University of Michigan

Cultivating Local and Global Leaders

A capital commitment for undergrads

Michigan in Washington students like Sunethra Muralidhara learn how our government works by living, working and studying in the nation’s capital.

Robert Altman and Lynda Carter want U-M undergrads to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., studying the workings of government and experiencing the cultural, intellectual and institutional riches of one of the world’s most influential cities.The couple also knows this experience comes with a significant price tag.

So, with a $100,000 gift, the U-M parents from nearby Potomac, Md. will support need-based scholarships for students to participate in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts’ popular Michigan in Washington program. MIW students take a full course load while completing full-time internships in Congressional offices, federal agencies, private firms and non-profit organizations. But the additional cost to students to live and work in the capital—including room and board, a professional wardrobe and supplemental health insurance—runs about $5,000 for a semester. That can amount to a major burden for participants and their families.

“It’s expensive for a student to live, work and study in Washington for a semester,” said MIW Director Edie Goldenberg, a professor of political science and public policy. “So it’s especially gratifying to have support from parents who understand the value of this opportunity and of a Michigan education.” The couple doubled the impact of their gift thanks to a dollar-for-dollar match from Steven Shindler (AB ’85), a member of LSA’s Dean’s Advisory Council, and his wife, Mary Kay Kosnick (AB ’83), of Darien, Conn. They created the match to commemorate MIW’s fifth anniversary. “MIW alums often describe their time in Washington as the best semester of their Michigan experience,” Goldenberg said. “And a good number of our graduates receive job offers in D.C.”

Altman and Carter’s gift extends a U-M relationship that began with enrollment of their two children, both undergrads. Altman, a former Washington attorney and current chairman and CEO of ZeniMax Media, and his wife, an internationally-known actress and singer, recently accepted an invitation to join the U-M Parent and Family Development Leadership Council, which connects parents with the University and keeps them engaged in and informed about maize and blue matters.

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