Recap the happenings from Alumni Reunion 2024. Learn more about last year's alumni award winners and Alumni Board of Directors. And, mark your calendars for Alumni Reunion 2025 — all in our 2025 Michigan Tech Magazine.
The International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) has elected Noel Urban (CEGE) as vice president and Pengfei Xue (CEGE/GLRC) as a U.S. regular member of its board of directors.
The board oversees all aspects of the association, including the Journal of Great Lakes Research. Members represent the U.S., Canada, Indigenous tribes and First Nations, and other international communities, helping guide IAGLR’s mission to advance Great Lakes science.
Congratulations to Noel and Pengfei on this well-deserved recognition!
As a reflection of our continued growth as a research institution, Michigan Tech is implementing a strategic administrative realignment of our institutes and centers. We are transitioning from the current Tier 1/Tier 2 system to a more integrated Institute and Center framework. This change, developed through extensive collaboration with center directors throughout the 2025 spring semester, will strengthen our research support capabilities and create clearer organizational pathways.
The new structure will consist of eight institutes: the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI), Keweenaw Research Center (KRC), Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC), Center for Technology and Training (CTT), Health Research Institute (HRI), Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APSRC), and a newly formed institute. Current Tier 2 centers will become specialized centers housed within these institutes, allowing them to maintain their unique identities while benefiting from enhanced support and resources.
The realignment includes:
• ICC will incorporate the Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture (IPEC) and The Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena (CQP)
• GLRC will house the Ecosystem Science Center (ESC); the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI); and the Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience (CISR)
• A new institute will be established to encompass the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI); the Institute of Materials Processing (IMP); the Michigan Tech Aerospace Engineering Research Center (MARC); and Research and Innovation in STEAM Education (RISE)
This restructuring is designed to provide increased research administration services to a broader group of scholars and researchers while maintaining current center identities. The restructuring will foster continued growth, encourage greater collaboration, and simplify administrative processes. The transition will be implemented thoughtfully, with dedicated time invested in finding an executive director for the new institute and establishing integration protocols that preserve each center's distinctive mission and culture while supporting existing center staff through the transition.
Nominations, including self-nominations, are encouraged for the role of executive director of the new institute. To nominate, please email Andrew Barnard (barnard@mtu.edu) with your nomination or self-nomination and a short justification for the nomination. Nominations should be submitted by midnight on July 7.
No matter where you are in life—just getting started or planning for retirement—a session with a Financial Consultant can help you create a plan for your goals. And it's at no additional cost as a part of your retirement plan. You’ll get answers to these questions and more:
• Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals?
• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
• How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?
Ryan Hallowell from the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) will be available on Michigan Tech's campus for one-on-one sessions from July 14 through July 17 in the MUB Datolite Room 100.
RSVP today, as space is limited. You can register for financial consulting sessions with TIAA directly by logging in to your TIAA or guest account, then searching for "Michigan Tech" in the Institution field. When asked how you would like to meet, select "In Person at My Employer."
You can also register for a meeting by calling TIAA at 800-732-8353 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
Michigan Tech Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Suzanne Sanregret announced Monday (June 16) that Mike Andrews has been named the head men's and women's tennis coach. Andrews comes to Houghton after one season of leading the tennis programs at Lake Superior State.
"We're thrilled to welcome Mike to the Michigan Tech family," Sanregret said. "He brings a tremendous depth of experience in coaching, instruction, and leadership that will elevate our tennis programs. His proven commitment to student-athlete development—both on the court and in the classroom—aligns perfectly with our department's mission and values."
Read more about Andrews at Michigan Tech Athletics.
Job Posting for Tuesday, June 17, 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.
​Department Coordinator, Chemistry, 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.
Twenty-three Michigan Tech faculty and staff traveled to Washington, D.C., during the first week of May to meet with federal agency program contacts and external partner institutions.
