June 18, 2025

Michigan Tech’s psychology program is celebrating its 20th anniversary — and its best year yet for research funding, with psychology and human factors faculty receiving $2 million in funding this academic year. 

“Our faculty's wide-ranging research is making an impact across multiple disciplines and in the real world, from transportation to AI to education,” said Kelly Steelman, chair of the Psychology and Human Factors Department at Michigan Tech. “I'm excited by our current projects and the opportunities they provide to engage our undergraduate and graduate students in groundbreaking research."

Learn more about the current research projects at the latest College of Sciences and Arts Newsblog.  

Facilities Management is adjusting billing rates for our technical staff, effective July 1.

Facilities Management receives an allocation from the University's General Fund on an annual basis to perform a wide range of routine services on campus. Nonroutine or nonfunded services require Facilities Management to recover costs by billing the campus department or organization requesting services. More information related to funded and nonfunded services can be found on the Facilities Management website.

Rate changes for specific technical staff classifications can also be found on our website.

The 2025 Parade of Nations is thrilled to announce the winners of its annual logo and essay contests, highlighting the theme "Games Around the World." This year’s theme celebrates the joy of play across cultures — reminding us that whether it’s "Duck Duck Goose" or cricket, games unite us in laughter, learning and collaboration.

Logo Contest Winner: Graciana Wagner, Lake Linden-Hubbell High School

The winning logo was designed by 10th grader Graciana Wagner of Lake Linden-Hubbell High School. Wagner’s colorful and whimsical illustration of the classic game “Duck Duck Goose” captured the theme with humor and heart. Her geese, dressed in playful attire — a sombrero, cowboy hat, bouquet of flowers, and a French goose holding a baguette — charmingly represent global unity through play. Graciana will receive a $300 cash prize, and her artwork will be featured in marketing and merch for the 2025 Parade of Nations.

Essay Contest Winner: Carter Worm, Calumet High School

This year’s essay contest winner is Carter Worm of Calumet High School, who will be attending Michigan Tech in the fall. Worm has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Parade of Nations for his thoughtful essay on the role of cultural diversity in his local community and life. In his essay, Worm reflected on his work at Michigan Tech’s Advanced Power Systems (APS) Labs, where he collaborated with engineers from India, Brazil, Israel and across the United States to develop a hybridized 55,000-pound Pettibone CaryLift—a project commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Spreading ideas across backgrounds and cultures leads to a brighter future for all, as has been consistently proven throughout history,” wrote Worm. “Watching different cultures and backgrounds come together to solve remarkably complex problems was inspiring to me, and I knew with absolute certainty that my future was at Michigan Tech."

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About the Parade of Nations
Established in 1990, the Parade of Nations celebrates the rich cultural representation, international friendship and global community in the Keweenaw and at Michigan Technological University. The annual fall event features a vibrant street parade, global food and performances, family activities, and cultural exhibits, drawing thousands of visitors each year.

The 2025 Parade of Nations will take place on Saturday, Sept. 20, in downtown Houghton. For more information about the event, visit the Parade of Nations webpage.

Join the CommUNITY Education Support Team for a Juneteenth celebration! We invite you to come and commemorate this significant day in history. There will be an array of exciting activities for everyone to enjoy, including delicious food, refreshing drinks, engaging outdoor games and a thrilling trivia contest with fantastic prizes. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to celebrate and learn more about Juneteenth.

Our celebration is planned on Thursday, June 19, from 1-3 p.m. on the DHH Patio. Questions? Email Julia Keleher at jdkelehe@mtu.edu for more information.

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a harmful invasive species in our Keweenaw forests. These shrubs spread rapidly, harbor Lyme disease-carrying ticks, and are still sold at many nurseries. Now, area residents can help curb their spread — and save $10 on a native shrub — during the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area's Barberry Trade-Up Days.

KISMA works to prevent and manage invasive species in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties. Residents can dig up a Japanese barberry, roots and all, from their yards and bring it to one of our four trade-up locations in exchange for a coupon good for $10 off a native shrub.

Barberry Trade-Up Days will be held at the following times and locations:

• Saturday, June 28
  • 9-11 a.m. — Houghton High School Parking Lot
  • 12-2 p.m. — Calumet burn site off No. 4 Road
    
    
• Saturday, July 12
  • 10 a.m. to noon — L’Anse Department of Public Works
  • 10 a.m. to noon — Eagle Harbor solid waste facility

Coupons can be redeemed at Flowers by Sleeman in Houghton, Kismet Gardens in Baraga, and Designs by Nature U.P. Native Plants in Marquette. All participating members of KISMA’s Go Beyond Beauty program have agreed not to sell Japanese barberry and 13 other invasive garden plants.

About Japanese Barberry
This highly invasive shrub found its way into our forests through the garden nursery trade. Its red oval-shaped berries are eaten by birds and other wildlife and dispersed from gardens into wild areas, where they can sprout and then spread from their roots to form vast colonies. Barberry thickets are so dense they outcompete native vegetation, reduce biodiversity and prevent public access.

Barberry and Ticks
Studies have shown that areas with barberry harbor almost 10 times the number of ticks that carry Lyme disease than barberry-free areas. These shrubs provide high humidity, which ticks need to survive during dry spells, and shelter for the small mammals that transfer Lyme disease bacteria to ticks.

How to Identify Barberry:

• Small, oval-shaped leaves are one to two centimeters long with smooth edges.
• Leaves are green during the summer and turn purple in the fall (some ornamental varieties are purple year-round).
• Stems grow sharp spines (about one centimeter long).
• Small yellow flowers bloom from April to May, singularly or in clusters.
• Berries look like red Tic Tac candies.
• Stems turn from reddish-brown to gray as they age.
• Stem interiors and roots are bright yellow.

