Dr. Donald G. Saari '62
Donald G. Saari is Professor of Mathematics, Economics and Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University. He earned a bachelor's degree in Mathematics in 1962 from Michigan Tech, followed by a Master's degree in 1964 and a PhD in Mathematics in 1967, both from Purdue University.
Sylvia A. Salahutdin (Matranga) '91
Sylvia graduated from Michigan tech in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and is first in her family to become an Engineer. She is currently the owner of seven LLC’s companies operating under the DBA Little Caesars Pizza franchises.
Rev. Alexander Sample '82, '84
A Michigan Tech alumnus ('82) has become the youngest Catholic bishop in the nation. The Rev. Alexander Sample, 45, is the twelfth bishop of the Diocese of Marquette. The first was the beloved Jesuit priest, Bishop Frederic Baraga, who served from 1853 until his death in 1868.
James L. Sanderson '73
James L. Sanderson, a native of Hanover, Michigan, earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1973 and, while working, obtained an MBA in long term finance from Central Michigan University in 1981. After graduating from Michigan Tech, he began his career at Dow Corning Corporation where he worked for 36 years before retiring in 2009.
Jim enjoyed a diverse career at Dow Corning, working first in process engineering, then in facilities engineering, before moving into manufacturing management. After obtaining his MBA, his career diversified into a variety of functions including human resources, marketing, commercial management, and global business . . .
Raymond Satterley '25
Retired General Manager of Iron Mines and Vice President of several mining subsidiaries after serving 43 years with Inland Steel in Ishpeming, MI; Superintendent, Greenwood Mine; General Superintendent, Iron Ore Mines; General Manager, Iron Ore Mines; Vice President and General Manager of Caland Ore Co. Ltd., Inland’s Canadian Subsidiary; Assigned by International Executive Service Corps to work in Tunisia with a phosphate operator; Director, Society of Mining Engineers; Member, AIME, and awarded to Legion of Honor; President of Michigan Tech’s Alumni Association Board of Directors; McNair Society, Hubbell Society, Michigan Tech Presidents Club; Outstanding record of civic service.
From 1997 Induction to the Geological and . . .
Cynthia Schafer '08
The 2008 graduate has a keen sense of conservation, and, she avows, "I'm going to try to live as long as I can without a car. "A native of Minnesota, Schafer graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering. She loves "the ecological part of engineering."
Teresa M. Schissler-Boichot '98
Teresa Schissler-Boichot took the advantage of a Tech education and achieved a singular career.
She worked for six years as a service representative, engineer, and product analyst at Caterpillar Inc. In 2006 she joined Patten Industries Inc. in Elmhurst, Ill., as product support manager. In 2007, she became vice president and then executive vice president of operations at National Management Resources (NMR) Corp., of LaGrange, Ga.
Harold Schock '79, '74
Dr. Harold Schock received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 1974 and his MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in 1975. He then returned to Michigan Tech and earned his PhD in Engineering Mechanics in 1979. While earning his PhD at Tech, Dr. Schock worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant.
Dr. Schock is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Automotive Research Experiment Station at Michigan State University. In 2002, Dr. Schock was selected as an International Fellow by the Society of Automotive Engineers in recognition of his 20 years of . . .
Kristin Schourek (Raisanen) '03
Kristin Schourek earned a bachelor's degree in Art Education from Wayne State University in 1973 and returned home to Hancock, Michigan, to begin a career as a public school teacher. Throughout her career, she engaged in graduate course work at Michigan Tech and was one of the first three graduate students to receive a master's in Applied Science Education in 2003.
Mitchell Schuh '09
Alumnus Mitchell Schuh is on the sunny side of the street these days--a street that has taken him afar. A native of Kingsford, Schuh works in the construction industry in the city of Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. He has traded Portage Lake for the Persian Gulf, the north woods for the desert, and the Rozsa Center for the Ferrari World Theme Park, which will be the world’s largest and will sport his work: he installs, programs, configures, tests and commissions audio, video and lighting automation systems.
