December 7, 2023

Dear Huskies,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to share an important update regarding my professional journey, which has taken an unexpected yet gratifying turn.

Several months ago, I made the challenging decision to step away from my role as vice president for diversity and inclusion at Michigan Tech. At that time, my choice was driven not only by a desire to explore a new opportunity at another university, but also to be closer to my loved ones. Departing from this vibrant community, my dedicated team and the invaluable relationships forged during my tenure at MTU was not an easy choice. As the saying goes, "absence makes the heart grow fonder," and the bonds I formed here remained strong despite the physical distance.

It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of gratitude that I share the news of my return to Michigan Tech. The ties I have with this community, both personally and professionally, are resilient and enduring. So, when I inquired and the opportunity to return in the same capacity was presented, I was grateful that my biological family wholeheartedly supported my desire to return to my work family in Michigan.

Since its establishment, Michigan Tech’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) has achieved significant milestones, collaboratively establishing impactful initiatives and programs aligned with MTU's vision to be a globally recognized technological university. Our collective efforts are dedicated to advancing knowledge, innovation for improved quality of life, and fostering mutual respect and equity for all individuals within our local, national and global communities. But I know there is unfinished business, and I look forward to leveraging the support and resources available to achieve even greater milestones in the years to come.

I am grateful for the opportunity extended by President Rick Koubek to rejoin Michigan Tech and continue contributing to the University's mission. Further, I am thankful to Mike Blanco, senior director for diversity and inclusion, for his service to the University in the interim. I certainly trust that Mike and the ODI team have maintained a positive trajectory this fall.

I am genuinely excited to reconnect with each and every one of you soon, and I anticipate the continued collaboration that lies ahead. My commitment remains steadfast in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all community members, fostering a sense of belonging.

Wayne Gersie

Central Receiving will be closed during the winter break for UPS and FedEx deliveries. We are unable to accept packages for departments that are closed during this time. We recommend contacting the shipper to adjust the delivery date for when your office reopens.

The dates of our winter break closure are as follows:

• Saturday, Dec. 23, to Tuesday, Jan. 2 — Closed

We will return to regular operating hours on Jan. 3.

We would like to remind the campus community that personal packages should be specifically addressed to go directly to your department if you choose to have them shipped to campus. You can help keep our response time for delivering University packages consistent during this high-volume season and year-round by having personal packages delivered directly to your department (or your home).

To ensure timely delivery of packages directly to your department by the shipper, please ensure that you clearly provide the following information when placing an order:

• Your Complete Name
• Building Name
• Room Number
• 1400 Townsend Drive
• Houghton, MI 49931

Please contact Central Receiving at centralreceiving-l@mtu.edu should you have any questions or need assistance with special receiving or shipping needs.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group was established by Provost Andrew Storer to identify ways to incorporate AI into Michigan Tech’s curricula and into the student academic experience. One of the group’s charges is to organize listening events to hear from the campus community about opportunities and concerns related to the ever-increasing availability of generative AI tools.

Please submit our meeting invitation form to invite members of the AI Working Group to meet with your department or campus unit during the spring semester. We will follow up with the primary contact for each request to confirm a meeting time.

Michigan Tech's upcoming day of giving, Give Back to the Pack, scheduled on April 10 and 11, is an opportunity for all areas on campus to garner support from alumni and friends. The Office of Alumni Engagement invites all campus partners to join us in maximizing the impact of this event.

Today, we’re calling all deans, department heads and program leaders to champion this year’s day of giving as ambassadors for your respective areas. Your commitment would involve leveraging personal and departmental channels (mainly social media), as well as recruiting ambassadors within your areas.

By hosting a day of giving, we hope to generate excitement and urgency around supporting a variety of areas at Michigan Tech. Part of that excitement can be in matches or challenges; however, areas do not need to have a challenge or match in order to participate in Give Back to the Pack, have ambassadors or encourage donating to their specific fund. So, we encourage every unit/area on campus to participate and help us raise awareness!

Opting in now allows you to work alongside the Office of Alumni Engagement to plan, organize content and contribute to a more efficient and successful campaign. Let’s join forces to make a lasting impact on Michigan Tech and its students.

