The ADVANCE Initiative

Advocates Team

The Advocates Team is a group of majority men individuals in positions of influence at Michigan Tech who have committed to a) continuously learning, b) using that knowledge to educate their majority men colleagues to be allies of women, minorities, and gender diverse individuals, c) advocating with their women, minorities, and gender diverse colleagues, and d) advocating for policies and practices that move Michigan Tech culture to achieve equity for all.

When advocating for policies and practices, the goal is that the A3B and Advocates will work closely together with the goal that well-intentioned ideas translate into policies and practices that most effectively achieve the goals of equity.

Co-Chairs

Robert Handler

Robert Handler

  • Senior Research Engineer, Chemical Engineering
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
  • Faculty Advisor, Green Campus Enterprise
Yoke Khin Yap

Yoke Khin Yap

  • University Professor
  • Professor of Physics, Director of Applied Physics Graduate Program
  • Osaka University Global Alumni Fellow, MTU Faculty Fellow
  • ykyap@mtu.edu
  • 906-487-2900
  • Office: Fisher 219, Labs: Fisher B013, B009, B031, B034

Team Members

David Flaspohler

David Flaspohler

  • Interim Dean & Professor
  • Director of Undergraduate Programs
Timothy Havens

Timothy Havens

  • Director, Great Lakes Research Center
  • Director, Institute of Computing and Cybersystems
  • William and Gloria Jackson Professor
Dany Jacob

Dany Jacob

  • Associate Teaching Professor, French and Gender Studies
Mike Olson

Mike Olson

  • Associate Director for Strategy and Market Development
Roman Sidortsov

Roman Sidortsov

  • Associate Professor, Energy Policy