April 15, 2025

Jaclyn Johnson ’08 ’11, teaching professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), is one of three recipients of the 2025 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award. The awards are presented annually by the Michigan Association of State Universities to recognize outstanding contributions and dedication to the education of undergraduate students exhibited by the faculty from Michigan’s 15 public universities.

Johnson received both her master’s degree and doctorate in mechanical engineering from Michigan Tech and has been teaching in MAE since 2014. She has taught 20 unique courses over the last 10 years and currently serves as director and faculty mentor of the Michigan Tech Engineering Ambassadors program and faculty advisor of MTU's Society of Women Engineers section. Additionally, Johnson's depth of knowledge and curricular insight make her a leader in accessible learning activities and hands-on intellectual inquiry.

Read more about Johnson’s accomplishments at the College of Engineering Blog.

Michigan Tech was one of Top 10 Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CDs) selected to receive the 2024 CAE-CD Community Outreach Award. This marks the second consecutive year that Michigan Tech has received this prestigious recognition.

The award, which recognized cyber defense community outreach performed during the 2024 calendar year, is part of the CAE-CD Community Outreach Competition — an initiative “formed to showcase the CAEs who are doing above and beyond their call for duty by recognizing the outstanding outreach work performed.”

Fifty-seven CAE-CD universities and colleges participated in the 2024 competition, which encourages and promotes cybersecurity awareness and online safety practices among more than 400 institutions. Michigan Tech was ranked No. 5 among the 10 institutions selected to receive the award, representing a continuous improvement from last year’s ranking of No. 8.

Michigan Tech was designated as a CAE-CD in 2023 by the National Security Agency. The designation is in effect through the 2027-28 academic year.

Michigan Tech's 25th annual Design Expo will take place today, April 15, in the Van Pelt and Opie Library, and everyone is welcome to attend! Senior Design and Enterprise undergraduate teams will showcase their projects and compete for awards between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. In addition, student project teams and first-year engineering teams will present their design work next door in the Memorial Union Building Ballroom during that time.

In addition to viewing projects in person, you can watch Design Expo team videos, posted alongside each team's information at mtu.edu/expo. Don’t forget to use the Audience Choice Award ballot to vote for your favorite project.

Design Expo Reception and Awards Ceremony
After judging concludes at 2 p.m., everyone is invited to a social hour at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts starting at 2:30 p.m., with light refreshments, entertainment and door prizes. At 3:30 p.m., we will begin the Design Expo Awards Ceremony, where student teams, faculty and advisors will be recognized for their hard work.

If you are unable to attend in person, you can watch the Design Expo Kickoff at 10 a.m. and the Award Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Zoom.

• Join the Kickoff Ceremony on Zoom
• Join the Awards Ceremony on Zoom

Design Expo is made possible by generous industry and University sponsorship, along with volunteer judges and organizers. All events are free and open to the public. For more details, visit our Design Expo website.

This is the final entry in an eight-part series celebrating the Enterprise Program's inaugural Enterprise Distinguished Service Awards.

Our last profile highlights the contributions of Christopher "Kit" Cischke.

Cischke, a teaching professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, first came to Michigan Tech as a student in 1997. During his studies, Cischke helped found one of the original Enterprise teams, the Wireless Communications Enterprise (WCE). After graduating in 2001 with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering, Cischke spent several years in industry before completing his master's in computer engineering at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. He then returned to Houghton to teach computer engineering classes and serve as advisor to the (now much bigger) WCE he helped found as an undergraduate.

Read more on the Enterprise Blog.

About the Awards
Created in celebration of the Enterprise Program's 25 years at Michigan Tech, the Enterprise Distinguished Service Awards recognize the dedication and exceptional contributions of advisors and champions who have played pivotal roles in shaping the program’s success.

The inaugural recipients are Brett Hamlin (EF), Glen Archer (ECE), Rick Berkey (MTGC), Jason Blough (MAE), Brad King (MAE), Robert Pastel (CS/PsyHF), Tony Rogers (ChE) and Christopher “Kit” Cischke (ECE).

