Image courtesy of Michigan Central and Wayne State University
In collaboration with Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility Electrification, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), and Wayne State University, Michigan Central has officially launched the MI Mobility Fellows Program (MMF), a pioneering public-private initiative designed to tackle key mobility challenges and spark innovation across the state. The program’s inaugural cohort features recent graduates from across the U.S., with half working to support mobility tech startups at Newlab Detroit and the other half partnering with transit and economic development agencies to advance transportation planning and mobility solutions throughout Michigan over the next 15 months.
The 10 fellows and their hosts are:
The City of Detroit will welcome Yonikka Tinsley as the new Mobility Specialist with the Office of Mobility and Innovation (OMI). Yonikka is a Central Michigan University graduate of Community Development from Detroit, Michigan.
Yakoob Anam, a Michigan State University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Supply Chain Management, will be placed with Clinton Transit System as their new Rural Mobility Innovation Planner.
Energy Storage Safety Products International, LLC (ESSPI) will welcome Aman Veer Gadiya, a new Michigander from Texas A&M University with a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering. Aman will be joining ESSPI, LLC as their new Product Manager – Engineering Lead.
Samarion Flowers will serve as the Regional Transportation Planning Specialist for the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance. Samarion is a returning Michigander and recent graduate of Alabama A&M University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Urban Planning and Design.
Nishchal Bidadikar Natesh, an international student from India, and a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), will be joining InvestUP as their new Community Transportation Integration Coordinator.
Natalie Lambert will join Just Air as the Air Quality Management Solutions & Strategic Partnerships Manager. Natalie is a Michigan native and a Grand Valley State University graduate of Environmental and Sustainability Studies.
Mass Transportation Authority – Flint welcomes Joseph Allen, as their new Transportation Engagement Planner. Joseph is a Texas native and Michigan State University graduate in Urban & Regional Planning and Economic Geography.
Pradip Rimal will join OptimizeEV as the EV Charging Systems Integration Leader. Pradip is an international student from Nepal with a Master’s in Physics from Oakland University.
Shrikant Pawar will join RoboWorkx d/b/a Snowbotix as their Full-stack Robotics Engineer. Shrikant is an international student from India who just completed his Master’s degree at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Strut Motors will host Demetrios Kaltsas, a Michigan native, with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Michigan University. Demetrios will work as Strut Motor’s new Mechanical Engineer.
Image courtesy of Michigan Central and Wayne State University
Justine Johnson, the Chief Mobility Officer for the State of Michigan, stated on behalf of the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification that we are thrilled to greet the first group of MI Mobility Fellows and are eager to see how they will help advance Michigan’s mobility ecosystem.
“These 10 Fellows represent a bright future as we work together to support startups, tackle mobility challenges, and provide transportation solutions for Michiganders across the state,” Johnson said.
The MMF program was established in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (MEDC OFME), Michigan Central, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), and Wayne State University to attract and retain talent in Michigan. All 10 fellows are recent graduates with diverse academic backgrounds seeking to advance mobility throughout the state of Michigan. The inaugural cohort of MMF includes graduates from various schools in Michigan and across the United States, such as Texas A&M and HBCUs like Alabama A&M University.
With a focus on supporting diversity, equity and inclusion within the mobility sector, this inaugural cohort comprises at least 44.4% of Michigan natives, while bringing two new recent graduates to the state. Of the 10 talented fellows, at least 33% identify as international students, 44% or more are BIPOC and 33% represent women in mobility.
During their fellowship, which kicked off with an immersive three-day orientation this week, MMF Fellows will work full-time roles at host sites while engaging in a comprehensive fellowship curriculum that supports professional development, mentorship, leadership development and collaboration with a network of industry leaders and innovators.
Fellows hosted at Michigan Central will have access to Michigan Central’s unparalleled ecosystem of mobility innovation, including more than 100 startups based at Newlab; corporate, venture capital, government and academic partners; and cutting-edge prototyping and piloting resources. Working in communities throughout Michigan, fellows focused on mobility and transportation planning will help drive new efforts to support the mobility of residents and the coordination of planning within their respective regions.
Fellows started their first day of employment with host sites on Monday, October 7, and will continue the program through December 2025.
The first day of the fellowship commenced with an immersive orientation designed to inspire and equip fellows with the tools and connections necessary for success. The three-day orientation will feature specialized programming, cohort-building activities, and introductions to the ten MMF host sites and esteemed partners, including MEDC OFME, Wayne State University, Michigan Central, and CEDAM.
The 15-month program provides fellows with an opportunity to significantly impact the mobility landscape in Michigan. As they begin their cohort experience, Michigan Central and OFME look forward to witnessing this talented group’s innovative solutions and advancements.
Clarinda Barnett-Harrison, the Skills Director at Michigan Central, stressed the importance of providing top talent to support and expand the businesses of the leading innovators in the hard tech and mobility industries based at Michigan Central.
“The MI Mobility Fellowship was born out of the understanding that, in order for Michigan Central to be the global epicenter of mobility technology, we must actively ensure that we’re creating exciting opportunities to attract and retain recent graduates to our campus,” Barnett-Harrison said.
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