Please email Jordan Shawhan at jjshawha@mtu.edu to confirm your area’s participation and establish primary points of contact in your area leading up to April. The deadline to opt in is Dec. 22.

Thank you for your commitment to our shared success!

A Michigan Tech tradition continues with the end-of-semester pancake and bacon late-night dinner to be hosted in the Van Pelt and Opie Library on Sunday (Dec. 10) from 7-9 p.m. in the Library Cafe area.

All students are invited to enjoy a free meal served up by campus administrators. The meal will include pancakes (gluten-free available), bacon and a variety of toppings.

This event is proudly sponsored by Dining Services, Student Affairs and the Van Pelt and Opie Library.

The Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture's (IPEC's) December newsletter is now available to its members and the campus community.

Read it now!

Registration for spring aquatics programs opens on Wednesday (Dec. 13) at 8 a.m.!

• Adult Huskies Swim Training (ages 18 years and older)
• Adult Huskies Swim Lessons (ages 18 years and older)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Parent & Child Aquatics (ages 6 months to 3 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Preschool Aquatics (ages 4-5 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Learn to Swim Levels 1-5 (ages 6-17 years)
• Huskies Swim Clinic (ages 6-17 years)

Questions? Contact Aquatics Manager Annie Bengry at ambengry@mtu.edu or 906-487-2995.

Join Tori Reeder at her Ph.D. dissertation defense on Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. This defense will be held online only. Virtual attendance is invited via Zoom.

Reeder's dissertation is titled "An examination of scientific and technical communication for forensic engineering and forensic pathology."

From the abstract:
Police communication sits at the unique intersection of risk communication, scientific and technical communication, and medical communication, as seen in forensic reports. In this dissertation, I examine the communicative underpinnings of forensic pathology and forensic engineering reports. I argue that there is not only an inherent link between the unpredictability of a written text and the reception of said text by both its intended and unintended audience, but also a link to the broader socio-cultural contexts. I will examine an atypical forensic pathology report (autopsy report) of George Floyd, a more standard forensic pathology report of an inmate who died of lethal injection, John Grant, and a standard forensic engineering report of a fatal collision. Using Voyant Tools, the analysis will show the link between readability index and unpredictability of a text as well as demonstrate how the surrounding, rather charged socio-cultural contexts can have an impact on the text’s underlying structure. Unpredictability will be defined as and examined as a key facet because that is how textual analysis measures a readability index. Through my analysis, building on Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver’s understanding of randomness and unpredictability as entropy in a system, I found that the higher the unpredictability (entropy) in a written communication system, the lower the readability index. Unpredictability in a text can increase noise and contribute to the loss of information in a communicative system. This is especially important as the genre of the forensic report is deeply embedded in the moral economies of police science. It is also deeply impacted by the seeming necessity to remain objective in reports that are intrinsically human centered.

Michigan Tech hockey wraps up its pre-holiday schedule this weekend against archrival Northern Michigan.

The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. tomorrow (Dec. 8) at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena and 6:07 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 9) at the Berry Events Center in Marquette.

Tech is 7-7-3 overall and 5-3-0 in the CCHA. NMU is 6-8-2 overall and 4-4-0 in the CCHA.

The series will be televised locally. Friday's game will air on FOX-UP and Saturday's game will be on TV6.

Fans can also listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM or online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.net. Both games will be livestreamed on FloHockey (a subscription is required — discounts are available for students).

Read the preview at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Michigan Tech women's basketball is back in the SDC Gymnasium!

The Huskies will open conference play against Saginaw Valley State and Wayne State, facing the Cardinals today (Dec. 7) at 5:30 p.m. and the Warriors on Saturday (Dec. 9) at 1 p.m.

Tech enters GLIAC competition with an overall record of 4-3.

Listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM or online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.net. Fans can also watch a livestream of the contest on FloHoops (a subscription is required — discounts are available for students).

Read the preview at Michigan Tech Athletics.

The Michigan Tech men's basketball team returns from a week off of competition, playing host to Saginaw Valley State and Wayne State to open GLIAC play.

The Huskies will face Saginaw Valley tonight (Dec. 7) at 7:30 p.m. and Wayne State on Saturday (Dec. 9) at 3 p.m.