Each of the award winners has more than 15 years of service within Enterprise, dedicating their time and expertise to guide teams, ensure student success and advance the program’s discovery-based learning mission, as well as foster industry collaborations and strengthen the bridge between academia and industry.

Two graduate students from Michigan Tech's Department of Social Sciences presented their individual research at the 67th Annual World Social Science Association Conference, held April 2-5 in Seattle, Washington. Both students took home awards for their respective papers.

Lexi Tater, a graduate student in the Sustainable Communities program, took home the Best Graduate Student Paper Award for her research, titled “Climate Planning and Energy Sovereignty Among Michigan’s Tribal Nations.”

Aritra Chakrabarty, a Ph.D. candidate in the Environmental and Energy Policy program, was named the runner-up for the Best Graduate Student Paper Award for his research, titled "Gender Empowerment through Renewable Energy Transition: A case study of a rural solar community program in India."

The WSSA annual conference attracts social scientists from diverse fields to present, share, collaborate and forge academic and intellectual connections. Tater and Chakrabarty presented in the conference's Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management section, chaired by Chelsea Schelly (SS).

Read more about Tater's and Chakrabarty's research papers on the Social Sciences Newsblog.

Outstanding students, groups and staff were honored Friday, April 11, during Michigan Tech’s 31st Annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating their achievements!

Congratulations to all of the 2025 winners:

• President’s Award for Leadership: Isobel Bowker
• Provost’s Award for Scholarship: Micaela Geborkoff
• Dean of Students Award for Possibilities: Jasper John Gustafson
• Josephine and William Balconi Community Service Award: Melia Austin
• Gail and Glenn Mroz Emeritus President Leadership Award: Soraya Timms
• Outstanding Future Alumni: Ruby Walker
• Clair M. Donovan Award: Isobel Bowker
• Percy Julian Award: Dylan Xiu
• Exceptional Enthusiasm as Student Leader Award: Allie Browne
• Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award: Cole Pierucki
• Student Employee of the Year: Averi Reno
• Rising Star of the Year: Claire Mattern
• Award for Bravery and Kindness in Service to Others: Christi LeCaptain, Daniel Middleton, Kaci Clark, Alyssa Fabbro, Kyle Siefert, Isaac Dressel
• President's Volunteer Service Award: Lauren Ossenheimer, Lili Sather, Samuel Griswold, Amber Howard, Karl Rautiola, Athenabelle Lieu, Riley Van Zeeland, Erin Loeschmann, Andrew Edick, Madison Green
• Student Organization Advisor of the Year: Leonard J. Bohmann (ECE)
• Exceptional Civic Engagement Award: Voter Engagement Initiatives, Undergraduate Student Government
• Exceptional Program of the Year: Local Foods Night, IRHC
• Most Improved Student Group: Tau Beta Pi
• Student Group of the Year: WMTU 91.9 FM

Our keynote speaker was Gina Roose ’18 (B.S. Accounting, B.S. Finance, M.S. Accounting).

Want to relive your favorite moments? Watch the ceremony on YouTube!

More information about the awards and the recipients can be found on the Student Leadership Awards page. Congratulations to all winners and nominees!

Michigan Technological University’s Research Advisory Council (RAC) is currently conducting a short survey to solicit feedback on the current opinions of the overall effectiveness of research services, functions and programs at Michigan Tech. The survey will create a baseline of satisfaction ratings to track annually.

All faculty and research-active staff should have received a survey invitation and personalized survey link by email last Thursday, April 10. Please provide your responses by May 9.

If you did not receive a survey and would like to participate, please contact research@mtu.edu.

The University Senate will convene Meeting 720 at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, in Chem Sci 102.

Those within the University community unable to attend in person have the option to attend the University Senate meeting via Zoom. Please note: You will need to log in to your MTU Zoom account to join the virtual meeting.

Senators are responsible for making their constituents aware of the agenda for this meeting. Senators who are unable to attend should arrange for their alternates to attend in their place.

