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Alumni

Graduate education thrives when every student has the resources and support to succeed. At Rackham, we are building an inclusive community where scholars from all backgrounds can advance knowledge, strengthen global connections, and contribute solutions to the issues that matter most.Through engagement and philanthropic giving, Rackham alumni strengthen the foundation for current students to thrive on campus and succeed beyond it. Join us in sustaining this legacy of impact.

Three women pose and smile for a photo at a graduation ceremony, with one holding a diploma and another holding flowers.
  • A person with curly dark hair and glasses sits indoors, wearing a patterned top, looking thoughtfully into the distance.

    Rackham Alumna Gabriela Lena Frank Wins the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Music

    Frank (Ph.D. ’01) credits her U-M professors and mentors with helping shape the artistic curiosity that has guided her career.

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  • A woman in a black and sheer dress smiles and laughs in front of a group of people, mostly children and women, at an outdoor event.

    Coming of Age in the Diaspora

    Rackham alumna, assistant professor, and sociologist Sadiyah Malcolm-Wallace shares her research on teenage milestones of the African Diaspora, from prom send-offs in Philadelphia to the experiences of Black teenage girls attending high school in Jamaica.

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  • The Kirtland warbler, a small bird with a bright yellow chest and dark-streaked wings perches on a pine branch, beak open as if singing, against a blurred blue sky background.

    Protecting Nature's Song

    As signs of spring emerge, we join Rackham alumna Alexis Lamb in noticing and appreciating the soundscapes of the natural world as pathways to sustainability.

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  • The sun sets over a calm lake, casting a bright reflection on the water near a sandy, tree-lined shoreline.

    Freshwater Futures

    Rackham Ph.D. candidate Berk Durutürk offers his perspectives on harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes, with an eye for protecting ecosystems and communities for generations to come.

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  • A refreshable braille display with white keys sits on a table near a white potted plant and a lamp.

    Pioneering Accessibility: Early Computing, Screen Readers, and New Tech

    Brought together at U-M in the early 1960s, Rackham alumni Jim Thatcher and Jesse Wright went on to create IBM’s first screen readers for blind and low-vision computer users. Over six decades later, a Rackham alum and his faculty mentors are preparing the next leap in accessible computing.

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Ways to Volunteer and Connect

Whether you’re a recent graduate or a long-established alum, there are many ways to stay connected with Rackham and support the next generation of graduate students.

  • Three students wearing University of Michigan shirts stand indoors, smiling and talking, with other people visible in the background.
    Follow Us on Social Media

    Stay up to date with Rackham news, stories, and opportunities, and help amplify our impact by sharing with your network.

  • A person types on a laptop at a desk with a pair of eyeglasses nearby.
    Brighten a Student’s Day

    Share a note of encouragement or a piece of wisdom with a current graduate student to let them know that the Rackham alumni community is invested in their success.

  • Two women standing outdoors, smiling, wearing University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School sweatshirts, one in grey and one in yellow, with trees and a building in the background.
    Show Your Rackham Spirit

    Show your Rackham connection while supporting students in need—100 percent of the net profits from every purchase will be used to fund support for U-M graduate students through the Rackham Graduate Student Emergency Fund.

Ways to Give

There are many ways to support today’s students in their academic journeys.

  • Make a Gift

    The Rackham Graduate School offers direct help to master’s and doctoral students as they move through graduate school and into the world to address complex problems and work towards innovative solutions at home and around the world.

  • Become a Sustaining Donor

    Give monthly and double your impact! Even $5, $10, or more each month can help a Rackham student attend a conference, travel to a research site, or pursue their academic dreams. Monthly donors are celebrated in the Honor Roll, and gifts are matched 1:1 for 12 months, up to $100 per month, through June 2026—making your generosity go twice as far.

  • Honor Your Advisor or Mentor

    Make a gift in recognition of someone who shaped your academic journey. We’ll notify them of your tribute (if you wish).

Six people stand in front of a screen displaying "Exhibits of Excellence 2024," all posing with their hands bent downward, smiling at the camera.

Celebrating Our Students

See photos and videos from past events recognizing the contributions and accomplishments of Rackham students.

GradWell Podcast

GradWell is a podcast produced by a Rackham Ph.D. student that explores topics of well-being, community, and personal growth in graduate education. Hear candid conversations and reflections about what current students are facing as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of graduate life at Michigan.

Useful Information for Alumni

Contact Us

Hours: Development and Alumni Relations is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office is closed Saturdays and Sundays and on university holidays.

  • Location
    1530 Rackham Building
    915 East Washington Street
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070

  • Contact
    Phone: 734.764.1125
    Fax: 734.936.2848
    Email: [email protected]