May 1, 2025

As Michigan Tech’s campus community enjoys the end of the academic year, we want to provide a short update on Tech Forward 2.0.

Thank you to everyone who participated in three very productive campus conversations held this spring, which served as ideation sessions for directions that the Tech Forward 2.0 initiatives might encompass. These sessions yielded over 900 Post-it notes with ideas that, along with votes assigned to different ideas, are now captured in a database. To those who attended and those who provided feedback through the online portal, know that your voice has been heard and we greatly value your contributions!

As we analyze the topics that emerged from these conversations, there are several that clearly generate significant interest and also represent some of the University’s institutional strengths. These include broad themes, such as advanced materials, computing, energy, health, security, and sustainability, as well as some topics that transcend multiple themes. These transcendent topics — including artificial intelligence, rural community development, and how we share the outcomes of our work while understanding the impacts on society — will serve as threads to link their various themes.

Our next task is to organize these themes into core initiative areas around which a series of campus conversations will be hosted in the fall. These conversations will each focus on one initiative area and lead to the development of strategic plans that describe proposed activities, measures of success, and resource needs. Our goal for each strategic plan is to integrate its specific initiative area with cross-cutting threads linking multiple initiatives. Once finalized, the strategic plans will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees.

This is an exciting time. As we wrap up the Tech Forward 1.0 initiatives, we are also envisioning the next iteration of initiatives that will lead Michigan Tech forward. The Tech Forward 2.0 initiatives are part of our commitment to be “True to Tech.” They will reflect who we are, what we do, and where we aspire to be.

We look forward to the campus community’s continued involvement in this work.

Please note that construction is taking place in the R. L. Smith Building (the MEEM) over the summer.

The building's lecture halls are being renovated. Furniture removal began this week, starting Monday, April 28, and abatement will begin on Monday, May 5, with construction activities to follow. Additionally, the entire 11th floor is closed for the summer for construction. We anticipate these renovations will be completed the week of Aug. 17.

Please remember to be alert, follow all posted signage, and use caution when walking around and near construction areas.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact facilities@mtu.edu. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve the learning spaces on campus.

Two Michigan Tech students, Josephine Thomson and Zachary Zurschmiede, have been awarded the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad. The Gilman Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship available to Pell Grant-eligible students participating in study or intern abroad programs to support them in gaining professional skills, language abilities and knowledge of the world needed for successful careers.

Josephine Thomson — Destination: Perth, Australia
Thomson, a senior biological sciences major and alumna of MTU’s Tropical Island Biology spring break program to the Bahamas led by Professor Casey Huckins (BioSci), will be participating in the Education Abroad Network’s Tropical Marine Biology in Australia program at Murdoch University in Perth this summer. In this month-long program, students will cover the diversity and physical processes of Western Australia’s marine habitats, focus on coral reef environments and the biodiversity of reef organisms, and study biological processes, with a focus on coral reef ecosystems.

“Australia’s marine ecosystems are among the most diverse and dynamic in the world, and Ningaloo Reef serves as an extraordinary living lab for studying tropical marine biology,” said Thomson. “Australia’s commitment to conservation, coupled with its integration of Indigenous ecological knowledge, creates an educational environment that is both innovative and deeply rooted in respectful practices.”

Zachary Zurschmiede — Destination: Wales
Zurschmiede, a social sciences major who recently completed his first year at MTU, will participate in the Department of Social Sciences’ faculty-led program to Wales this summer. Led by Assistant Professor Mark Rhodes and Assistant Teaching Professor Kathryn Hannum (both SS), the Community Transformations in Wales program is an opportunity for students to earn credit while learning about unique expressions of cultural, community and economic change, and working with industrial communities and heritage institutions.

“I chose the Wales program because it offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with communities undergoing cultural and environmental transformation,” said Zurschmiede. “As someone passionate about environmental justice and social research, I’m especially excited to learn from Wales’ unique geography, heritage institutions, and community-based approaches. I’m looking forward to deepening my understanding of place, identity, and resource use through immersive, hands-on experiences.”

Students wanting to learn more about studying away should visit Michigan Tech’s Study Away and Abroad Experiences website to browse available programs and schedule an appointment to discuss program opportunities that align with their academic and experiential learning goals.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. At Michigan Tech, your mental health and well-being are very important to us. If you or a family member is experiencing stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, we have resources for relief.

As part of your employee benefits package, Michigan Tech provides free, confidential access to ESI EAP, an excellent employee assistance program. You or an eligible family member can call and receive in-the-moment counseling and support at any time: 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You don’t need to ask for permission or get anyone’s OK — simply call 800-252-4555.