The agenda included meetings with:
Our group included Adrienne Minerick (ChE), Aimee Marceau (HRI), Aytug Gencoglu (ChE), Caryn Heldt (ChE/HRI), Dennis Livesay (CC), Dylan Gaines (CS), Grace Schmitz (HRI), Ishi Keenum (CEGE), Jake Manchester (VPR), Jess Brassard (VPR), Lanrong Bi (Chem), Maria Gencoglu (ChE), Natasha Chopp (VPR), Sarah Atkinson (VPR), Wayne Gersie (OCE), Carolyn Duncan (KIP), Hongyu An (ECE), Jiehong Guo (CEGE), Kevin Trewartha (PsyHF/KIP), Shangyan Zou (MAE), Yan Zhang (BioSci), Anis Fatima (MMET), and Tan Chen (ECE).
The group also met for a collective dinner to share stories and goals. A smaller group was able to take a tour of the U.S. Capitol.
This spring’s visit strengthened Michigan Tech's connections with contacts at our partner institutions, the University of District of Columbia and Morgan State University. Additionally, attendees gained valuable insights into funder research priorities and policy.
The Minnesota Star Tribune highlighted Michigan Tech’s annual Isle Royale Winter Study in a story about two campers who died at a remote campground on the island. The story notes that Isle Royale has been the site of ongoing Michigan Tech research, including studies on the island’s wolf and moose populations.
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Scientific American mentioned Robert Schneider (Math) in a story about a new method for detecting prime numbers. Schneider, a former student of mathematician Ken Ono, contributed to research using integer partitions to uncover new ways of identifying primes.
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The University of Michigan mentioned Michigan Tech alum Kevin Field '07 (B.S. Materials Science and Engineering) in a story about the 2025 Henry Russel Lectureship and Award winners. Field, an associate professor of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences at U-M, was recognized for his work in radiation-tolerant alloys, which enhances safety in nuclear reactors.
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Michigan Tech was mentioned by the Duluth News Tribune in a story about Rolf Peterson (CFRES), who has dedicated over five decades to studying wolves and moose on Isle Royale. Peterson was also recently named one of The Detroit News’ Michiganians of the Year.
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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech cross country and Nordic skier Erica Kazin, Luke Moore and Matt Taylor (both ATH) in a story about the Thatcher Markham Memorial 5K Run. Moore placed second in the race followed by Taylor in fourth overall, while Kazin was the first female finisher.
Learn more about Michigan Tech’s online graduate certificate, master’s degree and doctorate in manufacturing engineering by attending a virtual interest session on Thursday, June 19, at 11:30 a.m. ET.
As of 2025, there are only 25 online manufacturing engineering graduate programs in the United States — and Michigan Tech has one of them. With a practical curriculum based on the Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge, MTU’s online graduate programs in manufacturing engineering prepare students for both challenges and leadership roles in Industry 4.0 manufacturing.
The session is being hosted by the Michigan Tech Global Campus team and a representative from the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET). Bring your curiosity and your questions!
Event Details:
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The Graduate Student Government (GSG) is pleased to announce an in-person poster presentation session at Michigan Tech's 2025 Alumni Reunion. The poster presentation session is a continued tradition designed to increase the interaction between graduate students and MTU alumni. It is a unique opportunity for graduate students to share their research work and expand network connections.
This year's poster session will be on Aug. 1 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in H-STEM 114. Graduate students interested in presenting a poster can submit the Alumni Reunion Poster Session Registration form.
You do not need to submit your poster to register for the event, but posters need to be submitted by July 25 (one week before the event).
Please email gsg-research@mtu.edu with any questions.
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Due to essential repairs to the Student Development Complex's main water line, the SDC will be closed on Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22. As a result, University Images will also be closed during this time.
The Campus Store will remain open with adjusted weekend hours:
Can’t make it in? Shop online anytime at bookstore.mtu.edu.
University Images will reopen at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 23, and we will resume regular summer hours at that time.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support!
To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.
Join us for the monthly Staff Council meeting! Staff Council exists to support Michigan Tech staff: full-time, part-time, nine-month, or ten-month; non-student, non-faculty. Membership on Staff Council is voluntary, open and available to any eligible staff member. Our Charge To assist the University in recognizing outstanding performance and ongoing dedicated service by staff membersTo maximize the use of talents and resources of the staff to support educational programs and to develop and strengthen skills and professionalism among staffTo provide events and opportunities to enhance the working environment of Michigan Tech.
