Jacob Inosencio and Sabrina Lanker Named 2025 Dow Sustainability Fellows

MSW students Jacob Inosencio and Sabrina Lanker have been named 2025 Dow Sustainability Program Fellows by U-M’s Graham Sustainability Institute. Fellows are chosen through a competitive nomination and application process designed to attract and recognize top talent from across U-M’s academic disciplines. Each fellow will receive a $25,000 stipend along with supplementary project funding, professional development opportunities, and hands-on experience collaborating with external organizational partners.

"I am honored to represent the School of Social Work in the Dow Sustainability Program. By infusing social work values into these critical discussions, I hope to help drive meaningful, sustainable change in collaboration with our various community programs while always keeping equity and environmental justice at the heart of our efforts,” said Inosencio. “I’m also eager to learn from the incredible team of graduate students, whose diverse perspectives will undoubtedly enrich my current and future work in community development."

“Critical mineral production is in increasing demand as clean energy and electric vehicle production soars,” said Lanker. “I will be working on a project titled "Pathways for Sustainable Critical Minerals Extraction on U.S. Private Lands" with the National Wildlife Federation. Through this project, my team will explore best practices for minimizing the environmental, wildlife, Indigenous and cultural, and human health impacts of new critical mineral mining on private lands in the U.S. This project brings together two of my biggest passions, environmental science and social work. I am excited to provide my unique perspectives on environmental advocacy and environmental justice while exploring sustainable methods for mineral extraction!”