University Marketing and Communications
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Staff Directory

Administration

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Director, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

About Ian

  • Ian enjoys being outdoors, going for long jogs, and spending time with his wife, J.R., and their two boys, Cale and Crosby.
Crystal Verran

Crystal Verran

  • Director of Operations

Links of Interest

About Crystal

  • She is the first person to contact when you are interested in working with UMC on a project.
  • She loves to brainstorm new ideas for publications with clients and enjoys the variety of projects that come through UMC.
  • Crystal is a great source when questions arise regarding University Identity Standards.
  • A self-described “design nerd,” she finds herself picking up publications from a variety of different places (to read and critique).
Stefanie Sidortsova

Stefanie Sidortsova

  • Director of Communications and Public Relations

About Stefanie

  • Stefanie leads UMC's communications strategy and serves as a special assistant for state relations endeavors.
  • Her professional background includes experience in law, government relations, higher education administration, and creative writing.
  • She earned her law degree at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, her master's in creative writing from the University of Cambridge, and her bachelor’s in English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
  • She enjoys spending time her family and moonlights as fiction writer and editor.
Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Director of Digital Services

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • Content Management Theory
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Digital Analytics
  • Web Accessibility

About Joel

  • Leading a web marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
  • Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Membership Committee
  • Is a Michigan Tech alumnus from Laurium
Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly

  • Creative Director
Allison Mills

Allison Mills

  • Associate Director of Research Communications

Links of Interest

Her Beats

  • Sciences, Engineering and Technology
  • School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

About Allison

  • She focuses on writing new stories about Michigan Tech research -- everything from robotic prostheses to mesocosms to the physics of raindrops.
  • A University of Montana graduate, she earned a master's degree in environmental science and natural resource journalism, which built on her bachelor's in geoscience from Northland College.
  • She also teaches dance through the Student Development Complex's community programs.
  • She's a radio geek.
Shannon Rinkinen
"So have your wits about you and dig in."
—Ethel Kennedy

Shannon Rinkinen

  • Associate Director of Marketing Communications

Links of Interest

About Shannon

    • Manages client projects and teams to deliver high-quality, strategic marketing communications
    • Works across campus and University Marketing and Communications as an arbiter of Michigan Tech's brand message
    • Writes marketing communications including brand ads and enrollment materials
Mechelle Normand

Mechelle Normand

Dawn Pichette

Dawn M. Pichette

  • Administrative Aide

Marketing and Creative

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Director, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

About Ian

  • Ian enjoys being outdoors, going for long jogs, and spending time with his wife, J.R., and their two boys, Cale and Crosby.
Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly

  • Creative Director
Crystal Verran

Crystal Verran

  • Director of Operations

Links of Interest

About Crystal

  • She is the first person to contact when you are interested in working with UMC on a project.
  • She loves to brainstorm new ideas for publications with clients and enjoys the variety of projects that come through UMC.
  • Crystal is a great source when questions arise regarding University Identity Standards.
  • A self-described “design nerd,” she finds herself picking up publications from a variety of different places (to read and critique).
Stefanie Sidortsova

Stefanie Sidortsova

  • Director of Communications and Public Relations

About Stefanie

  • Stefanie leads UMC's communications strategy and serves as a special assistant for state relations endeavors.
  • Her professional background includes experience in law, government relations, higher education administration, and creative writing.
  • She earned her law degree at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, her master's in creative writing from the University of Cambridge, and her bachelor’s in English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
  • She enjoys spending time her family and moonlights as fiction writer and editor.
Shannon Rinkinen
"So have your wits about you and dig in."
—Ethel Kennedy

Shannon Rinkinen

  • Associate Director of Marketing Communications

Links of Interest

About Shannon

    • Manages client projects and teams to deliver high-quality, strategic marketing communications
    • Works across campus and University Marketing and Communications as an arbiter of Michigan Tech's brand message
    • Writes marketing communications including brand ads and enrollment materials
Bill Tembreull

Bill Tembreull

  • Senior Design Specialist

Links of Interest

About Bill

  • He has worked in design and publications at Michigan Tech for 35 years.
  • His work has earned numerous national awards.
  • He oversees the design of most University publications, including brochures, posters, magazines, newsletters, and more.
  • Prepares bids for pricing publications.
Vassilissa Semouchkina

