Leadership Team

Theresa Coleman-Kaiser Read Full Bio

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Theresa Coleman-Kaiser

  • Associate Vice President for Administration
  • MBA, Business Administration, Marylhurst University
  • BBA, Business Administration, University of Iowa

Biography

Theresa A. Coleman-Kaiser has served as Associate Vice President for Administration since 2015 after holding several administrative and operations positions at Michigan Tech since 1999. Coleman-Kaiser currently oversees the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, the Office of Continuous Improvement, Campus Administration and Auxiliary Services, Public Safety and Police Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and the Business Support Center within Administration.

Prior to Michigan Tech, Coleman-Kaiser worked at Grinnell College, St. Norbert College, and the University of Oregon in auxiliary services and student union roles.  Coleman-Kaiser is a Lean practitioner, a campus Lean facilitator. Coleman-Kaiser holds a Lean Bronze Certification and is a Black Belt Senior Lean Facilitator at Michigan Tech. 

Ruth Archer Read Full Bio

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Ruth Archer

  • Director of Continuous Improvement
  • PhD, Business Administration with a specialization in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Northcentral University
  • MBA, St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas
  • BS, Electrical Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Biography

Ruth Archer is the Director of Continuous Improvement at Michigan Technological University, where she manages the continuous improvement activities for the university. Archer is responsible for facilitating improvements that close the gap between current state and the university's strategic goals, fostering the continuous process of people development, and promoting collaborative partnerships and sharing Lean expertise in the state, the nation, and the global community. In addition, she teaches several courses on Lean principles, teamwork, and communication, and serves as the advisor for two student organizations--Leaders in Continuous Improvement and Silver Wings.

Archer holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, an MBA, and a PhD in Business Administration with a specialization in organizational psychology. She is the chairperson for the Americas Division of the Lean Higher Education Global Steering Committee, an examiner for Michigan Performance Excellence (MIPEx), and on the events committee for the Michigan Lean Consortium. Archer is certified in Lean Office and Service through the University of Michigan, Lean Production Systems through the University of Kentucky, and Change Management through Prosci.

Before working at Michigan Tech, Archer served in the United States Air Force, where she held multiple positions, including aircraft master technician and quality maintenance inspector, test equipment designer, aircraft electromagnetic signature collector, radar capability modeler, current and future radar engineer, executive officer, and AFROTC instructor.

Brian Cadwell Read Full Bio

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Brian Cadwell

  • Director and Chief of Public Safety and Police Services
  • AAS, Mechanical Design Engineering Technology, Michigan Technological University
  • U.S. Army Military Police School
  • NMU Regional Police Academy
  • Michigan State University School of Police Staff and Command

Biography

Brian Cadwell has served as Director & Chief of Police since 2016 after serving in various positions with Public Safety and Police Services since 1991.  Cadwell oversees the Department of Public Safety and Police Services, Michigan Tech Emergency Medical Services, serves on the Task Force on Safety and Security and Clery compliance.

Before coming to Michigan Tech, Cadwell served with the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office, Houghton City Police Department and the U.S. Army Military Police Corps.  Prior to his current service as Director and Chief of Police, Cadwell served seven years as Deputy Chief of Police.  Cadwell is a Past-President of the Michigan Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (MACLEA)

About Brian

Outside of his duties with Michigan Tech, Brian has been involved in local government for the past thirty years.  Cadwell has served on the Hancock City Council, including two years as Mayor, the Houghton County Board of Commissioners and is currently serving as the Torch Lake Township Supervisor, a position he has held for the past 15 years.

Erik Crowley

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  • 906-487-2641

Erik Crowley

  • General Manager/Director of Golf
  • PGA Certified - PGA Player Development & Golf Operations
  • TPI Certified - Golf Level 3 & Power Level 2

Biography

Golf is my passion and helping others improve their game to increase player satisfaction is what I find most enjoyable. I joined the PGA as a member in 2013 and have strived to improve my instructional skillset to ensure patrons are given the best opportunity to improve. My mission is to improve golfers through evaluating proper mobility and making beneficial changes based on what a player can physically accomplish, not what a swing is supposed to look like. I am a Level 3 Certified Golf Instructor through the Titleist Performance Institute and most recently earned a Level 2 certification in Power in 2019.

