DATE: 5 p.m. Feb. 16, 2011.

EVENT: “Don’t Go! What Will Keep You Here?”Every year, thousands of students flock to universities across the Midwest to earn their degrees and do their graduate work. But many of them leave the minute they’ve received their diplomas. What does it take to keep the best and the brightest in the Midwest? Why have some made the commitment to stay here? Changing Gears, the Midwest public media project co-sponsored by Michigan Radio, WBEZ in Chicago and ideastream in Cleveland, will host a panel discussion and conversation with students and members of the public at the University of Michigan.

Panelists include: author and journalist Micheline Maynard, senior editor of Changing Gears; University of Michigan alum Mike Miller, head of Google’s Ann Arbor office; Sara Jones, a 2010 Ross School of Business MBA and founder of Ann Arbor-based Heart Graffiti, a contemporary jewelry company that offers a sophisticated line of university class jewelry for women; and Luke Song, owner of Mr. Song Millinery in Detroit and designer of the hat worn by singer Aretha Franklin at President Obama’s 2009 inauguration. In addition, U-M economist Don Grimes will address population and job trends in Michigan.

PLACE: Blau Auditorium, U-M Ross School of Business, 701 Tappan St., Ann Arbor

SPONSORS: Changing Gears and Ross School of Business

INFORMATION: Contact Stephanie Simon at (508) 320-9757 or [email protected].

The University of Michigan is committed to catalyzing the transformation of our economy by supporting technology transfer, encouraging entrepreneurship, and linking faculty and businesses to spur innovative research. Visit www.innovate.umich.edu