You can also access a vast array of self-help tools and resources, including mental health assessments, through the Higher Ed EAP website. Higher Ed EAP is a division of ESI EAP, and you can log in to the site using your ESI account.

Your EAP has also developed a May Mental Health Awareness Month Resources 2025 flyer (PDF) to point you to many of its available mental health tools and resources. The flyer includes information on four live webinars that you can attend throughout the month on mental health topics. Be sure to check out the flyer to learn more about how to attend the following sessions:

• What Are My Emotions Telling Me? (Talkspace)
  Friday, May 2, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET
  Register for the May 2 Session

• Self-care for Stress Resilience
  Wednesday, May 14, from 12:30-1 p.m. ET
  Register for the May 14 Session

• Improving Mental Health Through Self-care
  Wednesday May 21, from 12:30-1 p.m. ET
  Register for the May 21 Session

• Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
  Wednesday, May 28, from 12:30-1 p.m. ET
  Register for the May 28 Session

For simple daily practices to improve your mental well-being, please also try these activities:

• Daily Practices to Improve your Well-being (PDF)
• May Mindful Moments Calendar (PDF)

Save the Date: On May 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., join Parth Bhatt, assistant teaching and research professor in Michigan Tech’s College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and members of the Michigan Tech Global Campus team for a brief Zoom webinar that unpacks the details of the online Geographic Information Science (GIS) program offered by CFRES.

Learn about the online GIS program’s stackable graduate certificates, which equip you with in-demand geospatial skills and a programming toolkit for the complex challenges of managing natural resources, assessing environmental risks, planning urban and rural spaces, and more. Advisors will also be on hand to discuss admissions requirements and the application process.

Bring your curiosity, your questions, and, if you like, a friend!

Event Details:

• What: Virtual Interest Session for MTU’s Online GIS Program
• When: Thursday, May 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET
• Where: Online via Zoom (register to receive the Zoom link)
• Registration: Register to attend the Online GIS Program Interest Session.

Financial Services and Operations (FSO) has posted the 2025 Fiscal Year-End Closing Schedule on our website. The schedule is located on the Controller's Office webpage under the "Closing Schedules" subheading.

The fiscal year-end closing schedule lists important deadlines and should be distributed to the appropriate employees.

Join performance artists and poets Petra Kuppers and Stephanie Heit for a gentle engagement: a Crip Drift with Mineral Specimens in the A. E. Mineral Museum on Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

A crip drift is a community performance that explores methods for moving through the world as disabled people who live with pain. The event is free to attend and admission to the museum will be free all day. We hope to see you here!

Kuppers is a German disability culture activist, community performance artist and professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Heit is a disabled poet, dancer and teacher, and co-directs Turtle Disco, a somatic writing space on Anishinaabe territory in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

The Community Breastfeeding Collaborative invites the Michigan Tech community to take part in two upcoming listening sessions focused on better understanding the breastfeeding needs of our local communities. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, support person or community advocate, we welcome your voice. Your insights will help shape future programs and support systems.

These sessions are free to attend. Refreshments will be provided. No registration is required.

• Session 1: Saturday, May 3, from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
  Location: Keweenaw Community Foundation on the third floor of the Hancock Community Hub, 417 Quincy St., Hancock.
  
  • 9:30 a.m. Doors open
  • 10-11 a.m. Listening Session
  • 11-11:30 a.m. Networking
    
    
• Session 2: Saturday, May 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  Location: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Library, 409 S. Superior Ave., Baraga.
  • 11 a.m. Doors open
  • 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Listening Session
  • 12:30-1 p.m. Networking

Anyone unable to attend is invited to share feedback through our anonymous survey.

Job Postings for Thursday, May 1, 2025

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Custodian #25099 and #25102 (first shift, 40 hours, two positions available), Facilities Management (AFSCME posting dates May 1 to May 7, 2025 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). Apply online.

Cook #25106 (first shift, 12 months), Dining Services (AFSCME posting dates May 1 to May 7, 2025 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). Apply online.

Administrative Aide I #25107 (12 months, 40 hours), Human Resources (UAW posting dates May 1 to May 7, 2025 — external applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.

Yesterday, April 30, Manish Srivastava, professor of strategy and innovation in the College of Business, presented a virtual research seminar at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) via Zoom.

The seminar was titled “Alliances vs. Acquisitions: A Knowledge Recombination Perspective on Strategic Choices and Performance Implications.”

Srivastava’s study investigated how the similarity of firms’ knowledge bases — distinguishing between architectural knowledge (the way components interact) and domain knowledge (specialized expertise) — shapes their preference for alliances or acquisitions.