Vassilissa Semouchkina

  • Graphic Designer
Jon Halquist

Jon Halquist

  • Graphic Design Specialist
Cyndi Perkins

Cyndi Perkins

  • Feature Writer

Links of Interest

About Cyndi

  • The former Daily Mining Gazette journalist and editor hails from Houghton and has written for a variety of international, national and regional publications.
  • She co-creates, writes and edits content for the University’s myriad forms of new media, including websites, blogs and other outreach across departments, for new and existing members of the Michigan Tech community.
  • She is a sailor who enjoys Yoga, social media, gardening, and anything near the water. The debut novelist looks forward to writing more books.
Kelley Christensen

Kelley Christensen

  • Science and Technology Publications Writer

About Kelley

  • Her career includes writing for small-town newspapers in Montana and working as a public information officer, an events coordinator, and science editor for an IEEE publication, Earthzine.
  • She enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing with her family, reading voraciously, crocheting, and exploring the Keweenaw.
Mariana Grohowski

Mariana Grohowski

  • Copyeditor/Writer

Links of Interest

About Mariana

  • Her responsibilities include copyediting and writing print and digital texts.
  • Her passions include hugging dogs, running marathons, consuming coffee, and learning all the things. She fancies herself a scholar of veterans studies.

Brand Management

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Director, University Marketing and Communications

Links of Interest

About Ian

  • Ian enjoys being outdoors, going for long jogs, and spending time with his wife, J.R., and their two boys, Cale and Crosby.
Shannon Rinkinen
"So have your wits about you and dig in."
—Ethel Kennedy

Shannon Rinkinen

  • Associate Director of Marketing Communications

Links of Interest

About Shannon

    • Manages client projects and teams to deliver high-quality, strategic marketing communications
    • Works across campus and University Marketing and Communications as an arbiter of Michigan Tech's brand message
    • Writes marketing communications including brand ads and enrollment materials
Crystal Verran

Crystal Verran

  • Director of Operations

Links of Interest

About Crystal

  • She is the first person to contact when you are interested in working with UMC on a project.
  • She loves to brainstorm new ideas for publications with clients and enjoys the variety of projects that come through UMC.
  • Crystal is a great source when questions arise regarding University Identity Standards.
  • A self-described “design nerd,” she finds herself picking up publications from a variety of different places (to read and critique).
Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly

  • Creative Director

Digital Services

Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Director of Digital Services

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • Content Management Theory
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Digital Analytics
  • Web Accessibility

About Joel

  • Leading a web marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
  • Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Membership Committee
  • Is a Michigan Tech alumnus from Laurium
Becky Barnard

Becky Barnard

  • Digital Services Project Manager

About Becky

  • She assists in project management and web marketing and social media strategy.
  • She represents several areas within the administration side of the university regarding content management system (CMS) services, including the Graduate School, International Programs and Services, Admissions, and Financial Aid.
  • She enjoys hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and biking around the Keweenaw, and lounging with a book on her couch.
Heather Dunne

Heather Dunne

  • Digital Services Specialist I

About Heather

  • Represents the College of Sciences and Arts (CSA) regarding content management system (CMS) services.
  • She assists with webpage development, maintaining news blogs and event calendars, and CMS training for CSA departmental liaisons.
  • She enjoys quilting, knitting, gaming, hiking, movies, reading, and spending time with her pets.
Andrew Grohowski

Andrew Grohowski

  • Digital Services Project Manager

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • Digital Analytics
  • Digital Advertising
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • User Experience
  • Marketing Research

About Andrew

  • He is a Michigan Tech alum.
  • He assists in project management, analytics, and digital advertising.
  • His passions are curling, sailing, and getting lost on hikes.
Alexander Hughes

Alexander Hughes

  • Digital Services Technical Manager

About Alexander

  • He is a Michigan Tech Alumnus from Hancock.
  • He is the programming and technical lead for the University’s content management system (CMS).
  • He is an avid golfer, enjoys curling, watches many many movies, and would like to visit Scotland someday.
Megan Ross

Megan Ross

  • Digital Services Coordinator

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • CMS, Events Calendar, and Blog Training
  • System Documentation
  • Customer Service

About Megan

  • She is a Michigan Tech alum from Houghton.
  • She creates documentation and provides training for the content management system (CMS), blog system, and events calendar.
  • She manages help requests and oversees the student team.
  • She enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with her family.

