Annual Meeting Celebrates 21 Years of "Voices to Vision"!
Voices of the Staff celebrated 21 years of staff making a positive impact at U-M on June 18, 2026. About two hundred staff members and members of university leadership kicked off our third decade in the Great Lakes Room at Palmer Commons (yes, it was a tight fit)! Highlights included:
- Welcoming first year members and celebrating those completing their active participation (our new "program alumni").
- Presentations from all seven Network teams.
- Amy Homkes-Hayes sharing how Voices connects to the Look to Michigan efforts and the U-M Theme Years.
- Cathy Handyside and Bob Jones sharing a deep dive into the current state of AI and our opportunity to help U-M lead a moral, ethical, and human-centered future.
Voices is grateful to all of our members for giving their time, passion and energy to help move our workplace forward. Special thanks to our program sponsor, Rich Holcomb, AVP, University Human Resources. Thank you to our executive officers for their support of the program, and especially to the university leadership members in attendance.
See the event slide deck for more details about the speakers, leadership guests, links to team poster presentations, and more.
For more about the history of Voices, check out this digital timeline for a look at the history of the Voices program.
About the Voices Network: 130 Staff Members, 7 Teams - Engaged and Empowered
The program is composed of a network of six topic-specific teams and one alumni team. Each team has about 20 staff members who are selected from applicants to reflect a microcosm of the staff community from every U-M campus and Michigan Medicine. Teams are supported by appointed facilitators and advisors. Two members from each of the Network Teams are selected to join a "Core Team" that regularly meets with executive officers. The entire effort is supported by a Program Management Team comprised of UHR staff and others from across the organization.
Download this graphic for a visual representation of the Voices of the Staff Program Participants and Structure.
Team Project Posters 2026
- Advance Community and Connection
- Alumni Engagement
- Enhance the Employee Experience
- Embrace Change
- Facilitate Flexible Work
- Promote Career Growth
- Strive for Well-being