The road Alexis Kott has taken over the past five years might be considered unconventional. Yet, her journey is one of undeniable inspiration – filled with emotion, intention, and perseverance. Not only has she made a difference on campus and in the community, but she’s been a major support to her family as well.

Alexis talks about the close relationship she had with father, Howard, who served in the army for 27 years. In 2020, he passed suddenly which led to major changes in Alexis’s life. “I have made it my life's mission to do the best I can and make a positive impact on the world, and I do it for my dad,” she says. “He was a difference maker. Not just to me, or my sisters, or my mom, but he made a difference in the world.”

She decided to return to school after her father’s passing in honor of the education he wanted her to have. Given her parents' love of the outdoors, which later became her own, she chose to attend UM-Dearborn and obtain an undergraduate degree in urban and regional studies.

Walking in nature

Alexis’s love of nature has informed a lot of her accomplishments on Dearborn’s campus. In 2022, she started working at the Environmental Interpretive Center (EIC) to get involved with their various nature programs. “I have grown to really love my job, the people I work with, and what they have allowed me to accomplish there,” she says.

In an effort to increase campus involvement with the EIC following the pandemic, Alexis had the idea to start doing nature walks for mental health. The idea was overwhelmingly accepted and began with almost immediate success. The walks are open to the public and are a way to bring the community together and provide an outlet for anyone wanting a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

With a desire to offer more free, public programs through the EIC, she expanded the walks to include Military-Affiliated Nature Walks, Art in Nature walks, and Nature Photography Walks. She also created Storytime at the EIC, Kids' Arts and Crafts Workshops, an Art and Photography Showcase, and led the children's gardening program with her co-worker Dale (a previous UM-Dearborn Difference Maker).

“It has really been a fun journey working at the EIC,” she says. “I hope to continue to make a difference. I think that my dad and grandpa would be so proud of me, and that's what keeps me going.”

Transforming communities

Another role Alexis has had on Dearborn’s campus is as a research assistant for sociology professor Dr. Paul Draus. As a part of this role, she joined a research team that consisted of UM-Dearborn alumni, graduate and undergraduate students, and the Detroit non-profit Rescue MI Nature Now (RMNN) to work on a project called Urban Acupuncture — a metaphor that represents small “pinpricks” of change within neighborhoods, providing localized relief. The project utilizes an urban design approach that focuses on community-based solutions that lead to long-lasting changes for disinvested communities.

“This research project exposed me to many opportunities and experiences,” she says. “I have been able to compete in the 2023 Detroit City of Design Challenge, where my team and I presented an idea for an Urban Acupuncture Toolkit, training programs, and neighborhood resiliency strategies.”

Since this event, Alexis has been involved with Rescue MI Nature Now in other ways. Using her minor in applied art she has designed educational signage, finalized an interactive story map version of the Urban Acupuncture Toolkit with resources and inspiration, and even donated over 15 insect hotels to support local pollinators at their site. She also presented the toolkit for the 2023 Detroit GIS Day.

The power of urban planning

Mixing her passions of art and nature, Alexis says that her future career goal is to become an urban planner. “The amazing thing about my degree in Urban and Regional Studies is that it is interdisciplinary,” she says. “I have had the opportunity to explore a wide range of courses and learn different perspectives and my minor in applied art has helped me along the way.”

Alexis was also recently awarded the 2023-2024 Urban and Regional Studies Honors Scholar award.

After her graduation this spring, she will be starting a full-time position as a Community Planner and GIS Specialist for Beckett & Raeder. “I am so excited to begin my newest journey, and to use the skills I have gained while earning my bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Studies,” she says. “The day I graduate, especially after taking three years off of school, will be the best day of my life.”