April 4, 2025

April is a busy month for Michigan Tech students, and graduating senior Connor Tokie (environmental engineering/civil engineering) is no exception. Starting next Thursday, April 10, Tokie and his fellow members of Tech's American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter will be hosting the Eastern Great Lakes ASCE Student Symposium at MTU. The three-day symposium will bring more than 15 universities and 400 competitors from across Michigan and Ohio to Houghton.

The symposium is the regional competition for ASCE teams including Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe and Timber Strong. Tokie will compete in the symposium as captain of Michigan Tech’s Student Steel Bridge Competition team, a group he’s been a part of for the last four years.

“It’s an exciting honor to be able to host the regional competition this year,” said Tokie. “As competitors, we are treating it like any other regionals and are looking forward to seeing what the other teams bring to the table.”

Tokie shares his favorite memories as a Husky, how he found his engineering passions, and insights into this year’s Steel Bridge competition at Stories from Husky Nation.

Wildlife ecology and conservation major and bird bander Maggie Guinther can vividly describe what it feels like to hold a bird. Finches are very soft. Robins are known for pooping all over everything. Her first bird banded was a dark-eyed junco.

In Guinther’s experience, birds, like people, are highly individual. They might feel some type of way about being handled or be super chill. No matter how they’re reacting, she approaches her task with joy, compassion and a sense of purpose.

“Bird banding research is unique because it allows for close, in-hand observation of live birds, which is an experience most people never have,” Guinther says.

In her own words, Guinther tells how she began her work last summer and where it has led her at the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science blog.

What do super-rare fruit flies, more than four years of research and a children’s bedtime story have in common? They are all ingredients in The Encyclopedia of North American Drosophilids Volume 3: Drosophilids of the Northwest, authored by Thomas Werner (BioSci).

Werner, a North American fruit fly expert, entomologist and professor of genetics and developmental biology at MTU, is celebrating the release of the third volume in his encyclopedia series documenting fruit flies across the continent — and Huskies are invited. The Michigan Tech release party is planned from 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, in Library 243 and 244.

“The book is not so much about new discoveries, but instead is a comprehensive field guide to all drosophilid species inhabiting the Northwest of the U.S. mainland,” said Werner.

He will be joined by his two co-authors, Tessa Steenwinkel and John Jaenike, and illustrator Natalia Werner at the event.

Come pick up an autographed bookmark! Printed copies of Volume 3 will be available for guests to peruse. Refreshments will be served.

Read more about Volume 3 at the College of Sciences and Arts Newsblog.

College of Sciences and Arts Dean LaReesa Wolfenbarger and Pavlis Honors College Dean Marika Seigel have selected Laura Fiss, associate teaching professor in Pavlis Honors College and the Department of Humanities, for the Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

Fiss will be recognized at an end-of-term event with other spring showcase members and is a candidate for the CTL Instructional Award Series.

Fiss started as an associate teaching professor in fall 2022 after positions as an instructor (2014-16) and a research assistant professor (2016-22). She has taught 11 different courses for the Department of Humanities since fall 2014 and three different honors courses since 2017.

“Over the 10-plus years of teaching at Michigan Tech, Dr. Fiss has contributed significantly to improving and updating curriculum and course development, including meaningful contributions to the development of Essential Education,” said Wolfenbarger.

Students comment frequently on Fiss’ enthusiasm and passion in the classroom and the personal attention they received in class, describing how Fiss fosters a positive learning community with in-class discussions and group work. “I felt like I really connected with some of the people sitting around me,” said one student. “The in-class discussions about the material were loads of fun!” said another.

Fiss values providing students with opportunities to find their authentic voice. She uses in-class discussions and group work to encourage students to lead conversations with her as a facilitator. In the last part of her classes, Fiss frequently leads the students in a review so that they leave with a cohesive message. This structure resonates with students. “Having the students talk in their groups about a specific topic was incredibly helpful,” a student commented. Another praised Fiss for coming in “with interesting questions for the class to let us discuss amongst ourselves.”

Fiss has been instrumental in piloting new pedagogical methods. In 2022-23, she led the design and instruction of the pilot project “Read, Write, Engage” for UN1015 Composition. She also led the program’s funding, awarded from the Teagle Foundation. Her service as a member of the Essential Education Implementation Leadership Team and in its ePortfolio working group has been instrumental. She piloted one ePortfolio platform in her 2023-24 courses and PebblePad in a fall 2024 course.

As chair of the Pavlis Honors College Curriculum and Assessment Committee, Fiss has been instrumental in developing a new version of the honors curriculum that leverages and enhances Essential Education. She has also led the development of new approaches to assessment of student learning outcomes in the honors curriculum.

“Dr. Laura Fiss exemplifies excellence in teaching through her dedication and commitment to student success,” said Seigel. “Her leadership in curriculum development, pedagogical innovation, and assessment has made a lasting impact on both the honors program and Essential Education.”