James Schwerin '87
Alums Team up to Engineer a Better Beer
Chas Thompson '91, computer science, had a good reason for becoming a brewer. "I was thirsty," he says, pouring beers from the Schmohz Brewery counter at the recent Grand Rapids alumni tailgate party. Jim Schwerin '87, owner and brewer at Schmohz (pronounced shmoes), had a similar reason. "I couldn’t find a beer I liked," he says.
Laurie Schwerin '87
Alums Team up to Engineer a Better Beer
Chas Thompson '91, computer science, had a good reason for becoming a brewer. "I was thirsty," he says, pouring beers from the Schmohz Brewery counter at the recent Grand Rapids alumni tailgate party. Jim Schwerin '87, owner and brewer at Schmohz (pronounced shmoes), had a similar reason. "I couldn’t find a beer I liked," he says.
Deborah L. See (Maddix) '89
Deb earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computers in 1989. She is currently a project manager at Extreme Technologies in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Extreme Technologies creates and manufactures V.I.O. point of view video cameras.
Adil Shafi '86, '86, '93
Adil Shafi graduated from Michigan Tech in 1986 with a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In 1993, he also received an M.S. degree in Computer Science from Tech. He is president of SHAFI Inc, the company he founded in 1991 in Houghton with $1,000.
Major General Manila G. Shaver '55
Major General Manila G. Shaver was drafted into the army in 1950, volunteered for the airborne and was assigned to the 675th Field Artillery Battalion, 11th Airborne Division. He left the service in 1953 as a Sergeant and resumed his college career. He graduated from Michigan Tech in 1955 and was commissioned in the Field Artillery. After leaving active service, he stayed in the Army Reserves. His last assignment was Commanding General, 88th US Army Reserve Command, Fort Snelling, Minnesota responsible for a three state area.
From 1956 to 1990 Maj. Gen. Shaver held positions with Kimberly Clark, Spencer Kellogg & Sons and 3M . . .
Marvin D. Shepherd '69
Dr. Shepherd earned his B.S. in Biology in 1969 from Michigan Tech followed by a B.S. in Pharmacy from Ferris State University in 1975, a M.S. from the University of Rhode Island in 1978, and a Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1980.
Robert Sherman '44
Michigan Tech alumnus Robert Sherman joined the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. He designed and built equipment used during the test of "the gadget" - the plutonium bomb detonated in 1945 over the New Mexico desert.
"One day, I was at the movies, and a sign appeared on the screen with my name, along with the names of a few other people, saying to report to the commanding officer."
Frederic Sherriff '63
Fred Sherriff earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1963. After graduation he began a 33 year career in the food business as a Project Engineer with General Foods Corporation at Post Cereals in Battle Creek. He has held various positions of leadership in Plant, Division, and Corporate Engineering with what today is known as Kraft Foods, a subsidiary of the Philip Morris Companies.
Sherriff held the positions of Director of Engineering for General Foods, Operations Vice President for the company's Entenmann's subsidiary and the Kraft Frozen Foods Division, and Plant Manager of Post Cereals Plant and Entenmann's Bakery . . .
Gary J. Shiflet '81
Professor
University of Virginia
BS Physics, MS Physics, PhD EMY 1981
Graduated with PhD in 1981 in Metallurgical Engineering (BS & MS in Physics from Michigan Tech also). Currently Professor in Materials Science department at University of Virginia. Named one of Scientific American Magazine’s 2004 “research leaders” for his work in creating amorphous steel.
He and his wife Mary Jean reside in Charlottesville, Virginia.
From 2006 Induction to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering Academy
Mr. Arthur R. Sigel '65
Mr. Arthur R. Sigel received a Chemical Engineering degree from Michigan Tech in 1965. He was a member of Sigma Rho fraternity and was active with the AIChE Student Chapter. Mr. Sigel joined Goodyear in 1965 as a Process Engineer. In 1969, he joined Michigan Chemical Company. In 1973 he relocated to El Dorado, Arkansas to become plant manager of Michigan’s bromine and brominated products facility. By 1979, he returned to Chicago where he became manager of manufacturing for three plants.
