Poverty Solutions names Kristin Seefeldt as faculty director as Luke Shaefer takes Detroit post

Kristin Seefeldt will serve as faculty director of the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions through December 2026, and Luke Shaefer has been named Detroit's chief executive of health, human services and poverty solutions and will begin in February while taking a two-year leave from U‑M.

Kristin Seefeldt has been appointed faculty director of the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions, replacing Luke Shaefer. Her appointment runs through December 2026. Seefeldt joined Poverty Solutions in 2019 and served as acting faculty director during the 2024–25 academic year while Shaefer was on sabbatical. Poverty Solutions is a U‑M presidential initiative launched in 2016 to partner with policymakers and communities on interdisciplinary, action-based research to prevent and alleviate poverty. Appointments and roles: - Kristin Seefeldt is the new faculty director of Poverty Solutions, with a term through December 2026. - Seefeldt joined the initiative in 2019 and was acting faculty director in 2024–25. - Luke Shaefer has been named chief executive of health, human services and poverty solutions for the city of Detroit and will begin in February. - Shaefer will oversee the Detroit Health Department, the Office of Immigrant Affairs and Economic Inclusion, and a new Department of Human, Homeless and Family Services. - Shaefer will take a two-year leave from the University of Michigan to serve in Detroit and plans to return to his faculty post. - The city of Detroit plans to renew and expand the Detroit Partnership on Economic Mobility with U‑M Poverty Solutions. Summary: Seefeldt will lead Poverty Solutions through December 2026 and continue the initiative's work connecting research with policymakers and communities. Shaefer will start his Detroit role in February while on leave from U‑M, overseeing several city departments and pursuing a renewed partnership on economic mobility with the university. Undetermined at this time.