BLI Student Voices
The Barger Leadership Institute is proud to support various types of innovative and developmental leadership experiences for undergraduates at the University of Michigan.
We invite you to explore this blog, where our students share experiences in their own words.
About
Welcome to BLI: the home for immersive and interdisciplinary undergraduate leadership experiences at the University of Michigan. Here, we take a holistic approach to help you explore, nurture, and realize your authentic leadership potential.
Leadership Grants
The Institute provides resources to our BLI members through grant possibilities that reinforce our beliefs in student initiative, the importance of learning from real-world experience, and the integral roles of reflection, collaboration, and active engagement with communities.
Leadership Journey
Join the BLI to enter our community of leaders. We offer life-enriching experiences and practical tools that bring leadership concepts to life. A member’s BLI path begins with our LEARN experiences.
Latest Blogs
- Michigan Data Consulting Projects
By Rohan Athreya This semester, Michigan Data Consulting (MDC) ran five project teams consulting for the U-MFord School, NOMAD Science, Ballotpedia, Riot Games, and a student-led real estate start-up. For eachproject, a group… Read more: Michigan Data Consulting Projects - FeelGood Care Packages
By Thomas Gala-Garza Our ProjectFeelGood is the youth engagement program of The Hunger Project, where we create our ownsocial enterprise to fundraise on the University of Michigan college campus. Our project –FeelGood Care… Read more: FeelGood Care Packages - TSU CEC Research Conference
By Nancy Xu Attending the TSU 5th Annual Clinical Research and Engagement Conference was a meaningfulexperience that strongly aligned with the goals I outlined in my original BLI grant proposal. I setout to… Read more: TSU CEC Research Conference - Portrait of South Asia: Volume 2: Love
By Ridhi Gupta Portrait of South Asia (POSA) is the first South Asian magazine on campus, meant to be anauthentic portrait of the well-known and lesser-known aspects of South Asian identity, aspiringto include… Read more: Portrait of South Asia: Volume 2: Love - Ice Skating Social with the Society of Arab American Engineers
By Mary Hallal The Society of Arab American Engineers (SAAE) aims to empower MiddleEastern and North African (MENA) and non-MENA engineering students andform a tight-knit community through a variety of personal and professionaldevelopment… Read more: Ice Skating Social with the Society of Arab American Engineers - GMAT Focus Edition Coaching and PrepBy Aayana Anand Last July, I first became aware of the world of deferred MBAs: an opportunity to apply for yourMBA in your senior year of college, securing a place in a program… Read more: GMAT Focus Edition Coaching and Prep
- Xin Chào Việt Nam: Heritage & Harmony
By Linh Tran Reflecting on Community, Culture, and Leadership: VISA’s Spring 2025 Events The Vietnamese Student Association (VISA) at the University of Michigan had the incredibleopportunity to organize two impactful cultural events during… Read more: Xin Chào Việt Nam: Heritage & Harmony - Corporate Trek Chicago 2025
By Kelly Linart On March 28th, 2025, Phi Gamma Nu successfully organized a professional trek to Chicago,providing over 40 students the chance to visit top companies, engage with Michigan alumni, andgain firsthand insight… Read more: Corporate Trek Chicago 2025 - Right to Success
By Richard Leon and Sylvia Rodriguez The Right to Success event, held on March 28th, 2025, marked a significant milestone in ourcontinued commitment to empowering marginalized students from underrepresentedcommunities across Michigan. In collaboration… Read more: Right to Success - MCAT PreparationBy Julia Ginter-Berriman In January, I completed a major milestone in my academic career as a pre-med student:taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Preparing for the MCAT is a significantundertaking requiring diligence,… Read more: MCAT Preparation
- Change the World Model United Nations
By Natalia Dussán Reflections on CWMUNParticipating in Change the World Model United Nations (CWMUN) was an invaluableexperience that expanded my understanding of international diplomacy, human rights advocacy,and effective leadership. As I reflect on… Read more: Change the World Model United Nations - Project RISHI 2025 Spring Break Trip
By Shriya Mehta Project RISHI (Rural India Social and Health Improvement) is a student-runnonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the sustainable development andgrowth of rural Indian communities. For the past 8 months,… Read more: Project RISHI 2025 Spring Break Trip - University of Michigan Science Olympiad Invitational Tournament
By Ganesh Palaniappan The University of Michigan Science Olympiad (UMSO) works to organize, plan, and execute twoScience Olympiad competitions – an invitational and regional tournament– that bring togetherSTEM-focused middle and high school students… Read more: University of Michigan Science Olympiad Invitational Tournament - Malaysian Cultural Night (MCN) 2025
By Siti Khadijah Sultan On February 15, 2025, the Michigan Malaysian Students Association (MiMSA) hosted itsannual Malaysian Cultural Night (MCN) at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. This year’sevent featured a heartfelt and thought-provoking play,… Read more: Malaysian Cultural Night (MCN) 2025 - What the F
By Aayana Anand What the F is an intersectional feminist, multimedia organization on campus with the mission ofacting as a creative outlet for people with a variety of identities, such as, but not… Read more: What the F
