April 13, 2026 | Graduate profiles
Each of our graduating students has a different story, but they share a common thread: learning through dialogue and community. In this Q&A series, graduating students from IGR reflect on moments that challenged them, people who shaped them, and skills they’ll carry forward after graduation.
This April, Henry Barron (BA '26) will receive a liberatory education cord from IGR, reflecting his contributions to advance the mission of IGR and liberatory education. In a short interview, Henry looks back on his IGR experiences and the ways ALA 471 influenced his approach to collaboration, feedback, and growth.
Q: How did the IGR community shape your experience at U-M?
Henry Barron: Through the support of the IGR community, and the discussions facilitated, I have learned better how to connect with and learn from others through authentic curiosity and understanding. I have also gained experience working as a team, following through, and demonstrating honesty, accountability, and collaboration. IGR has helped me recognize that the willingness to consider diverse perspectives and experience is a prerequisite to achieving social justice, which has ultimately reframed how I think about environmental justice, collaboration, and organizing.
What practical skills from IGR do you feel best equipped to bring into your work as a student, professional, or leader?
As I begin my first job out of college, I am reminded of the growth mindset that we emphasize so heavily in IGR, and some of the skills that come with it: taking accountability and apologizing, giving and receiving feedback, listening with the intent to understand, asking good questions, and approaching every interaction with an open mind. These are skills which I have found most relevant not only in academic or professional settings but in everyday life. By developing my growth mindset, IGR has put me on a path of creating more impactful relationships and learning opportunities in every facet of my life.
How do you think IGR shaped your personal values and growth?
In ALA 471 and 171, we did an activity where we narrowed our values down to two or three with which we most closely identified. Over the three years that I was involved with the classes, I saw these values change. Since graduating and reflecting on my IGR experience, I have found that IGR has instilled in me values of curiosity and advocacy, as well as inspired me to continue to align my actions with my values and to allow them to evolve.
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