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Meet Our Staff

Les Cook

Les Cook

  • Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Cognitive and Learning Sciences
William Roberts

William Roberts

  • Associate Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement
Eric Halonen

Eric Halonen

  • Assistant Vice President for Advancement
  • Vice President, Michigan Tech Fund

Specialties

  • Oversee Advancement Officers team 
  • Advancement liaison for Graduate School, Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Karla Aho

Karla Aho

  • Director for Gift Planning

Specialties

  • Engage alumni and friends in furthering Michigan Tech's mission and programs through financial support and other activities
Carol Argentati

Carol Argentati

  • Administrative Assistant for Advancement
Cindy Asiala

Cindy Asiala

  • Gift Processor

Specialties

  • Gift processing
  • Biographical data management
Samantha Auger

Samantha Auger

  • Research Analyst
Jennifer Biekkola

Jennifer Biekkola

  • Director of Annual Giving
Brent Burns

Brent Burns

  • Director of Federal and Industry Relations

Specialties

  • Leads the activities of the Industry Relations team through the Office of Innovation and Industry Engagement
  • Directs strategies for greater engagement and support between industry partners and University stakeholders
Laurie Buschell

Laurie Buschell

  • Gift Processor

Specialties

  • Gift processing
  • Biographical data management
Gisele Colarossi

Gisele Colarossi

  • Director, Michigan Tech Fund Accounting

Specialties

  • Pledge receivable administration
  • Supervision of gift processing
  • Supervision of biographical data management
  • Investment accounting
Jim Desrochers

Jim Desrochers

  • Associate Director of Industry Relations

Specialties

  • Solicit and secure partnerships and funding with corporate employers of Michigan Tech students
  • Initiate and maintain relationships with corporate representatives on behalf of Industry Relations
  • Collaborate with University administrators in the stewardship of corporate gift programs and proposals
Lorrie Graff

Lorrie Graff

  • Annual Giving Program Assistant

Specialties

  • Matching Gift Program
  • Donor Recognition Clubs and Societies
Brian Hannon

Brian Hannon

  • Assistant Director of Industry Sponsored Programs

Specialties

  • Leads opportunity engagement with industry partners for sponsored programs at the University, including Clean Snowmobile Challenge and Mind Trekkers
  • Develops external prospects for Keweenaw Research Center research and testing
  • Identifies industrial support for sponsored research
Jackie Heikkinen

Jackie Heikkinen

  • Office Assistant
  • Michigan Tech Fund

Specialties

  • Process and deposit gifts
  • Administrative support
Elizabeth Hoy

Elizabeth Hoy

  • Assistant Director, Business & Program Development
  • Great Lakes Research Center

Specialties

  • Facilitates partnerships that support Institute growth
  • Directs the development and distribution of outreach material to external partners
  • Oversees administrative operations
Adam Johnson

Adam Johnson

  • Senior Advancement Officer
  • 906-487-1087
  • Cell: 906-281-6983
  • adam@mtu.edu
  • Huntington Bank Building 610

Specialties

  • Directs the development of sustainable funding models for University programs that provide benefit to the University and industry partners
  • Leads development of initiatives to increase industrial funding for institutes, centers, and strategic programs at the University
Karen Johnson

Karen Johnson

  • Office Assistant

Specialties

  • Coordinate advancement travel along with personalized pre- and post-visit correspondence and activity for the Assistant Vice-President of Advancement.

  • Provide administrative support for the Office of Advancement.

     
Dale Kero

Dale Kero

  • Senior Advancement Officer

Specialties

  • Oversee University fundraising activity
  • Advancement liaison for College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering
Marney Kloote

Marney Kloote

  • Donor Relations Officer
Mary Beth Knuuttila

Mary Beth Knuuttila

  • Office Assistant—Advancement Research

Specialties

  • Conduct biographical and financial research on donors and prospects

  •  Create concise, accurate and timely research products using biographical information, financial data, news, philanthropic history, and internal files/information

  • Support and provide research of frontline fundraisers and campus units

Shannon Meller

Shannon Meller

  • Coordinator, Operations & Industry Outreach

Specialties

  • Lead Salesforce software user interactions and system interfaces
  • Develop and lead the coordination of industry campus visits
  • Manage industry stewardship development
  • Maintain customer relationship management system
  • Lead and support Industry Relations & Research Development staff on a variety of projects/initiatives
Ben Larson

Ben Larson

  • Senior Advancement Officer

Specialties

  • Engage alumni and friends in furthering Michigan Tech’s mission and programs through financial support and other activities
  • Advancement liaison for College of Sciences and Arts, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Humanities, ROTC, Social Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts
Sue Mello

Sue Mello

  • Financial Assistant—Michigan Tech Fund

Specialties

  • Accounts Payable
Suzanne Morin

Suzanne Morin

  • Executive Director of Financial Services & Operations and Controller
  • Controller's Office
Paula Nutini

Paula Nutini

  • Director of Stewardship and Annual Giving

Specialties

  • Coordinate all donor and alumni campus visits
  • Manage lifetime giving societies and clubs
  • Direct student thank you note programs
  • Oversee the Presidential Council of Alumnae
  • Direct all annual giving efforts including the campus campaign, and designated philanthropy days
Mike Olson

Mike Olson

  • Manager for Advancement Research

Specialties

  • Research, analyze and summarize biographical information regarding alumni and friends of the University
  • Foundation research: analyze and match foundation interests to university needs
  • Corporation and company research
Adam Portmann

Adam Portmann

  • Campaigns Manager
Heather Sander

Heather Sander

  • Operations Manager
Carol Sickler

Carol Sickler

  • Office Assistant/Gift Processor

Specialties

  • Gift processing
  • Biographical data management
Jacque Smith

Jacque Smith

  • Director of Graduate Enrollment Services

Links of Interest

Specialties

  • Recruits graduate students
  • Develops advancement initiatives and marketing strategies
  • Facilitates alumni relations
Darcy Way

Darcy Way

  • Senior Advancement Officer

Specialties

  • Engage alumni and friends in furthering Michigan Tech’s mission and programs through financial support and other activities
Bryant Weathers

Bryant Weathers

  • Advancement Officer
Sarah Williams

Sarah Williams

  • Advancement and Alumni Marketing Manager

Specialties

  • Manage marketing communications for Advancement and Alumni Engagement
  • Write, edit, and develop content for marketing communications including newsletters, brochures, websites, electronic publications, and social media
  • Develop and write alumni and donor stories for publication
Lorraine Young

Lorraine L. Young

  • Coordinator for Gift Planning Administration
  • Lean Facilitator