Social Media

Shannon Rinkinen
"So have your wits about you and dig in."
—Ethel Kennedy

Shannon Rinkinen

  • Associate Director of Marketing Communications

Links of Interest

About Shannon

    • Manages client projects and teams to deliver high-quality, strategic marketing communications
    • Works across campus and University Marketing and Communications as an arbiter of Michigan Tech's brand message
    • Writes marketing communications including brand ads and enrollment materials
Cyndi Perkins

Cyndi Perkins

  • Feature Writer

Links of Interest

About Cyndi

  • The former Daily Mining Gazette journalist and editor hails from Houghton and has written for a variety of international, national and regional publications.
  • She co-creates, writes and edits content for the University’s myriad forms of new media, including websites, blogs and other outreach across departments, for new and existing members of the Michigan Tech community.
  • She is a sailor who enjoys Yoga, social media, gardening, and anything near the water. The debut novelist looks forward to writing more books.
Becky Barnard

Becky Barnard

  • Digital Services Project Manager

About Becky

  • She assists in project management and web marketing and social media strategy.
  • She represents several areas within the administration side of the university regarding content management system (CMS) services, including the Graduate School, International Programs and Services, Admissions, and Financial Aid.
  • She enjoys hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and biking around the Keweenaw, and lounging with a book on her couch.
Ben Jaszczak

Ben Jaszczak

  • Multimedia Specialist

Photography and Video

Sarah Bird

Sarah Bird

  • Photographer
Ben Jaszczak

Ben Jaszczak

  • Multimedia Specialist
Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly

  • Creative Director
Megan Ross

Megan Ross

  • Digital Services Coordinator

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • CMS, Events Calendar, and Blog Training
  • System Documentation
  • Customer Service

About Megan

  • She is a Michigan Tech alum from Houghton.
  • She creates documentation and provides training for the content management system (CMS), blog system, and events calendar.
  • She manages help requests and oversees the student team.
  • She enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with her family.
Joel Vertin
"Just Go with It!"

Joel C. Vertin

  • Director of Digital Services

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • Content Management Theory
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  • Digital Analytics
  • Web Accessibility

About Joel

  • Leading a web marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
  • Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Membership Committee
  • Is a Michigan Tech alumnus from Laurium

News and Media Relations

Stefanie Sidortsova

Stefanie Sidortsova

  • Director of Communications and Public Relations

About Stefanie

  • Stefanie leads UMC's communications strategy and serves as a special assistant for state relations endeavors.
  • Her professional background includes experience in law, government relations, higher education administration, and creative writing.
  • She earned her law degree at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, her master's in creative writing from the University of Cambridge, and her bachelor’s in English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
  • She enjoys spending time her family and moonlights as fiction writer and editor.
Allison Mills

Allison Mills

  • Associate Director of Research Communications

Links of Interest

Her Beats

  • Sciences, Engineering and Technology
  • School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

About Allison

  • She focuses on writing new stories about Michigan Tech research -- everything from robotic prostheses to mesocosms to the physics of raindrops.
  • A University of Montana graduate, she earned a master's degree in environmental science and natural resource journalism, which built on her bachelor's in geoscience from Northland College.
  • She also teaches dance through the Student Development Complex's community programs.
  • She's a radio geek.
Mark Wilcox

Mark Wilcox

  • News Writer

His Beats

  • VPA, Humanities, Cognitive & Learning Sciences, Social Sciences
  • CDI/Diversity
  • K-12/Youth Programs
  • Student Activities/Student Affairs/Financial Aid/Advancement
  • ROTC
Kelley Christensen

Kelley Christensen

  • Science and Technology Publications Writer

About Kelley

  • Her career includes writing for small-town newspapers in Montana and working as a public information officer, an events coordinator, and science editor for an IEEE publication, Earthzine.
  • She enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing with her family, reading voraciously, crocheting, and exploring the Keweenaw.
Cyndi Perkins

Cyndi Perkins

  • Feature Writer

Links of Interest

About Cyndi

  • The former Daily Mining Gazette journalist and editor hails from Houghton and has written for a variety of international, national and regional publications.
  • She co-creates, writes and edits content for the University’s myriad forms of new media, including websites, blogs and other outreach across departments, for new and existing members of the Michigan Tech community.
  • She is a sailor who enjoys Yoga, social media, gardening, and anything near the water. The debut novelist looks forward to writing more books.

Print Services

Rodney Thompson

Rodney Thompson

  • Manager of Print and Mail Services
Arlene Collins

Arlene Collins

  • Print Production Specialist

About Arlene

  • She has worked for University Marketing and Communications for over 25 years.
  • She prepares publications for the printer and coordinates specialized variable data mailings in conjunction with Mail Services.
Mark Kastamo

Mark Kastamo

  • Print Specialist
Mark Kiilunen

Mark Kiilunen

  • Print Production Specialist I

Mail Services

Rodney Thompson

Rodney Thompson

  • Manager of Print and Mail Services
John LeMay

John LeMay

  • Mail Services Specialist
Jesse Garrow

Jesse Garrow

  • Mail Services Specialist
Sandra Houle

Sandra Houle

  • Mail Services Specialist