user experience (UX) research and design, Robin also holds a Master of Social Work degree focused on social policy and evaluation.

Watch the group’s pitch on YouTube.
Read more about the competition in The University Record.

-Kate Cammell, Writer UMSI