what is blackwood?

The Blackwood Mentorship program aims to provide high school students with the opportunity to attend presentations and workshops related to college readiness, leadership success, and professional development. Through virtual sessions led by undergraduate students at the University of Michigan, many of whom are alumni of high schools in the Metro Detroit area.

Our program is inspired by the leadership and mentorship of Dr. Alexander R. Blackwood may he rest in peace. Dr. Blackwood was an Associate Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Michigan as well as the Vice Chair of the Institutional Review Board and the Director of Pathways in the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion. Outside of his outstanding career as a physician and researcher, Dr. Blackwood spent the majority of his time mentoring students. His only request from his students was that they “pay it forward,” eventually inspiring his mentees to start this very program in addition to a multitude of others. Through this program, we hope to inspire students the same way Dr. Blackwood inspired us.