Mr. Sigel became Vice President of Velsicol’s specialty chemicals group in 1980; he became President of Velsicol in 1984. Mr. Sigel, and . . .
John J. Simmons '53
A native of Ironwood, Michigan, Mr. Simmons learned the basics of business at the age of ten with two paper routes, and by the age of thirteen he was operating five Sunday paper selling locations. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Michigan Tech in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering. While at Michigan Tech, he was a four-year member and captain of the Michigan Tech boxing team, and was a member of Alpha Sigma Mu and the Tau Beta Pi and Blue Key National Honor Societies. Upon graduation, Mr. Simmons worked in the iron ore industry in Minnesota for . . .
Thomas C. Simonen '60,
Following graduation Tom Simonen went on to receive a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. After appointments at Hughes Aircraft, Max Planck Institute in Munich, and Princeton University, he joined the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 18 years as a physicist and became program leader for magnetic fusion experiments. For the past 12 years he has been Director of the DIII-D National Fusion Program, the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest fusion facility with over 50 collaborating laboratories and universities. Dr. Simonen has published extensively in the field nuclear fusion energy, served on numerous national and international physics committees, and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
Moussa Sissoko '04
Selected as a Modern-Day Technology Leader in the 22nd Annual Black Engineer of the Year Award, he received the award in Baltimore this February. Modern-Day Technology Leaders are people of color who are shaping the future of engineering, science, and technology through outstanding performance and achievements that merit national recognition.
Dr. Susan E. Skochelak '77
Dr. Skochelak graduated from Michigan Tech with a B.S. degree in Medical Technology in 1975 and a M.S. degree in Biology in 1977. Graduate work at the Medical School of the University of Michigan (M.D., 1981) and as Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at the University of North Carolina (M.P.H., 1986) prepared her for a very distinguished career in the field of primary care medical programs.
She is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School and serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Her many honors include the 1997 Patient Care Magazine . . .
Thomas J. Smegal '57
Mr. Smegal received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from what was then the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in 1957, and graduated Cum Laude with a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School in 1961. A specialist in providing expert witness testimony in intellectual property disputes, Mr. Smegal has been a frequent lecturer on intellectual property law and litigation at the Center for American and International Law and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, as well as in educational seminars sponsored by the state and national intellectual property law associations. Mr. Smegal was a partner in the . . .
Richard R. Smith '51, '50, '49
Richard Smith earned a BS in Mining Engineering in 1949, a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1950, and a MS in Mining Engineering in 1951 from the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. He is also a graduate of the executive program of Sloan Management School at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 1951, Richard began his career as a metallurgist with the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. In 1959, he joined Hanna Mining Company, which began a distinguished 27-year career. At Hanna Mining, he served in many capacities including Plant Superintendent of the Groveland Mine, General Superintendent of National Taconite, Vice President of Technical . . .
Darrell W. Smith '59
Retired
Michigan Technological University
Materials Science and Engineering
BS 1959, MS Metallurgy 1965, PhD Metallurgy 1969
Darrell graduated from Michigan Tech with his undergraduate degree in 1959. He then moved on to Case Western Reserve University, graduating with a M.S. degree in Metallurgy in 1965, and a PhD in Metallurgy in 1969.
He worked as a senior research metallurgist at General Electric Co. located in Cleveland, OH, until beginning his professorial tenure at Michigan Tech in 1970. Became nationally recognized for his work in the powder metallurgy field.
Darrell retired in June of 1999 and was granted emeritus status in the fall of that year. Resides at his home on Half Moon Beach Road in . . .
Rebecca L. Smits '86
After graduation, Becky began her career as a Geological Engineer with EC Jordan Company in Portland, Maine where she was responsible for subsurface exploration, design, testing, and construction of geotechnical projects. In 1988, she moved to Traverse Group, Inc. in Traverse City, Michigan as a Field Engineering Supervisor of hydrogeological projects at oil and gas well sites, gas stations, the Traverse City U.S. Coast Guard Station, and a U.S. E.P.A. biorestoration project. A year later she became Project Engineer with Otwell Mawby, PC in Traverse City, Michigan. As Project Engineer, she was responsible for remedial investigations and feasibility studies, preparing . . .
