Administration
Ian Repp
- Assistant Vice President for University Marketing and Communications
- 906-487-2354
- irepp@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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
- Director of Operations
- 906-487-3526
- ceverran@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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
- Executive Director for Communications
- 906-487-1777
- ssidorts@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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.
"Just Go with It!"
Joel C. Vertin
- Director of Digital Services
About Joel
- Leading a digital marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
- Manages UMC's studio and web teams
- Chairs Michigan Tech's web accessibility subcommittee
- Manages Michigan Tech's Web Marketers Group
- Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Membership Committee
- Presenter at HighEdWeb and Higher Ed Experts conferences
- Is a Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13) from Calumet
- Enjoys golfing, running, softball, nordic skiing, and being a Dad
Nicole Kelly
- Creative Director
- 906-487-3527
- nnkelly@mtu.edu
- Hillside Place
Allison Mills
- Associate Director of Research Communications
- 906-487-2343
- Cell: 906-231-4271
- awmills@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- 906-487-2360
- mnormand@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
Dawn M. Pichette
- Administrative Aide
- 906-487-2354
- dmpichet@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
Marketing and Creative
Ian Repp
- Assistant Vice President for University Marketing and Communications
- 906-487-2354
- irepp@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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
- Creative Director
- 906-487-3527
- nnkelly@mtu.edu
- Hillside Place
Crystal Verran
- Director of Operations
- 906-487-3526
- ceverran@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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
- Executive Director for Communications
- 906-487-1777
- ssidorts@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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
- Senior Design Specialist
- watembre@mtu.edu
- Hillside Place
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
- Graphic Designer
- 906-487-3509
- vsemouch@mtu.edu
- Hillside Place
Jon Halquist
- Graphic Design Specialist
- 906-487-2344
- jlhalqui@mtu.edu
- Hillside Place
Cyndi Perkins
- Feature Writer
- 906-487-3181
- cmperkin@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Science and Technology Publications Writer
- 906-487-3510
- kelleyc@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Copyeditor/Writer
- 906-487-4521
- mcgrohow@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Digital Services Marketing Manager
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
- Project Manager
- 906-487-2354
- prbeyers@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Assistant Vice President for University Marketing and Communications
- 906-487-2354
- irepp@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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
- Director of Operations
- 906-487-3526
- ceverran@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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
- Creative Director
- 906-487-3527
- nnkelly@mtu.edu
- Hillside Place
Digital Services
"Just Go with It!"
Joel C. Vertin
- Director of Digital Services
About Joel
- Leading a digital marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
- Manages UMC's studio and web teams
- Chairs Michigan Tech's web accessibility subcommittee
- Manages Michigan Tech's Web Marketers Group
- Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Membership Committee
- Presenter at HighEdWeb and Higher Ed Experts conferences
- Is a Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13) from Calumet
- Enjoys golfing, running, softball, nordic skiing, and being a Dad
Andi Barajas
- Digital Services Project Manager
- 906-487-2354
- acbaraja@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G41W
Becky Barnard
- Digital Services Project Strategist
- 906-487-3073
- rbarnard@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G41W
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
- Web Developer/Programmer
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
- Digital Services Marketing Manager
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
- Digital Services Technical Manager
- 906-487-2431
- ajhughes@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G41W
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
- Digital Services Specialist I
- 906-487-2185
- hrpowers@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G41W
Superpowers
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
- Digital Services Coordinator
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
- Feature Writer
- 906-487-3181
- cmperkin@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Digital Services Project Strategist
- 906-487-3073
- rbarnard@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G41W
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
- Multimedia Specialist
- 906-487-2354
- bjjaszcz@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G41W
Photography and Video
Sarah Bird
- Photographer
- 906-487-2330
- photoservices-l@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G41W
Ben Jaszczak
- Multimedia Specialist
- 906-487-2354
- bjjaszcz@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G41W
Nicole Kelly
- Creative Director
- 906-487-3527
- nnkelly@mtu.edu
- Hillside Place
Megan Ross
- Digital Services Coordinator
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.
"Just Go with It!"
Joel C. Vertin
- Director of Digital Services
About Joel
- Leading a digital marketing revolution at Michigan Tech
- Manages UMC's studio and web teams
- Chairs Michigan Tech's web accessibility subcommittee
- Manages Michigan Tech's Web Marketers Group
- Serves on the HighEdWeb Association Membership Committee
- Presenter at HighEdWeb and Higher Ed Experts conferences
- Is a Michigan Tech alumnus (BS '09, MBA '13) from Calumet
- Enjoys golfing, running, softball, nordic skiing, and being a Dad
News and Media Relations
Stefanie Sidortsova
- Executive Director for Communications
- 906-487-1777
- ssidorts@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G45W
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
- Associate Director of Research Communications
- 906-487-2343
- Cell: 906-231-4271
- awmills@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- News Writer
- 906-487-3497
- mlwilcox@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Science and Technology Publications Writer
- 906-487-3510
- kelleyc@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Feature Writer
- 906-487-3181
- cmperkin@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Manager of Print and Mail Services
- 906-487-2347
- rdthomps@mtu.edu
Arlene Collins
- Print Production Specialist
- acollins@mtu.edu
- Wadsworth Hall G42W
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
- Print Specialist
- 906-487-2347
- mskastam@mtu.edu
Mark Kiilunen
- Print Production Specialist I
- 906-487-2347
- mwkiilun@mtu.edu
Mail Services
Rodney Thompson
- Manager of Print and Mail Services
- 906-487-2347
- rdthomps@mtu.edu
Jesse Garrow
- Mail Services Specialist
- 906-487-2348
- jegarrow@mtu.edu
- EERC 129
Sandra Houle
- Mail Services Specialist
- 906-487-2348
- smhoule@mtu.edu
- EERC 129