CEW+ commends Lora’s persistence in her education and her commitment to sustainability and names her an Irma M. Wyman Scholar.

Lora Kralik is pursuing a master’s degree in sustainable systems at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. After supporting herself through college and earning her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from Ferris State University, Lora launched her career at a small environmental laboratory. She went on to Ford Motor Company, where she has worked for the past decade; she is particularly proud of her role in reducing vehicle emissions.

Recently, changes in automotive technology pushed Lora to do something she always wanted to do: continue her education. With this commitment, Lora will be the first person in her family to achieve a higher-level degree. She plans to use her degree and past work experience to pursue future research in sustainable systems and especially hopes to help find a safe, humanitarian way to achieve clean energy with minimal or synergistic land use. Already, she is recognized for her “incredibly valuable” contributions at U-M.

Beyond her studies, Lora is a highly committed community member, mother, and foster parent. She has served as a public education officer in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, a High School Science and Technology Program mentor, and a member of the Ford Hispanic Network (FHN). As part of the FHN, Lora has helped to conduct diversity research and volunteers as a mentor to Latinx high school students, helping them navigate issues, prepare for college, and discuss career goals. She is committed to giving back to her community and hopes to pay it forward through her giving in the future.

CEW+ commends Lora’s persistence in her education and her commitment to sustainability and names her an Irma M. Wyman Scholar.