Dr. Matthew Songer (M.D.) '79
Dr. Matthew N. Songer has distinguished himself as both an orthopedic spine surgeon and an entrepreneur. Songer earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Michigan Tech in 1979; a doctor of medicine from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1983, where he also completed his orthopedic residency in 1988; and a spinal surgery fellowship at Northwestern University in 1989.
Jon A. Soper '57,
Upon receiving his Baccalaureate degree in Electrical Engineering at Michigan Tech in 1957, Jon took a position as an instructor of electrical engineering until completing his Masters Degree in 1960. He was then promoted to Assistant Professor, and taught for two more years before joining Raytheon Mfg. Co. as a computer design engineer. He enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1964, completing his Ph.D. with a specialization in Electromagnetics and Antennas in 1969. Jon then returned to Michigan Tech serving in many positions with the department, including several years as Department Head and Chairman. For three years prior to his retirement in May of 2001, Professor Soper served as the department’s first Coordinator for Senior Design.
James Sorenson '61, '60
Jim Sorenson earned a B.S. with honor in Mechanical Engineering in 1960 and a M.S. in Engineering Mechanics in 1961, both from Michigan Tech. Following graduation, he joined the staff of Battelle Memorial Institute as a research engineer and spent his career with the organization. After six years with the organization he was promoted to engineering management.
Sorenson held the titles of Section Manager, Manager of the Structures and Mechanics Department, and Manager of the Engineering and Manufacturing Department. In 1988 he was transferred to their corporate offices in Germany as the Deputy General Manager of Battelle Europe. He retired in 1994 as a . . .
Birgit L. Sorgenfrei (Kuschnerus) '91
Birgit L. Sorgenfrei is currently in Stuttgart, Germany, where she is program manager for Ford Motor Company’s start-stop technology, which boosts fuel economies by stopping engine systems when a vehicle is at a standstill. She began with Ford in 1994, after internships with General Motors, GE-Medical Systems, IBM, Schlumberger, and the University of Hanover. At Ford she started in the Scientific Research Laboratories and then moved to Visteon Automotive Systems, then on to the Lincoln Mercury Business Office. Her research for the automaker has been in the areas of sensors for electrical power assist steering systems, component and system radio . . .
John Soyring '76, '06
John Soyring provided global business leadership for the industry solutions & industry products portion of IBM's global software business. This role included functional leadership for strategy, research & development, marketing & sales, business development, product support, and services related to the IBM offerings for all industries. He was also the co-leader of the Alliance of IBM Software Group and IBM Global Business Services Group. John was a member of the IBM Industry Academy Advisory Board, the IBM Eco-Efficiency & Sustainability Executive Board, and the IBM “Banking the Unbanked” Executive Board.
Dennis Staley '57
Dennis Staley '57 was the first in his family to attend college. He chose Michigan Tech, and he's never regretted the decision.
This man of few words sums up his Tech education as excellent, his guiding philosophy as honesty, and the key to his success being hard work.
Ron Staley '77, '80
Ronald Staley, who earned an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology in 1977 and a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1980, has high praise for Michigan Tech.
“I learned how to study hard,” he recalls, “and I remember working hard. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Michigan Tech.”
Dr. Laurence G. Stevens '58
Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry, Wayne State University - distinguished career in corporate America - retired vice president and chairman of executive committee of Indium Corporation of America - nine patents.
Mike Stewart '94
Mike Stewart '94 and a resourceful six-man crew have won the 2010 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, beating the big guys and bringing honor and glory to their hometown on Lake Michigan's eastern shore. Muskegon is a perfectly respectable town with a perfectly respectable harbor. Yet no member of the Muskegon Yacht Club had ever won the longest annual freshwater sailing race in the world, which just happens to take place in their backyard.