In celebration of its 25 years at Michigan Technological University, the Enterprise Program has awarded eight inaugural Enterprise Distinguished Service Awards to recognize the dedication and exceptional contributions of advisors and champions who have played pivotal roles in shaping the program’s success.

The award 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.

First Award Winner Profile: Brett Hamlin  
Starting today, April 4, Enterprise will publish eight profiles in Tech Today highlighting the contributions of each award recipient. This eight-part series leads off with Brett Hamlin.

Hamlin has been with Enterprise since the beginning. The program officially launched during the 1999-2000 academic year with just three teams, one of which was the Baja SAE Enterprise, a student-led team that designs, builds and tests a single-seat off-road vehicle to compete in a national competition.

“The University was looking for ways to support multi-year project teams on campus, and Baja was one of the teams identified,” Hamlin explains. “I was already advising the team, and one of the things that students had to do was fundraising. This often took the students’ time and attention away from what they were working on. Creating the Enterprise umbrella was so important for many reasons, one of which is that it gave multi-year projects a centrally funded model, which allowed us to shift our focus back to education and the real-world experience.”

Read Hamlin's full profile on the Enterprise Blog.

Congratulations to the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) Student Poster award winners at the Undergraduate Research & Scholarship Symposium, hosted by the Pavlis Honors College on March 21:

• First Place: Jacob Schmidt (advised by Ishi Keenum, CEGE)
• Second Place: Drew Schlaff (advised by Noel Urban, CEGE)
• Third Place: Allen Cureton (advised by Trista Vick-Majors, BioSci)

Judges: Erika Vye and Beth Techtmann (both GLRC)

Congratulations also to the GLRC winners at the Graduate Student Government Graduate Research Colloquium on March 25:

• First Place: Ali Awad (advised by Ashraf Saleem, AC)
• Joint Second Place: Garrett Lukosavich (advised by Trista Vick-Majors, BioSci)
• Joint Second Place: Israel Adeoye (advised by Ishi Keenum, CEGE)
• Joint Third Place: Ayush Chutani (advised by Ana Dyreson, MAE)
• Joint Third Place: Fawad Ullah (advised by Stephen Techtmann, BioSci)

Judges: Tim Havens (CS/GLRC/ICC), Xinyu Ye (CEGE), Amanda Stump (ICC) and Rachel Rulison (GLRC)

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to our judges!

Save the Date: Fall Career Fair will be held Sept. 23 from 12-5 p.m. at the Student Development Complex.

Career Services is very excited about the many opportunities Career Fair provides our students. We are hosting multiple prep workshops to prepare students for this event. Please let us know if you have any questions.

More details can be found on our website, on Handshake and in emails from Handshake. Registration is open on Handshake as well. Go Huskies!

Hello Huskies!

Michigan Tech students in the Marketing Strategy class are conducting a survey to understand consumer preferences for tiny homes. This initiative aims to assist a local construction company in better serving the community.

Your insights are invaluable to this project. As a token of appreciation, participants will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card to La Catrina. Please take a few moments to complete the survey. 

Complete the Tiny Home Interest Survey.

The survey will remain open until April 14. Thank you for your time and consideration!

Gabrielle B. Haskins, PMP, will discuss her career as a project manager on Monday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to noon in AOB 101.

Haskins’ presentation is titled “My Project Management Journey.”

Haskins has worked in a variety of industries with both multinational companies and as a professional consultant. Currently she is president and CEO of Project Executive LLC. She has also served as the PMP mentor for College of Business Advanced Project Management teams for seven years.

Haskins holds her project management professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute, and is also a certified Kubernetes security specialist (CKS), an ICAgile certified professional (ICP), and a certified portfolio management professional (PfMP).

She has a decade of expertise in training and creating specialized curriculums in project management, and holds a B.S. in Food Science and Technology from McGill University and master's certificates in both project management and information technology project management from George Washington University.

Job Posting for Friday, April 4, 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.

Laboratory Instrumentation Technician #25079, Physics. 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.

Nich Radcliffe (VPA) was quoted by My UP Now and the Keweenaw Report in stories about Michigan Tech Theatre’s production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Radcliffe discussed the creative process and preparation for the show, which opens at the Rozsa Center on Thursday, April 10.

*****

Jared Anderson (VPA) was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about Michigan Tech Music’s upcoming concert, “Considering Matthew Shepard.” Anderson discussed the inspiration behind the concert, which will be performed by the Michigan Tech Concert Choir and conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers on April 19 at the Rozsa Center.

*****

My UP Now and the Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about HED of Royal Oak receiving a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies for its work on MTU's H-STEM Complex. The award will be presented in May at the 58th annual Engineering Excellence Awards.

Annual Study Away Photo Contest – Public Voting

International Programs and Services (IPS) has received nearly 400 photos from students in our annual Study Away Photo Contest, and we'd like your help in choosing a winner!