How to Remove Barberry
Always wear thick gloves and protective clothing. Small plants can be pulled by hand, while larger plants should be dug up. Be sure to remove as much of the root system as possible to prevent regrowth, and occasionally monitor the area throughout the season for any new sprouts. For disposal, you can hang shrubs to dry in trees, burn them or bring them to Barberry Trade-Up Days for free. It is best to remove barberry before berries have developed, but you can collect them on a tarp and bag them for landfill disposal, or burn them to prevent new seedlings.

For more information, visit KISMA's website or contact KISMA Assistant Coordinator August Camp at KISMA.up@gmail.com.

Authored by the KISMA Barberry Trade-Up Days Committee: KISMA Coordinator Sigrid Resh (CFRES), KISMA Assistant Coordinator August Camp (CFRES), and Marcia Goodrich of the Wild Ones Keweenaw Chapter.

Job Postings for Wednesday, June 18, 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. 

Director for Charitable Giving, Office of Advancement. Apply here. 

Pre-Award Analyst, Sponsored Programs Office. Apply online. 

Grants & Contracts Analyst, Sponsored Programs Office. Apply online. 

Administrative Assistant (12 months, 40 hours), Human Resources (UAW posting dates June 18 to June 24, 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.

Custodian (nine months, 40 hours), Facilities Management (AFSCME posting dates June 18 to June 24, 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.

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.

NHL.com covered the LA Kings’ signing of former Michigan Tech hockey goalie Pheonix Copley to a one-year $775,000 contract.

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The Daily Mining Gazette and the Iron Mountain Daily News covered Michigan Tech's hiring of Mike Andrews as the head coach of the University's men’s and women’s tennis teams.

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Michigan Tech was mentioned in a Daily Mining Gazette story about the Pine Mountain Music Festival’s Houghton season premier concert, “Three Sopranos (and a Tenor),” held on June 14 at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

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Michigan Tech was mentioned by the Detroit Regional Chamber in a story celebrating The Detroit News’ Michiganians of the Year. Michigan Tech wildlife ecologist Rolf Peterson (CFRES) was among the 10 honorees.

Retirement Social for Julie Seppala

Julie Seppala, Michigan Tech's associate vice president for finance, will be retiring on June 30. Please join the staff of the Financial Services and Operations to honor her distinguished career next Wednesday, June 25, from 1-3 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom A.

Hor d'oeuvres and light refreshments will be served.

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Dive Into MTU's Online Manufacturing Programs

Learn more about Michigan Tech’s online graduate certificate, master’s degree and doctorate in manufacturing engineering by attending a virtual interest session tomorrow 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:

• What: Virtual Interest Session for MTU’s Online Manufacturing Engineering Program
• When: Thursday, June 19, 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 Manufacturing Engineering Program Interest Session.

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This Friday: Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium

The Michigan Tech McNair Scholars Program and Michigan College and University Partnership (MICUP) Scholars Program invite you to our Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday, June 20, from 1-4 p.m. at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

This summer's symposium showcases innovative research projects by students from across campus, including participants in McNair and MICUP, as well as the University's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs.

Join us for an afternoon of engaging presentations, discussions, and a celebration of undergraduate research in diverse fields. This is a free event, open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Event Details:

• What: Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium
• When: Friday, June 20, from 1-4 p.m.
• Where: Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts Lobby and Mezzanine

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Brkfst & Co Closed on Summer Session Orientation Dates

Michigan Tech's Brkfst & Co campus dining location will be closed three days next week to accommodate the space and resources needs of MTU's on-campus Summer Session Orientation activities. Access to the Keweenaw Commons in the Memorial Union Building will also be limited during these dates.

Brkfst & Co will be closed:

• Monday, June 23
• Thursday, June 26
• Friday, June 27

On-Campus Dining Alternatives
While Brkfst & Co is closed, alternative campus dining options include the Library Cafe/Velodrome Coffee Co. for grab-and-go meal options, snacks, drinks, and bakery; or The Eatery at McNair dining hall (credit card only). For a full list of menus and hours, visit Michigan Tech's Dine On Campus website.

Looking Ahead: Brkfst & Co will also be closed on three Summer Session Orientation dates in July:

• Monday, July 14
• Thursday, July 17
• Friday, July 18

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

Strength and Conditioning : Summer Middle School Program

Wednesday, June 18, 10–10 a.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multi-Purpose

Lead by the MTU Strength and Conditioning Staff, this 8-week summer program is for athletes looking to improve their performance and fitness level to prepare for the upcoming season. Program includes (3) sessions per week in a varsity collegiate setting and SDC membership access for the duration of the program.

NSF CAREER Writing Group

Wednesday, June 18, 11–11 a.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, Conference Room 103

Join us in person in Library 103 or virtually over Zoom to work on elements of the NSF CAREER proposal. We will run these weekly meetings as writing sprints to support your productivity. The general timeline will be: Check-in (5-10 min): Share what you will focus on in the sprint.Focus (45 min): Find a state of flow. A facilitator will run a timer so you can ignore the clockCheck-out (5-10 min): Share your wins, stretch, move, and discuss.

Strength and Conditioning : Summer High School Program

Wednesday, June 18, 11–11 a.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multi-Purpose

Lead by the MTU Strength and Conditioning Staff, this 8-week summer program is for athletes looking to improve their performance and fitness level to prepare for the upcoming season. Program includes (3) sessions per week in a varsity collegiate setting and SDC membership access for the duration of the program.