From the dark blue waters of the Straits of Mackinac to Detroit’s beating heart of American auto production, from the rural wheat fields behind household cereal brands to the pristine old-growth pines of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan’s rich landscape is as varied and fascinating as its communities. Dearborn is home to the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States, while Marquette preserves a Finnish enclave. Hamtramck, nicknamed “the whole world in two square miles,” features 16 languages in its public schools.
When Jennifer Rupp became president and CEO of Michigan Humanities in 2022, she set out to be a leader for all Michiganders—a role she was uniquely prepared to fill.
“The best part of my job is doing some sort of work or programming in all 83 counties in Michigan,” Rupp said. “We travel the state a lot, and what we find is . . . there are common threads in every community to accentuate.”
Rupp’s career path, which took her from the corporate insurance world to the grassroots leadership of a small-town historical society, gave her the perfect blend of business acumen and nonprofit experience.
Early on, as director of the Marshall Historical Society, Rupp spearheaded one of her first community projects: restoring the Brooks Memorial Fountain—a centerpiece of the city—built in 1930 and inspired by the Temple of Love in Versailles.
Later, in 2017, when she came aboard Michigan Humanities as a program officer, Rupp developed “Same Mission, Many Stories,” which focused on women veterans telling their stories. It launched in 2019.
“I thought it was really important that we create a safe space for women veterans to engage with one another, but also tell their story,” Rupp said. “It didn’t matter in the room what each person’s rank was when they served. We found everybody shared the same mission despite having very different stories to tell.”
The program centers on finding an object in a museum, not necessarily representative of service, that sparks conversation about veteran experiences. In 2023, one session in the program took place at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum near Saginaw. Fredericks was an artist and WWII veteran who often developed themes of justice and eternal life.
Not surprisingly, “Same Mission, Many Stories” caught the attention of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency in 2023. The agency is now seeking to partner with Michigan Humanities to train 19 of its staffers to continue facilitating these conversations to engage veteran populations.
Michigan boasts a shoreline of about 3,300 miles. Capitalizing on this fact, Michigan Humanities facilitates Third Coast Conversations, a program that brings together 18 communities for public discussions exploring the cultural, social, historical, and environmental connections between residents and water.
“By coming together in conversation, we were able to explore people’s relationships with water and how it had impacted their lives,” Rupp said. “Whether we were in Flint, or in Munising, talking about infrastructure or ecotourism, we were connecting communities and inspiring change.”
The largest program Rupp stewards in her role is the Great Michigan Read, now in its tenth iteration. “We oversee nine selection committees that read over 100 books to come up with the book that ultimately gets chosen.”
The program sees Michigan Humanities distribute more than 10,000 hardcover copies of the book to Michigan residents, as well as audiobooks and e-books, which Rupp estimates reach more than 45,000 people.
The 2023–2024 selection, The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, resonated deeply with readers.
“Getting to talk to the author and showcase how that book especially uplifted the voices of our Indigenous communities around the state was special. So many times, in those crowds, we had young people stand up and say, ‘This is the first time I read a book where someone like me is the heroine.’ That was huge.”
Reflecting on her first day as president at Michigan Humanities, Rupp said the support from her fellow humanities leaders has been a constant source of strength.
“I have leaned on my council colleagues for advice on nonprofit management, human resources, fund-raising, and mentorship,” Rupp said.
“The CEO chair can be a lonely one at times. It is amazing to have such a generous and kind community of colleagues to be in partnership with.”
Tell us more, Jennifer . . .
You worked as a brass band director for several years. What’s your favorite brass instrument? The flugelhorn. It has the most beautiful, mellow sound. What is your favorite historic site in Michigan? The Honolulu House Museum in Marshall. That is where I got my start in nonprofit management and the public history field.
