Erb Institute

10/17/2026

Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear maize & blue! 🦸‍♂️ 💙 〽️💥

Navigating dual-degree applications and choosing the right path in business and sustainability can feel like a lot—but you don’t have to do it alone! Our AmbassadErbs are current Ross School of Business & University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability dual-degree students ready to share their first-hand experiences, answer your questions, and give you the inside scoop on life at Erb.

Whether you’re curious about career transitions, student clubs, or dual-degree logistics, connect with a student ambassador today!

🔗 Learn more and get connected: https://erb.umich.edu/education/graduate-program/student-experience/graduate-ambassaderbs

10/16/2026

Thank you to all who attended our U-M Climate Week fireside chat with Tim Mohin! 🌍

It was an incredible session filled with candid insights on decarbonizing the economy, standardizing carbon accounting, and turning climate risk into strategic business opportunity.

Special thanks to our student moderators and audience for driving such a thoughtful discussion!

🔗 Missed the event or want to revisit the conversation? Read the full recap: https://erb.umich.edu/about/erb-news/tim-mohin-fireside-chat

10/15/2026

How do you know when academic research moves beyond theory and directly shapes business practice and public policy?

A new report by the Financial Times explores how business school scholarship drives real-world change. We were proud to see Ross School of Business recognized across three key areas of impact:

- Policy Influence ( #21): Research cited directly in policy documents by governments, think tanks, and international institutions.

- Teaching Cases ( #16): Development of widely adopted classroom materials preparing the next generation of business leaders.

- Grant Success ( #26): Attracting competitive external funding to power high-value, actionable research.

🔗 Read the full analysis:

The FT is exploring ways to measure the influence of academic work on business and policy practice

10/14/2026

10/09/2026

Erb on the Road 2026 was a huge success! 🙌 This year, we toured southwest Michigan with our first-year Erbers for a deep dive into energy, food, and water systems. Highlights included learning about Kalsec's unique renewable energy partnership with the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition, the City of Grand Rapids' decades-long commitment to restoring the Grand River, and Invenergy's solar operations in Calhoun County.

Thank you to all of our partners and hosts, and to our MBA/MS students for their energy, thoughtful questions, and good company!

10/08/2026

“Thirty years after its founding, the Erb Institute is, by every measure possible, the number one business and sustainability institute in the world, graduating alumni who are working on the most pressing issues of our time.” —John Erb

We are so proud of our students and alumni who bring Fred and Barbara Erb’s founding vision to life every day. They bring energy, innovation, purpose, and drive to the University of Michigan, preparing to tackle the world’s greatest environmental and social challenges.

A new $4.9 million gift from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation to establish the Erb Legacy Scholarship ensures that this vital work continues. This support expands scholarship funding for graduate students pursuing dual degrees at the Ross School of Business and the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.

We are deeply grateful for the Erb Family Foundation, and our community. Here’s to shaping a sustainable future together!

Learn more: https://erb.umich.edu/about/erb-news/erb-institute-receives-grant-to-support-next-generation-of-sustainable-business-leaders

10/01/2026

Instead of taking a traditional corporate internship this past summer, Erb Undergraduate Fellow Alex Istock (BBA '27) decided to test an idea. He set out to answer a pressing question: as sustainability disclosures become mandatory, what do businesses actually need to succeed?

Through structured conversations sparked by warm introductions across the Erb Institute network, Alex discovered that companies don't just need more software—they need human judgment, clearer metrics, and help sorting through messy internal data. That realization helped him start Koru Reporting, an early-stage venture designed to help businesses navigate new ESG standards with confidence.

💡 Read Alex's full story on how mentorship, a willingness to adapt, and the power of the Erb community helped shape his summer of discovery: https://erb.umich.edu/about/erb-news/how-the-erb-network-shaped-my-summer-of-discovery-2026

09/30/2026

Behind every major global initiative is a mountain of complex data—and a dedicated team making sense of it. This summer, Erb Undergraduate Fellow Paige Mischenko (BA '27) joined the data analytics team within the United Nations Sustainable Development Group's policy and programming branch.

Paige took charge of evaluating the Cooperation Framework milestones, converting heavy Excel monitoring files into polished executive presentations. Her work gave UN programming leadership a clear view of progress toward Sustainable Development Goals alongside concrete next steps for improving global data collection.

From building dashboards to connecting with staff across global issue areas, Paige gained firsthand insight into how data drives progress on an international scale.

🔗 Learn more about her experience: https://erb.umich.edu/about/erb-news/my-summer-at-the-united-nations

09/28/2026

Fred Erb always believed that doing business well meant doing good for the world. When he and his wife, Barbara, helped launch the Erb Institute at the University of Michigan 30 years ago, he put his conviction simply: “Some people have jets and yachts. I’d rather do this.”

They believed in investing in the students who cared just as deeply as they did about protecting our planet while guiding the future of business.

With the $4.9 million from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, we are excited to launch the Erb Legacy Scholarship. We are grateful to carry Fred and Barbara’s legacy forward.

Learn more: https://erb.umich.edu/about/erb-news/erb-institute-receives-grant-to-support-next-generation-of-sustainable-business-leaders

09/25/2026

It's time for U-M Climate Week! Join us for "From Measurement to Movement: How Data Can Drive Climate Action," a fireside chat with Tim Mohin, CEO of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and former CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative.

Drawing on his deep expertise in corporate sustainability, Tim will unpack how standardized carbon accounting became the backbone of corporate and government climate action—and where it still falls short.

Attendees will get a candid, insider's look at the gap between sustainability pledges and actual emissions reductions, including the thorny debates over Scope 3 accounting, net zero claims, and greenwashing.

Registration is limited! Visit https://forms.gle/C5dLminJUWdL4ZBh6 to reserve your spot today.