Tech enters GLIAC competition with an overall record of 1-5.

Listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM or online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.net. Fans can also watch a livestream of the contest on FloHoops (a subscription is required — discounts are available for students).

Read the previews at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Audra Morse was quoted by MLive in a story about a $838,000 grant awarded to Michigan Tech to expand semiconductor education and training programs across the Upper Peninsula and respond to Michigan’s increased demand for skilled technicians and engineering professionals in the semiconductor industry. The grant was announced in November by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Tech News.

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UPWord mentioned Michigan Tech in coverage of the Western U.P. Planning and Development Region's new Western U.P. Farm to School project. MTU is a community partner on the project, which will provide locally grown produce to children in the region.

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The Keweenaw Report previewed a moderated free speech forum held at Michigan Tech on Tuesday (Dec. 5).

On Tuesday (Dec. 5), Jim Desrochers (CFR), Joel Maguire (APSRC) and Jim Hill (CC) led Michigan Tech's delegation at the annual MICHauto Summit in downtown Detroit.

As Michigan’s automotive, mobility and technology cluster association, MICHauto convened over 250 executives with a day full of presentations and conversations with thought leaders from universities, companies and media aiming to solidify the state of Michigan as the national leader in mobility.

Michigan Tech's Advanced Power Systems Research Center (aka APS LABS), College of Computing, Office of Innovation and Commercialization, and Corporate and Foundation Relations office partnered to showcase the University’s mobility research capabilities, startup and tech transfer opportunities, and information about Michigander Scholars.

MLK Donation Deadline Extended

The MLK Planning Committee is excited to announce the 35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Michigan Technological University! As part of this celebration, we will be hosting the banquet on Jan. 15, 2024, to celebrate the life and legacy of King.

Donation Deadline Extended to Jan. 5
Due to overwhelming positive responses from the campus community, we are anticipating more of our Husky family attending this year's celebration. As such, we want to ensure that students, staff and faculty have an opportunity to share in this celebratory event. Therefore, we're extending our donation deadline to Jan. 5, 2024. Your assistance allows us to provide this program free of charge and continue our collaborative efforts to provide programming that focuses on embracing diversity on the Michigan Tech campus.

We'd love your support in ensuring a successful event. Keep in mind, all sponsors will be recognized in our celebration. To initiate your donation, please email cdi@mtu.edu with your donation amount. Donations should be transferred to D96356. If you have any questions, please email cdi@mtu.edu.

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2024 MLK Day Prayer Vigil and Peace March

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) and the Cooperative Campus Ministry are organizing an Interfaith Prayer Vigil and Reflection on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day),  Jan. 15, at noon in the Van Pelt and Opie Library’s East Reading Room. We invite faculty, staff and students from all faiths to share a prayer, personal reflection or excerpt from one of King’s prayers, sermons or speeches.

Following the Prayer Vigil, we invite the campus community to gather at the Husky statue at 1 p.m. for a peace march across campus to honor King and solidify our campus commitment to his life and work ensuring justice and equity for all.

If you would like to participate, please fill out our sign-up form. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rachael Hathcoat at rehathco@mtu.edu or Jennifer Ormsbee at Jennifer@gladtidingsag.org.

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CFRES Seminar with Tara Bal

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) will host a seminar at 12:30 p.m. today (Dec. 7) in Noblet G002 with speaker Tara Bal, assistant professor, CFRES.

The title of Bal's talk is "Bugs, Buckthorn, and Blocks: Stories of Applied Research Finding Innovative Solutions."

Bal is a forest entomologist and forest pathologist who conducts research contributing to an integrated understanding of forest health and its broad impacts on ecosystems and societies. Understanding how trees respond to interacting stressors is fundamental to the well-being of forests and the people that depend on them. Bal uses both field-based and lab methods to explore the ecology of various forest health issues, all toward a goal of restoring, protecting or providing more sustainable forest management, wood use and improved forest health. She works with many sectors of forest landowners and managers, including agencies, companies, nonprofits and individuals; that network of professionals has led to a slew of recent research projects seeking applied solutions directly to "on the ground" problems or issues.

