University of Michigan President visits U.P.

MARQUETTE — University of Michigan President Dr. Mark Schlissel made a special trip to the U.P. Monday to talk about the university’s contribution to Michigan’s economy.

Dr. Schlissel addressed guests from around the area at a dinner held at the Ramada Inn for the Economic Club of Marquette County earlier this evening. The fourteenth president of the university was named to his position back in 2014 after holding positions at Brown University, UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins.

With an extensive background in the education sector, in both high-research and liberal arts-centered facilities, Dr. Schlissel focused his speech on U of M being a “economic driver for the state.”

“The university views its mission certainly as educating students from all around the state, but also in doing the research and providing innovation that helps drive the economy,” Dr. Schlissel said. “The areas that we’re good at, medicine, water resources, engineering, social research, are things that align very well with Michigan’s interests and its needs.”

With just under 100 Marquette natives on campus, Schlissel said he hoped to spread word to U.P. parents about considering U of M for their child’s education. Schlissel also stressed the collaborative efforts they participate in from around the state, including local partnerships with U.P. Health System and Northern Michigan University.