ALUMNUS AND FORMER MAYOR TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD
Like a true Spartan, former East Lansing mayor and History (’94) alumnus Sam Singh is making people green – with envy. In January, he embarked on a 16-month journey around the world, planning to visit 25 countries on all seven continents.
Singh has served on the East Lansing City Council, as the Director of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, and as the Mayor of East Lansing. After years of dreaming about his worldlist – the places, events, and sites he wants to see in his lifetime – he left his adopted hometown of East Lansing, said goodbye to his dog Cob, and began fulfilling his travel dreams.
During his travels, Singh dedicates time for his other passions — volunteerism, nonprofit organizations, and civic involvement. “I am hoping to have a better understanding of the issues facing the international community through travel, conversation, conferences, and volunteering.”
Singh has already checked these experiences off his worldlist: celebrating the Junkanoo Festival in the Bahamas, running a half marathon in Antarctica, trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, watching the Grand Prix in Monaco, and running with the bulls in Spain. In Russia, he danced at a friend’s wedding; in Panama, he spoke at the International Association of Voluntary Efforts conference; in Morocco, he attended the World Sacred Music Festival; and in Costa Rica and Romania, he participated in Habitat for Humanity builds.
MSU created a desire in Singh to see all of places he read about as he studied Asian history and religious studies, stoking a passion for travel that had been started by his parents. “I am alive when I travel. Being in a new country, learning about another culture, and being out of my comfort zone are incredible challenges and an amazing thrill.”
His history degree influenced his political career. Singh remembers learning about historical figures who acted upon strong values: “The writings of Robert Kennedy motivated me to fight for things that weren’t always popular. I remember class conversations about the decisions that Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt made. We discussed whether they were the right decisions for the long term or just the short term, and how their personal experiences were weaved 
into those decisions.”
Singh’s connections to MSU and the College of Social Science extend beyond his History degree and have had an effect on his itinerary. As a student, Singh helped create MSU’s Into the Streets, a student organization dedicated to community service. After graduation, Singh completed the Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) and served as an advisory board member for this nonprofit organization supported by the College of Social Science. The MPLP recruits, trains, and inspires tomorrow’s public policy leaders.
During his current trip, Singh traveled to Nigeria as part of an MSU delegation led by the College of Social Science’s Center for Advanced Study of International Development (CASID). The group visited the cities of Abuja and Jos to conduct a series of site visits and present a daylong seminar on local government and NGO (nonprofit) best practices. Singh sees “strength in the assets that MSU can provide to countries around the world.” His trip has widened Singh’s understanding of global issues and has him thinking about what he can do to continue to have an impact on these issues after he returns from his trip.
If you need tips for embarking on your own epic journey or want to live vicariously, read Sam Singh’s travel blog at www.singharoundtheworld.com.
