Center for EmPowering Communities Director, University of Michigan
Dr. Sarah Mills is a professor of practice at the University of Michigan's Urban & Regional Planning program and the Director of UM's Center for EmPowering Communities. Grounded in cutting-edge social science and deep community engagement, the Center for EmPowering Communities harnesses the expertise of the University of Michigan to support local governments across the urban-rural spectrum as they leverage decarbonization opportunities to advance community goals and enhance quality of life.
Sarah received her doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Michigan, where her dissertation looked at the intersection of farmland preservation and wind energy development. She has a master's in engineering for sustainable development from the University of Cambridge, and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University. She grew up on a farm in Monroe County, Michigan but now lives in Ann Arbor where she serves on the City Planning Commission.
