University Marketing and Communications
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Staff Directory

Administration

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Assistant Vice President for 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

  • Executive Director for Communications

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 enjoys spending time with family and friends and moonlights as a 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.
Mechelle Normand

Mechelle Normand

Dawn Pichette

Dawn M. Pichette

  • Administrative Aide

Marketing and Creative

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Assistant Vice President for 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

  • Executive Director for Communications

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 enjoys spending time with family and friends and moonlights as a fiction writer and editor.
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 Mare

  • 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.
Andrew Grohowski

Andrew Grohowski

  • Digital Services Marketing 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.
Paige Short

Paige Short

  • Project Manager

About Paige

  • She is your main contact person for print publications projects, helping keep things on track from kick-off to printing.
  • She works closely with designers and writers to create effective publications and positive client experiences.
  • She first moved to the Keweenaw from Iron Mountain in 2015 and enjoys playing both table-top and video games, cooking exciting new things, and spending time with her partner and their cats. 

Brand Management

Ian Repp

Ian Repp

  • Assistant Vice President for 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).
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
Andi Barajas

Andi Barajas

  • Digital Services Project Manager
Becky Barnard

Becky Barnard

  • Digital Services Project Strategist

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.
Bruce Brotherton

Bruce Brotherton

  • Web Developer/Programmer

Links of Interest

Areas of Expertise

  • HTML / CSS / JavaScript
  • Responsive Design 

About Bruce

  • He is from Hancock.
  • He is responsible for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Accessibility implementation on the University's content management system.
  • In his free time he reads and plays video games.
  • Ask him about the nuances in animated films.
Andrew Grohowski

Andrew Grohowski

  • Digital Services Marketing 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 Finland someday.
Heather Powers

Heather Powers

  • Digital Services Specialist I

Areas of Expertise

  • Web Project Managment
  • Web Design/Content Strategy
  • Digital Analytics
  • CMS, Events Calendar, and Blog Training
  • Wordpress Design/Software Support
  • Web Accessibility

About Heather

  • Represents the College of Sciences and Arts (CSA) regarding content management system (CMS) services, web strategy and design.
  • She assists with webpage development, collaborating on strategy/marketing for departmental 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.
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

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 Strategist

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

  • Executive Director for Communications

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 enjoys spending time with family and friends and moonlights as a 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
Jesse Garrow

Jesse Garrow

  • Mail Services Specialist
Sandra Houle

Sandra Houle

  • Mail Services Specialist