Michigan at the Center: The Innovator at the Center of UMCI #3
In episode three of Michigan at the Center: The Innovator at the Center of UMCI, Ron J. Stefanski and Scott Shireman explore how the University of Michigan Center for Innovation is developing distinctive programming alongside Detroit’s residents and employers. Shireman discusses plans for interdisciplinary graduate degrees, gateway certificates for people without college degrees, and K–12 programming designed to make higher education feel accessible and attainable. Guided by the message “You belong here,” UMCI is incorporating community focus groups and employer expertise into program design, including proposed offerings in event management and youth entrepreneurship. The conversation highlights how listening to Detroiters, connecting education with career opportunities, and creating a welcoming environment can expand participation in the city’s innovation economy while helping the university rethink its own approach to learning.
8 Sept 2026
Michigan at the Center: The Innovator at the Center of UMCI #2
In episode two of Michigan at the Center: The Innovator at the Center of UMCI, Ron J. Stefanski and Scott Shireman explore how the University of Michigan Center for Innovation can help Detroit attract employers, retain talent, and expand opportunities for residents. Shireman reflects on his move from Coursera to Detroit, the philanthropic and public investment supporting the $250 million project, and his belief that the university and the city share an interconnected future. The discussion centers on breaking the cycle of graduates leaving for jobs elsewhere while employers look elsewhere for talent, emphasizing collaboration with Detroit’s existing innovation community. As UMCI approaches its planned 2027 opening, Shireman outlines a vision for serving current and future Detroiters through an ecosystem that connects education with lasting careers and shared prosperity.
25 Aug 2026
Michigan at the Center: Conversations with the Innovator at the Center of UMCI #1
In the first episode of Michigan at the Center, host Ron J. Stefanski speaks with Scott Shireman, Director of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation, about the experiences that shaped his career in higher education. Shireman recounts growing up on an Indiana farm, becoming a first-generation college student at Northwestern, abandoning an initial plan to pursue medicine, and finding his way into technology and university leadership. His career eventually took him to UC Berkeley, where he helped expand online education and develop new programs while embracing the entrepreneurial mindset required to respond to a rapidly changing higher education landscape. Their conversation highlights the transformative potential of education, the importance of following curiosity and passion, and how seemingly unrelated experiences can ultimately become valuable pieces of a much larger career journey.
Who has been a guest on DisruptED
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Perry Samson
Faith Johnson
John Lullen
Stephanie Tsales
Michael Narea
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
93
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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