View the agenda to Meeting 720.

Making decisions about your money can feel difficult, especially when it comes to retirement. But you don’t have to go it alone — especially since access to financial consulting is included as part of your retirement plan. Financial consulting sessions will help you determine whether you’re saving enough, invested appropriately and on track. The sessions are applicable whether you are just starting your retirement account, getting ready to retire or anywhere in-between.

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 May 12 through May 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. All sessions will be held in the Memorial Union Building's Datolite Room (MUB 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. ET.

Pritam Mandal, adjunct assistant professor of physics at Michigan Technological University, will be presenting at this week's Chemistry Seminar. The seminar will be held in person at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 18, in Chem Sci 101.

Mandal's presentation is titled "Phases, Line Tension, and Pattern Formation in Langmuir Films at the Air-Water Interface."

From the abstract:
This seminar provides an overview of Langmuir films composed of lipids, cholesterol, and other amphiphilic molecules at the air-water interface. The research focuses on understanding the phase behavior of lipid-cholesterol mixtures, the temperature dependence of interphase line tension within coexisting domains, and pattern formation in chiral lipid monolayers. The first study presents a direct comparison of individual domains in a mixed lipid-cholesterol (DMPC/dChol) monolayer observed by fluorescence microscopy (FM), Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), and light scattering microscopy (LSM) in the presence of two different probes. While all three techniques identified the same domains, depending on conditions, some domain types were more evident in one technique than others. The second study investigates the temperature dependence of line tension at the boundary of monolayer and trilayer phases in a Langmuir film composed of the smectic liquid crystal 4-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8CB), monitoring the film through surface pressure-area isotherms and BAM imaging. Line tension is estimated by modeling the relaxation dynamics of a stretched trilayer domain. The third study explores temperature-dependent hierarchical pattern formation in a Langmuir film of the polymerizable chiral lipid 23:2 Diyne PE. When compressed between 30°C and 37°C, the film, observed using BAM, exhibits a transition from spiral to concentric (target) patterns with increasing temperature. These studies highlight the value of Langmuir films as model systems for investigating two-dimensional materials, providing insights into phase behavior, line tension, and pattern formation, informing biosensor design and deepening our understanding of lipid rafts.

Job Postings for Tuesday, April 15, 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.

Food Service Helper #25017RP (12 months, part-time, no base), Dining (AFSCME posting dates April 15 to April 21, 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.

​Food Service Helper #25065RP (second shift, nine months, 40 hours), Dining (AFSCME posting dates April 15 to April 21, 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.

​Cook's Helper #25080 (first shift, nine months, 40 hours), Dining (AFSCME posting dates April 15 to April 21, 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.

​Four Positions: Food Service Helper (first shift, nine months, 40 hours), Dining (AFSCME posting dates April 15 to April 21, 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.

Laura Kasson Fiss (PHC) presented a paper titled "The Genealogies of George Grossmith [II]'s Comic Songs" at the annual conference of the Midwest Victorian Studies Association, held April 3-6 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The paper began with the question, "What was it like to be the younger brother of a child actor?"

As president of the MVSA, Fiss also conducted a business meeting and a board meeting, introduced the plenary panel and keynote speaker, and helped the Arnstein and Burgan Prizes to graduate students. In her conference welcome, she spoke to the importance of interdisciplinarity — of listening to each other.

Kristin Brzeski (CFRES) was interviewed by My UP Now about her research on red wolves and its potential to help revive the dire wolf species. Brzeski discussed her discovery of "ghost” red wolf ancestry in Gulf Coast coyote populations and its implications for conservation efforts.

*****

Cassy Tefft de Muñoz (CEO) was quoted by WSAW-TV7 in Wausau, Wisconsin, in a story about Michigan Tech’s Mind Trekkers at the 2025 STEM Fest at Northcentral Technical College. Tefft de Muñoz discussed the significance of the event and Michigan Tech’s role in fostering scientific interest through hands-on activities for students.

