The Leaders & The Best…Choose Regents?

We talk a lot about “changing the world,” but sometimes we miss the chance to change the very hallways we walk through, our your children walk through, every day. If you’ve ever felt like your voice as a Black student, or parents of a Black student, was being marginalized or that the atmosphere on campus wasn’t as respectful as it should be, I need you to look at the back of your ballot. O_o

When we show up to vote in Michigan, we aren’t just picking a Governor or a President. Every two years, there is a section that determines the leadership of our major universities: The Board of Regents.

Why the Regents are the Real Architects

At a place like the University of Michigan, the Board of Regents holds the ultimate power. They don’t just sit in meetings; they make the decisions that ripple through our daily lives:

• Campus Climate: They help determine the university’s stance on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and how the administration responds to the targeting of marginalized students (which we had a female Regent to jump quickly on national tv after the Trump Election and basically say they were against DEI).
• Funding and Resources: They oversee the multi-billion dollar budget that decides which programs get funded and which ones get cut (which is how some of the scholarships to Black students were taken away with the blink of an eye and basically told to figure something else out).
• The Long-Term Vision: They hire the University President and set the tone for whether our campus is a “forward-thinking” sanctuary or a place where we feel like an afterthought.

Your Voice is the Filter

For those of us at U-M or any Michigan institution, these elections are our chance to vet the people who vet our education. When Black students’ voices are being challenged, voting for Regents who actually respect our presence is a radical act of self-preservation.

• Don’t Stop at the Top: It’s easy to vote for the big names and hand back the ballot. But the Regent section is where the local, immediate change happens at the University of Michigan.
• Research the Record: Look for candidates who have a track record of supporting student safety, mental health resources, speaking up adequately for Black student/people, and equitable representation. And it’s not safe to just decide to vote “Democrat”. You should REALLY investigate and be aware so you are voting for someone who aligns.
• The Two-Year Turn: Because these positions open up every two years, we have a frequent opportunity to pivot the direction of our university.

The Closing Message

To my parents, to my sistahs and brothas in high school getting ready for college, and to my fellow students already in the thick of it…your vote is your volume. We cannot complain about a seat at the table if we don’t participate in choosing who owns the table. We are the Scholar Goddesses & Gods of 2026, and we are too smart to leave our campus atmosphere to chance.

Stay Black, stay focused, and remember: Your ballot is your blackprint. You are a Goddess who knows that true leadership starts with accountability, and your vote is the most powerful tool in your kit. You’re just a woman, but the world is reshaped by the names you choose to empower.

With love,