In this talk, Bal will discuss the background of some example current research projects and the pathways her lab is taking to provide solutions related to a forest disease (oak wilt - "bugs"), an invasive plant ("buckthorn") and assessment of wood decay ("blocks").

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35th Annual MLK Brunch

The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee is proud to announce the 35th Annual MLK Jr. Day Celebration on Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. in the Ballroom of the Memorial Union Building. This year’s celebratory meal will be a brunch so we as a community can commemorate and honor King's legacy and continue to create meaningful change through acts of kindness and service to others.

Spots are limited. Sign up to attend using the 35th Annual MLK Brunch Sign-Up Sheet. Emails will be sent to inform you of confirmation. Filling out this form does not guarantee you a seat at the event.

For more information, please email the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at cdi@mtu.edu.

Thank you to our sponsors, who have helped make this event free for students to attend.

This program is partially sponsored by the Visiting Professor Program, which is funded by a grant to the Office of the Provost from the state of Michigan's King-Chávez-Parks Initiative.

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Women in Physics Colloquium with Clio Sleator

Women in Physics presents this week's Physics Colloquium speaker, Clio Sleator from the U.S. Naval Research Lab.

The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. today (Dec. 7) in Fisher 139.

Read the abstract and speaker bio at the University Events Calendar.

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Today's C3 Luncheon Menu

Menu for Thursday (Dec. 7):

• Herb Crusted Chicken Breast
• Tortellini Primavera
• Caesar Salad (Contains Egg, Dairy, Wheat, Fish, Soy)
• Parmesan Polenta (Contains Dairy)
• Chef Vegetables
• Breadsticks (Contains Dairy, Egg, Wheat)

Join Carved and Crafted Catering for this week's C3 Luncheon. The luncheon is held each week on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

The C3, or C-Cubed, lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by Chef Luis Delgado and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea and cookies are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $15 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office (MUB 101).

There will be no C3 Luncheons hosted over the holiday break. The next C3 event is scheduled for Jan. 11.

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MSE Seminar with Sriram Vijayan

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is hosting a seminar presented by Sriram Vijayan today (Dec. 7) at 1 p.m. in M&M 610.

The seminar is titled "In situ TEM observations of thermally activated phenomena in materials under ‘far-from-equilibrium’ conditions."

From the abstract:
Materials fabricated using fusion based additive manufacturing (AM) processes experience spatially varying temporal and thermal transients due to the localized high energy density delivered by the heat source. Similarly, components used in critical engineering applications experience varying thermal transients when ‘in service’, e.g. in next generation nuclear reactor cores, gas turbine engines, re-entry space vehicles and solder joints in micro-electronic packages. These varying thermal transients (a combination of extreme thermal gradients (104 - 106 K/m) and/or rapid thermal cycling (102- 103 K/s)) result in metastable microstructures, which can significantly impact part performance. In order to improve the performance of a part in the ‘as fabricated’ condition or prevent the deterioration of a part ‘in service’, the dynamic processes facilitating the microstructural evolution in the solid state, under such extreme thermal conditions need to be understood. Currently, this information can only be obtained through post-mortem characterization of the sample obtained from the part, in the electron microscope (EM). Previously, micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) based in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) heating stages have been used for the study of thermally activated phenomena at high spatial resolution, under isothermal conditions. However, to observe these dynamic processes under ‘far from equilibrium’ conditions at high spatial resolution, the development of new MEMS-based in situ TEM heating stages that mimic processing and/or ‘in service’ conditions are needed. My current research is focused at utilizing MEMS-based in situ heating devices to replicate extreme thermal conditions of AM inside the TEM. This was achieved by modifying a commercially available MEMS micro heater device using a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope. This simple modification enabled us to generate extreme thermal gradients across a TEM lamella. To validate these thermal gradients, infra-red thermography and ‘Ag nanocube sublimation’ techniques were used to measure temperature distribution across this modified device and the FIB cut lamella respectively. The ex situ and in situ temperature measurements confirmed that a large thermal gradient (~106 K/m) could be generated across a lamella inside the TEM. Additionally, the MEMS micro heaters allow for rapid heating and cooling rates of ~ 103 K/s, by combining these capabilities, the modified MEMS device is used to mimic processing and/or ‘in service’ like conditions inside the TEM. In this presentation, the results from in situ TEM experiments that mimic metal AM process conditions in ‘previously melted’ layers of electron beam melted Ti-6Al-4V using the modified MEMS device will be presented, and the dynamic processes responsible for the solid-state transformations in Ti-6Al-4V will be discussed. Furthermore, the challenges associated with MEMS-based in situ heating experiments and other potential applications of this modified MEMS device will be critically analyzed.