James B. Stone '40
Jim Stone earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, with honor, from Michigan Tech in 1940 and made his career with the General Foods Corporation. He later attended the Advanced Management Training Program of the Harvard Graduate Business School. He started as a student engineer in the Post Division, Battle Creek.
In 1960, he began work in Jell-O operations and in the Post division where he rose through various positions before being elected a vice president of General Foods Corp. and vice president-corporate engineering in 1967. He retired in 1982 as president of Pacific Operations and vice president of General Foods Corporation.
He was awarded a Board . . .
John E. Stromp '78
John Stromp earned his BSEE degree with honors in 1978, with a focus of studies in Electronics and Communications. John began his career with Marathon Electric as a Sales Engineer. In 1982, John took the position of Senior Sales Representative with Memorex Telex Corporation in Dallas, Texas. He advanced through several positions, ultimately becoming Director of Government Sales, in Overland, Kansas. In 1996, John joined Compaq Computer Company/Tandem Computer and in 2002 John became Global Alliance Manager – EDS with Mercury Interactive, in Dallas, Texas. In February of 2004, John became Alliance Director with IONA Technologies. While at Tech, John was very active, serving as President of Student Council, Member of the Board of Publications and President of his sophomore class.
John R. Sturgul '61
Dr. John Sturgul graduated from Michigan Tech with a B.S. in Mining Engineering in 1961. He also received an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Arizona followed by a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from the University of Illinois.
John has held faculty appointments at the University of Arizona, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology where he was Head of the Mining Engineering Department, and the University of South Australia in Adelaide where he was Head of the Mining Engineering Department. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Metallurgy and Mining Engineering at the University of Idaho. John is recognized . . .
Martha N. Sullivan '80
Martha N. Sullivan earned a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1980 from Michigan Tech and completed studies toward a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Michigan. She started her career at Texas Instruments (TI) in 1984. In 1986 she was named District Manager of Texas Instrument’s Control Products Division in Farmington Hills, MI, and in 1987 was named Field Sales manager for the Division. From 1998-2001 she held the position of Vice President , Sensors & Controls Business at Texas Instruments Inc., headquartered in Attleboro, MA. She also assumed the position of President, Sensor Acquisition Corporation in 1999 . . .
Karen A. Swager (Mikkola) '92
Karen Swager graduated in 1992 from Michigan Tech with a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. She went on to earn a master’s degree in 1994. She started her career in 1994 as a Plant Metallurgist and Shift Supervisor in the fertilizer division of Cargill Corporation. Over the next ten years she held several supervisory and managerial positions at Cargill. In 2004, Cargill Crop Nutrition and IMC Phosphates merged to form Mosaic Company. At the time of the merger, Karen was an Engineering Manager, responsible for four phosphate mining operations, including management of a $38 million budget.
George W. Swenson Jr. P.E. '44,
Dr. Swenson held faculty positions at Washington University, the University of Alaska, and Michigan State University before joining the University of Illinois in 1956. George served as Director of the Vermilion River Observatory and Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering before retiring from the Illinois faculty in 1988. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and, in 1984, was awarded the Distinguished Service Citation by the University of Wisconsin College of Engineering.
Paul Swift '33
Paul Swift earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1933 and attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business & Engineering. After nine years of working as a corporate industrial engineer for Carnegie Steel and F.V. Gardner, he returned home to Houghton to join the family hardware business. He worked as a partner in the I.E. Swift Company, with his father and uncle, and then became sole owner in 1968.
Swift has earned a number of awards and served on many local boards, including the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan State Chamber of Commerce, and the Michigan Retail Hardware . . .
Richard W. Swinehart '31
Distinguished 40 year career in research and manufacturing at DOW Chemical Company - chief recruiter for DOW at Michigan Tech during the 1950's and 1960's - several patents - in charge of plant construction in Scotland and Japan.
Eva Szyszkoski '06
When she graduated from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, Eva Szyszkoski had never seen a whooping crane. Now, as tracking field manager for the International Crane Foundation (ICF), she migrates with the big white birds each year from southern Wisconsin to Florida and back to Wisconsin, monitoring and tracking the Eastern Migratory Population on its semi-annual trek.