*****

Jim Baker (VPR) was quoted by the Iron Mountain Daily News in a story about the Michigan Small Business Development Center’s promotion of Daniel Yoder (OIC) to Upper Peninsula regional director. Baker highlighted Michigan Tech’s continued role in supporting small businesses across the region and praised Yoder’s leadership and client-focused approach.

*****

Laura Bulleit, Kellie Raffaelli and Julia Keleher (all SA) were quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story covering a Q&A hosted by Michigan Tech’s Undergraduate Student Government to address recent federal policy changes.

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The Huskies Pep Band was mentioned in a Daily Mining Gazette story about the Northern Lights Hockey Night veterans hockey game held April 12 at Dee Stadium. The Pep Band performed at the game, which raised funds to support the Copper Country Veterans Association and local junior hockey associations.

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Bridge Michigan mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about changes to some international students’ legal status to live and study in the U.S. that are impacting 11 of Michigan’s 15 public universities.

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WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about upcoming religious holidays for Houghton and Hancock’s Catholic and Jewish communities. The story described Easter and graduation events for MTU student parishioners at St. Albert the Great University Parish.

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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a donation by Andy Storm ’99 (B.S. Business Administration, B.S. Mechanical Engineering Technology) to assist Laurium in adding a new ice plant at George Gipp Ice Arena.

Third Thursday Info Session Highlighting Online MS in Civil Engineering

It's the end of the term, but the Michigan Tech Global Campus team invites you to take time from your busy day to join us virtually on Thursday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m. to learn about Tech's online Master of Science in Civil Engineering.

This will be the second virtual information session in Global Campus' Third Thursday Series. Please consider joining us and representatives from the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering.

You’ll learn about the online M.S. in Civil Engineering program’s three focus areas and its stackable certificates — some of which, like Timber Building Design, are unique to MTU. You’ll also discover how to integrate an in-demand Asset Management Certification into your degree.

Members of the Global Campus team will also be on hand to answer questions about accelerated options and the admissions process.

Attend for yourself or for a friend. Everyone is welcome!

Register for the Third Thursday Info Session.

If you have any questions about the online civil engineering master's degree, please email Qingli (Barbara) Dai at qingdai@mtu.edu. Need info about the online session? Contact Amanda Irwin at globalcampus@mtu.edu.

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

Odyssey - Spring Student Art Showcase - Michigan Tech Art

Tuesday, April 15, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Art Galleries

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT The Odyssey is an artistic journey into the heart of one class' studio art practice- Fiber Arts 2170- as they present artworks made during the...

Design Expo 2025

Tuesday, April 15, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library

Hosted annually by the Enterprise Program and the College of Engineering, Design Expo highlights hands-on, discovery-based learning at Michigan Tech. More than 1,000 students...

Staff Council Meeting

Tuesday, April 15, 12–1 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 404

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....

Spring 2025: Boys' Basketball Little Huskies

Tuesday, April 15, 4–6 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Varsity Gym

Learning skills, working as a team, and having fun: that’s Michigan Tech’s Little Huskies boys’ basketball camp. It’s about the best introduction to basketball you can...

Keweenaw Accessibility and Advocacy General Meeting

Tuesday, April 15, 6–7 p.m. | Wadsworth Hall G17/19

General meeting for Keweenaw Accessibility and Advocacy at Michigan Tech. Open to anyone. Located in Wadsworth Hall G17/19.

NCSA General Meeting

Tuesday, April 15, 6–7 p.m. | Chem-Sci 102

A weekly meeting where we cover what's going on in the organization, often followed by a guest presenter, then discussion of what's going on in the world of tech.

Bible Study - John

Tuesday, April 15, 7:00–8:45 p.m. | His House Campus House

Join us as we continue to study the Gospel of John this semester! Who is Jesus? Who did he claim to be? If you are a seasoned Christian or just exploring your...

Serve The King Main Meeting

Tuesday, April 15, 7–9 p.m. | Wads G42W

Want to learn who Christ is? Why we sin? Why the world is in it's current state? Join us as we preach Christ crucified and risen, salvation to all who believe. Pizza...