Public Engagement & Impact
The Michigan Road Scholars Tour — an annual five-day traveling seminar that takes U-M faculty through the state — increases mutual knowledge and understanding between the university and the people and communities of Michigan.
Now in its 20th running, the tour connects U-M faculty to Michigan’s communities, culture, economy, politics, history, educational systems, social issues, and geography. The Road Scholars Tour also encourages public service and outreach, revealing ways faculty can address important state issues through research, teaching, and creative activity.
You can keep up with the happenings on the tour May 6–10 by following #MIRoadScholars on Twitter.
One of this year’s Road Scholars, Shanna Kattari, is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work with a courtesy appointment in Women’s Studies. She researches health disparities among transgender and nonbinary people, disability and ableism, and examines sexuality in marginalized communities, particularly in LGBTQIA individuals and people with disabilities.
In this Q&A, Kattari reveals her motivation for joining the Road Scholars, and what she hopes to learn.
What interested you in the Road Scholar tour?
Kattari: As someone relatively new to Michigan — I’m just finishing up my second year at U-M — it’s really important to me to learn about my new state and all of the different facets that make up Michigan. I do community-based research and it is incredibly difficult to know what type of research is needed when I don’t know much about the communities in my new home, and what their needs are. Plus, I haven’t been further north than Lansing and really wanted to get to see more of the state.
Why do you think it’s important for faculty and staff to connect with communities in the state?
Kattari: Oftentimes, people view Michigan as Detroit and the U.P., and forget that our students, our coworkers, and the communities we research come from all over the state nd have different needs. I do work with transgender and nonbinary people about access to healthcare. In Detroit, the issues may be about long lines for the best providers or issues of the intersection of racism and transphobia in medical spaces, while someone in Port Huron might be the only trans person — or one of a few — that they know in their community. Someone in Marquette may have to drive several hours just to see an affirming therapist, let alone have access to a provider for trans-inclusive medical care. I know this because I intentionally reached out to community members across the state to get their feedback and experiences. I think there is so much we as faculty and staff need to see and learn about the vast communities across the state in order to better serve, teach, research, and support Michiganders.
What are you hoping to learn?
Kattari: I want to learn more about the history and breakdown of this state, about the successes and challenges facing different communities in different areas, and about the industries unique to different places. I also want to learn how I, as a new Michigander with the privilege of being able to help set research agendas, can support people across the state, especially those who have marginalized identities and may have different experiences or challenges than their counterparts in southeast Michigan.
How do you envision incorporating what you see and learn on this tour into your teaching and/or research?
Kattari: As a community-based researcher, I would love to be able to find folks interested in collaborating, both from those we meet on this tour, and even among my touring companions. I hope some of what I learn can be used to develop more nuanced and inclusive research projects that aim to understand the needs and experiences of ALL people living in Michigan. I also look forward to learning about the different communities, cities, and towns that my students come from so I can better integrate that into my classroom settings, and be more welcoming and affirming of all of my students.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHIGAN ROAD SCHOLARS
