Shalanda Baker, the University of Michigan's vice provost for sustainability and climate action and a professor of environment and sustainability in the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), began her tenure on September 1. In this role, she will lead interdisciplinary engagement on environmental topics, explore opportunities to integrate sustainability within core curricula and support critical research that addresses the climate crisis.

In this Q&A, Baker talks about what drew her to the vice provost role, and why and how universities are uniquely positioned to move the needle on climate change.

Read the full Q&A on the U-M Office of the Provost website.