The study found that alliances are the superior mode for acquiring and reconfiguring architectural knowledge, while acquisitions more effectively drive growth in domain specific capabilities. These insights offer managers clear guidance on aligning their governance mode with the firm’s learning objectives.

Women We Admire mentioned Michigan Tech alum Lisa Lindberg ’98 (B.S. Chemical Engineering B.S. Biological Sciences) in a story profiling the top 50 women leaders of Sacramento, California, for 2025.

Parade of Nations Returning Sept. 20

Michigan Tech and the Parade of Nations Planning Committee are excited to announce the return of the annual Parade of Nations on Sept. 20.

The Parade of Nations is a longstanding tradition in the Keweenaw that showcases the region’s rich cultural representation and commitment to global unity. This year’s theme, “Games Around the World,” invites the community to celebrate the joy, unity and cultural richness of play and sport across continents.

The event will begin with a vibrant parade through downtown Houghton featuring colorful floats, cultural attire and flags representing the more than 50 nations that Michigan Tech students and community members call home.

Following the parade, the festivities continue at Dee Stadium in Houghton with the Multicultural Festival, where attendees can enjoy international cuisine, live performances, vendors and kids activities.

The Parade of Nations is free and open to the public. Local businesses and MTU student organizations are encouraged to participate in the parade or as vendors at the Multicultural Festival.

Registration details, sponsorship opportunities and volunteer sign-up information found at the Parade of Nations page.

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MTU Community Invited to CyberAmbassadors/Engineering Futures Professional Development Sessions

Michigan Tech's chapter of Tau Beta Pi: The Engineering Honor Society is inviting the entire MTU community to participate in the CyberAmbassadors/Engineering Futures program this summer to enhance their skills in communication, leadership and teamwork.

Tau Beta Pi's national Engineering Futures program has partnered with the CyberAmbassadors Project to present virtual professional development training sessions through Zoom in May and June.

CyberAmbassadors is a National Science Foundation-funded project that provides professional development training to STEM college students and professionals. The project is internationally recognized by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and has trained over 17,300 people so far. The project's co-principal investigators have since been inducted into the ASEE Hall of Fame for their work in the project.

The training sessions are highly interactive and will take place in three-hour Zoom sessions. Each session will be offered twice.

• Communication Sessions:
  – Tuesday, May 13, from 1-4 p.m. ET
  – Tuesday, June 3, from 1-4 p.m. ET

• Teamwork Sessions:
  – Friday, May 16, from 1-4 p.m. ET
  – Tuesday, June 10, from 1-4 p.m. ET

• Leadership Sessions:
  – Monday, May 19, from 1-4 p.m. ET
  – Tuesday, June 17, from 1-4 p.m. ET

These sessions are free and available to all students and professionals, including non-engineering majors. Fill out the registration form to participate. Everyone who attends a session on each topic will receive a certificate for completing the entire curriculum.

For more information on the honor society, visit the Tau Beta Pi website and Michigan Beta chapter website. For more information on the CyberAmbassadors, visit the official CyberAmbassadors Project website.

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Support Michigan Tech's 36th Annual Parade of Nations

Dear Michigan Tech Colleagues,

The Parade of Nations Planning Committee is excited to announce that the 36th Annual Parade of Nations will take place on Sept. 20! This year’s theme, “Games Around the World,” will spotlight the shared joy of play across cultures and celebrate the vibrancy of our international community.

The event will feature our iconic multicultural parade, global cuisine and a variety of cultural performances illustrating the multiple heritages reflected by our students and in our community. Flags from over 80 countries will be represented, and we expect thousands of attendees from across our region.

To make this event as impactful as ever, we’re asking for your department’s support. Your contribution helps us showcase the Keweenaw’s rich cultural representation that strengthens our University and aligns with our commitment to creating a more unified campus experience.

If your department is able to contribute, please use our Parade of Nations account number: D96104. Your support will be recognized and appreciated throughout the event.

If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to reach out to International Programs and Services at 906-487-2160 or to IPS Director Christian Montesinos at cmontesi@mtu.edu.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support one of Michigan Tech’s most beloved traditions.

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

Track & Field at GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Thursday, May 1, 12–3 a.m. | Allendale, Mich.

Track & Field at GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships Allendale, Mich.

PhD Defense: Oluwatosin Ayo

Thursday, May 1, 10–11 a.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 875

Civil Engineering Advisor: Jae Sung Kim Analysis of Lava Flow Paths Using Remote Sensing and Geomorphological Techniques