July 26, 2023

This past Friday evening, July 21, William W. Predebon, emeritus professor and retired chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM), passed away suddenly. He was a beloved member of the Michigan Tech community, and we are all deeply moved and saddened.

Bill dedicated much of his life to building and supporting the ME-EM department, and the impacts of this work will continue to be felt into the future. We lost a great friend and stalwart supporter of the department and University.

Interim ME-EM Department Chair Jason Blough will continue to communicate with the Predebon family as their plans evolve, as they are still in the process of making arrangements. Bill's obituary is available on the O'Neill-Dennis Funeral Home website.

Ashutosh Tiwari (Chem) has agreed to serve as associate dean for graduate research and education in the College of Sciences and Arts. He officially started in this position on July 1 and will be working closely with Interim Dean of the College of Sciences and Arts Ravindra Pandey.

In this new role, Tiwari serves as CSA’s primary point person for issues related to graduate education, identifying interdisciplinary research opportunities and online graduate certificate programs within the University.

A broadly trained protein chemist and cell biologist, Tiwari is a professor of chemistry at Tech. His research is in the area of protein aggregation diseases with emphasis on age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), prion diseases and Huntington’s disease (HD). He has received numerous grants as PI or as co-PI from the National Institutes of Health, the ALS Therapy Alliance, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA), and the MTU Research Excellence Fund.

“I have served the University for almost 14 years and am excited to be associate dean,” said Tiwari. “The College has a number of exciting research initiatives crossing disciplines such as turning plastics into protein for use as an emergency food source; investigating the physics and chemistry of cloud formation; understanding the impacts of multitasking on cognitive performance; using hydropower to store energy in old hard-metal mines; and understanding the ways in which new media technologies can facilitate the spread of misinformation. I want to seek out other exciting collaborations. Plus, the College is a diverse and productive unit with a strong record of excellence in graduate research and education. I will use my experiences mentoring successful graduate students to advance the College's goals.”

Needless to say, we are pleased to have Dr. Tiwari lead this important initiative.

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This important civil rights law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools and universities, transportation and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

The ADA has expanded opportunities for individuals with disabilities by reducing barriers and changing perceptions and increasing full participation in community life. The full promise of the ADA will only be reached if everyone remains committed to continuing efforts to fully implement the ADA.

The ADA National Network is a free resource that provides information and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

#ADA33 #ThanksToTheADA

The Keweenaw Research Center (KRC) invites you to attend our upcoming open house to celebrate our 70th anniversary with a Platinum Jubilee Celebration. The celebration will be held Friday, Aug. 4 from 12-5 p.m.

Please come learn more about KRC, our capabilities, the test course, the new cold room chamber and more. Plan on an adventurous afternoon of experiencing our new arctic cold testing chamber at minus 20 degrees and taking rides on the test course. Sturdy footwear is advised, and you will be required to sign a waiver if you participate in a test course ride. Food and beverages will also be served.

We hope to see you there!

For more information, please visit the KRC Platinum Jubilee webpage.

Python, the high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity, readability, versatility and library support, is changing the face of geographic information systems (GIS). Those who can apply Python can simplify complex GIS tasks, improve their productivity and utilize a flexible platform for geospatial analysis and visualization.

Parth Bhatt (CFRES), assistant teaching professor and researcher, wants to share his expertise in and enthusiasm for Python with you.

Join Bhatt for an exciting, yet practical, non-credit professional development course: "Python for Modern GIS and Remote Sensing." Offered through Michigan Tech's Global Campus, this 7-week course equips students with fundamental skills for applying Python in the GIS Environment.

Learn more about this course on the Global Campus website or register for "Python for Modern GIS and Remote Sensing."

Board of Trustees Formal Session

The Board of Trustees will meet August 3 from 9-11 a.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom B, and public attendance is welcome.

Members of the public are invited to make public comments to the Board in accordance with Board of Trustees Bylaw 1.14. Those who wish to address items in the agenda, and who have filed their intent with the secretary of the board as required by Bylaw 1.14, will be limited to five minutes. Those addressing general topics are limited to three minutes.

If you wish to provide public comments to the Board of Trustees, please submit your intent to Sarah Schulte, secretary to the Board of Trustees, at shschult@mtu.edu. The deadline to submit your intent is Friday (July 28).

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PhD Defense: Laura Vidal Chiesa, HU

Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Theory and Culture candidate Laura Vidal Chiesa will present a final doctoral defense tomorrow (July 27) from 2-3 p.m. This will be a virtual only defense. Attendance is invited via Zoom.

Vidal Chiesa's dissertation is titled "The Flight Attendants Of Academia: Liminality, Emotional Labor, And Feminization In Graduate Student Writing Program Administrators."