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ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker: Thomas Seel

The next Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) Graduate Seminar speaker will present virtually at 4 p.m. today (Dec. 7). This will be an online seminar only. Attendance is invited via Zoom.

Thomas Seel will present “The Evolution of Engineering: An Automotive Perspective Looking Forward.”

Seel is an ’85 BSME graduate from MTU and a retired automotive executive with over 35 years of experience. Most recently, he was chief vehicle engineer RWD SUV programs at Stellantis, engineering for the fifth-generation Grand Cherokee L, Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee PHEV.

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

Biomaterials for In Vitro Disease Models

Thursday, December 7, 10 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 211

Chemical Engineering Seminar Dr. Maria F. Gencoglu Clinical Diagnostics Group Bio-Rad Laboratories Abstract Dr. Gencoglu has always been fascinated with disease history...

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In Situ TEM Observations of Thermally Activated Phenomena in Materials under ‘Far-from-equilibrium’ Conditions

Thursday, December 7, 1 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), 610

Materials Science and Engineering Seminar Dr. Sriram Vijayan Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University Abstract Dr. Sriram VijayanMaterials...

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Husky Hour: Healthy Habits & Routines

Thursday, December 7, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | McNair Glass Lounge

Prepare for exams by learning some new skills! Focus on planning, scheduling, and methods of self-motivation so that you can ace those tests

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Physics & Women in Physics Colloquium with Clio Sleator

Thursday, December 7, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Fisher Hall, 139

Women in Physics presents this week's physics colloquium speaker, Clio Sleator from the US Naval Research Lab. The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. on...

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The Evolution of Engineering: An Automotive Perspective Looking Forward

Thursday, December 7, 4 p.m.

ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker Series proudly presents Thomas Seel (Retired) Chief Vehicle Engineer, Stellantis Abstract Engineering is about leveraging science to make...

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Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Fall 2023 Session 3

Thursday, December 7, 5 p.m.–6 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons provides aquatic education for the beginner to the intermediate swimmer who is looking to become more comfortable in the water and learn the...

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Adult Huskies Swim Training Fall 2023 Session 3

Thursday, December 7, 5 p.m.–6 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Training provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness...

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Keweenaw Area Alumni Holiday Party 2023 & KBC Production Facility Tour

Thursday, December 7, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. | , 1902 Tap and Grill 23 Trimountain Ave, South Range, MI 49963

Celebrate the season with us! Michigan Tech alumni & friends are invited to a holiday party at the 1902 Tap & Grill Bar on Thursday, December 7, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. The venue...

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(Women's Basketball) Saginaw Valley State vs. Michigan Tech

Thursday, December 7, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Women's Basketball: Saginaw Valley State vs. Michigan Tech, SDC Gymnasium - Houghton, Mich.

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Rochester Alumni Holiday Party 2023

Thursday, December 7, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.

Join Peipei Zhao '09, Diane Cesarz '94, and Scott McBain '86 in celebrating the season in Rochester, MI! Michigan Tech alumni and friends are invited to a holiday party at...

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Weekly RedTeam Meeting

Thursday, December 7, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Rekhi G05

Join Michigan Tech's RedTeam for their weekly club meeting! Each meeting we discuss cyber news articles and give talks pertaining to the field of cybersecurity.

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(Men's Basketball) Saginaw Valley State vs. Michigan Tech

Thursday, December 7, 7:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Men's Basketball: Saginaw Valley State vs. Michigan Tech, SDC Gymnasium - Houghton, Mich.

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Michigan Tech Husky Parent and Family Panel

Thursday, December 7, 8 p.m.–9 p.m.

Do you have questions for parents of current Huskies? Join us at our virtual event! A few of our current Husky parents will be there to answer any questions you may have....