The knowledge I have gained through the Titleist Performance Institute has given me the skills to evaluate player performance and offer improvements based on a process that gives my golfers the best opportunity to develop (and hit it further too!). I look forward to working with anyone looking to improve their game but am equally excited for the many opportunities we will have this summer for group instruction. Be on the lookout and sign up for our weekly clinics, golf schools, and special events!

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John Jaszczak Read Full Bio

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John Jaszczak

  • Professor of Physics
  • Director and John and Phyllis Seaman Endowed Curator, A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum
  • Affiliated Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
  • PhD, Physics, Ohio State University
  • MS, Physics, Ohio State University
  • BS (Highest Honors), Physics, Case Western Reserve University

Research Description

Professor Jaszczak's research interests include theory and computational modeling of materials' properties and the physics single-electron transistor devices. His work also includes studies of the mineralogy of natural graphite; topographic mineralogy, including minerals from the tanzanite gem mines of northern Tanzania; nanotechnology education; and assessment in STEM education.

Gail Kotajarvi-Gerard

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Gail Kotajarvi-Gerard

  • Transportation Operations Manager

Biography

Gail started working as the Transportation Services Operations Manager at Michigan Tech in January 2022. She served as the Transportation Services Manager from 2018-2020.

Transportation Services oversees parking, the shuttle and Husky Motors. Gail's previous experience includes 30 years in retail, 20+ years were in management.

Nicholas Sirdenis

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Nicholas Sirdenis

  • General Manager, Mont Ripley Ski Area

Biography

Nick has a degree in Ski Area Management and has been working in the ski industry for 43 years. He has served as the General Manager of Mont Ripley for 21 years and as the Operations Manager at Blackjack Mountain in Bessemer, MI for 19 years before moving to Houghton. Nick was the longest serving member of the Ski Area Safety Board for the State of Michigan. Nick was appointed by the Governor to his 5th term and had worked under four administrations up until 2020. Nick is also a board member of the Midwest Ski Areas Association and a past President of the Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Ginger Sleeman Read Full Bio

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Ginger Sleeman

  • General Manager, Business Support Center

Biography

Ginger Sleeman became the General Manager of the Business Support Center under Administration in 2018 after serving as the Assistant to the Vice President for Administration. Ginger has been working at Michigan Technological University since 2002 and has served as the Benefits Manager, as well as administrative support for various departments such as Auxiliary Services, Student Affairs, and Human Resources.

Ginger has an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Finlandia University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Michigan Tech.

Prior to coming to work for Michigan Tech, Ginger worked as a receptionist for the Bay Oral Surgery & Implant Center in Green Bay, WI.

Matthew Weekley Read Full Bio

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Matthew Weekley

  • Director of Housing Auxiliary Operations and Residence Education
  • MA College Student Personnel, Bowling Green State University
  • BA Music, Baldwin Wallace College (University)

Biography

Matthew Weekley has had the pleasure of serving in the Residence Life/Student Affairs profession for over 20 years and is presently the Director of Housing Auxiliary Operations and Residence Education here at Michigan Tech since March 2020. Prior to joining the Husky team, Matt has served in Director and Assistant Dean roles at higher education institutions across the US overseeing Residence Life, Title IX, and Student Activities within higher education.

Scott Wendt Read Full Bio

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Scott Wendt

  • Manager of Health and Safety, Environmental Health & Safety
  • BS, Chemistry, Michigan Technological University
  • BS, Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Biography

After graduating from Tech, Scott began his career with Honeywell Industrial Automation and Control in Phoenix, Az before returning to the Copper Country as the Director of Research for Peninsula Copper Industries. For over a decade, Scott served in various PCI leadership capacities as the tiny local copper company grew and expanded into the world’s leading producer of copper salts. Scott has also served with local circuit board manufacturer Calumet Electronics, primarily in Quality and Safety consulting, before accepting a position with the MTU Chemical Engineering department’s Unit Operations teaching team.

In 2018, Scott accepted the position of Health and Safety Manager for the MTU Environmental Health and Safety department.

Scott is an avid Copper Country History hobbyist and serves on several Historical preservation boards and societies.