From the abstract:
Writing Program Administration (WPA) is an interdisciplinary field that addresses the management and development of writing programs in educational institutions. WPA entails writing instruction pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment, and faculty development pertaining to the teaching of writing. Graduate students in Humanities and English-based programs typically fill this position which can offer a career trajectory. However, the position is often experienced as demanding, unrewarding and does not deliver on the career-enhancing experience it seems to promise. Historically, this is unsurprising given that the position has been a subordinated role occupied by women in composition. And yet, the troubles besetting contemporary graduate student writing program administrators (gWPAs) positions are complex, involving organizational, gendered, and labor issues. Still the voices of gWPAs are missing from analyses of these issues. Based on a poststructuralist framework, this dissertation performs a thematic analysis of interviews with gWPAs to comprehend the systemic, structural, and rhetorical factors that contribute to marginalization, feminization, and emotional labor burden required for gWPAs.

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Subsidy Credit Adjustment

Some benefits-eligible Michigan Tech employees may notice a slight increase in their subsidy credit in biweekly 14 and biweekly 15. This is a result of life insurance rate changes that occurred for the year 2023.

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On-Campus Meetings Available with TIAA Financial Consultant

Ryan Hallowell from Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) will be available on Michigan Tech's campus on the following dates and times for one-on-one sessions:

• Monday, Aug. 7 — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., MUB Alumni Lounge A
• Tuesday, Aug. 8 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., MUB Alumni Lounge A
• Wednesday, Aug. 9 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., MUB Alumni Lounge A
• Thursday, Aug. 10 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., MUB Alumni Lounge A

No matter where you are in life — just getting started or planning for retirement — a session with Hallowell can help you create a plan for your goals. And, it's at no 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?

RSVP today, as space is limited. Register for sessions with TIAA directly, or register by calling 800-732-8353 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

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2023 NSF REU TECH SCEnE Final Presentations Open to Campus Community

Participants of the 2023 NSF REU site TECH SCEnE at Michigan Tech under the mentorship of faculty from Applied Computing, Biomedical Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Electrical and Computer Engineering will present their research today at 1 p.m. in GLRC 202. 

Topics range from portable air filtration using UVC, automated light control for a fish hatchery, identifying presence of heavy metals in the Keweenaw Bay and its impact, and smart adhesives for sensors in harsh environments. 

Please join us in a celebration of their accomplishments. This event is free and open to the public.

Job Posting for July 26, 2023

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.

Research Integrity and Development Coordinator, Associate Vice President for Research Development (AVPRD). 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.

Michigan Tech was mentioned in a Ludington Daily News story about the installation of a robotic arm in the Tech Center of West Shore Community College (WSCC). MTU and WSCC are partners in the project, which is designed to provide hands-on and remote robotics training and operations.

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The Mankato Free Press picked up a Minnesota State Athletics press release about the hiring of  Charlie Snelson (ATH) as Minnesota State’s Assistant Director of Athletics/Director of Athletic Communications.

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WLUC TV6 picked up a Michigan Tech Athletics press release about 2023 Michigan Tech season ticket pricing and sales. The Early Bird deadline for hockey, football, basketball and volleyball tickets is August 11. Tickets can be purchased at the SDC Central Ticket Office or online.

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Michigan Tech was mentioned in a Broadway World story about Guerilla Opera’s upcoming performance of The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage. The Boston-based ensemble will give five performances of the production at the McArdle Theater from Oct. 12-15.

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Terri Frew (VPA) and industrial heritage and archaeology Ph.D. student James Schwaderer  were mentioned by the Keweenaw Report in a story about Chassell’s new historic trail. The trail features nine informational signs about Chassell’s lumber industry heritage.

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The Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Paul Labine being sworn in as the Houghton County prosecutor. The article notes that Labine is an MTU alum with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics.

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

TECH SCEnE Presentations

Wednesday, July 26, 1 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

2023 NSF REU TECH SCEnE Final Presentations Open to Campus Community Participants of the 2023 NSF REU site TECH SCEnE at Michigan Tech under the mentorship of faculty from...

Hockey Camp Group 1

July 26, all day | Student Development Complex (SDC), Macinnes Student Ice Arena

Gain fundamental skills and broad knowledge of the sport for all age levels. Co-ed camps and clinics focus on team play, positional play, defensive play, strengthening...

Hockey Camp Groups 2 and 3

July 26, all day | Student Development Complex (SDC), Macinnes Student Ice Arena

Gain fundamental skills and broad knowledge of the sport for all age levels. Co-ed camps and clinics focus on team play, positional play, defensive play, strengthening...