We've narrowed the field to 30 final photographs, which you can view and submit your vote for at the Study Away Photo Contest 2025 Public Voting form.

This contest showcases the diverse and enriching experiences our students have encountered during their study away programs, capturing moments that reflect cultural immersion, academic exploration and personal growth.

Thank you for your time and commitment to enhancing our students' educational experiences! Your participation as a judge not only honors their efforts but also underscores the importance of global learning within our University community.

Voting will be open through Sunday, April 6.

*****

Design Expo Seeks Judges for 25th Anniversary

The Enterprise Program and College of Engineering would like to cordially invite you to join us for the 25th Annual Design Expo on April 15. This event proudly showcases the incredible work of our Enterprise and Senior Design student teams. Volunteer judges are still needed for our milestone 25th anniversary year, which promises to be an exciting celebration of innovation, collaboration and real-world problem-solving.

Judges help us determine the best teams to receive cash prizes. To sign up as a judge and indicate your judging preferences, please complete our 2025 Design Expo Judge Registration form.

Additional Background:
Judging typically takes about an hour, depending on the number of volunteers. Judges need not have any experience or background in the project topics — the intent is for our students to communicate their work effectively to a range of audiences. For those working with a Senior Design or Enterprise team, we can ensure you are not judging your student team(s). We will use the RocketJudge voting software again, although we can print a paper ballot on-site if requested.

Even if you’re unable to serve as a judge, we hope you’ll still attend and experience the remarkable work of our students. Attending Design Expo is a great way to see our students in action while presenting their Senior Capstone Design and Enterprise projects to the public. Work from more than 80 student teams will be showcased.

Please feel free to share this invitation within your organization, campus, alumni and community networks as you see fit. Thank you in advance, and we will provide more event info and judging resources as we get closer to the date!

Event Details:

• What: 25th Annual Design Expo
• When and Where: Tuesday, April 15, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. at Michigan Tech
  • Student Showcase: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Van Pelt and Opie Library and Memorial Union
  • Award Mixer and Ceremony: 2:30-5 p.m. in the Rozsa Lobby

*****

Tomorrow: SHPE Hosting Gala Latina

Gala Latina is hosted annually by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), a registered student organization at Michigan Tech. Please join us tomorrow, April 5, from 6-9 p.m. in the DHH Ballroom. This year's theme is Western/Vaquero, so come with your boots or semiformal clothes — either is fine (we're not strict on the dress code).

Gala Latina is a free cultural event, open to the community, located on campus in Douglass Houghton Hall, making it easily accessible for MTU resident students. This event is meant to be a de-stress opportunity for students to let loose and a chance to create a sense of community for everyone while also learning something new about our Latino culture.

There will be music from various cultures and dancing will be strongly encouraged. We will provide food, music and prizes — like LEGO sets, Nerf guns, a snow cone machine and a telescope. Check us out on Involvement Link and Instagram (@SHPE_mtu) for more details!

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

Men's Tennis vs Ferris State University

Friday, April 4, 12–3 a.m.

Men's Tennis vs Ferris State University

Women's Tennis vs Ferris State University

Friday, April 4, 12–3 a.m.

Women's Tennis vs Ferris State University

Master's Defense: Caleb Mensah

Friday, April 4, 9–10 a.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 804

Civil Engineering Advisor: Raymond Swartz PROTOTYPE FOR AN EARLY ALERT SYSTEM IN TIMBER TRUSSES

Master's Defense: Noah Kolczynski

Friday, April 4, 9–10 a.m. | Rekhi Hall, 101

Computer Science Advisor: Charles Wallace Developing a GraphQL Mesh Federated API Gateway Rapid Integration of new Endpoints Into a Predefined Schema

PhD Defense: Ryne Rutherford

Friday, April 4, 9–10 a.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, 108

Forest Science Advisor: David Flaspohler ECOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT DICTATE THE OCCURRENCE OF UNIQUE BIOTA ON GRANITE BEDROCK GLADES Attend Virtually:...

Graduating and Still Looking

Friday, April 4, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building (Admin, Building 1), 220 Career Services

Are you graduating in April? Are you still looking for your first opportunity out of college? Join us Friday mornings for coffee and discuss possibilities and strategies for...

Innovative Biomedical Devices and Liquid Metal Soft Electronics

Friday, April 4, 10 a.m. | Fisher Hall, 101

Chemical Engineering Seminar Dr. Jeong Bong (JB) Lee Professor Baylor University Abstract Liquid metal is a metal that is in liquid phase at room temperature. Unlike...

Art in Silico 2025 Gallery hosted by the CCCAC

Friday, April 4, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | Copper Country Community Arts Center, Gallery

Submissions from the Art in Silico 2025 Computational Art Exhibition will be on display at the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock, Michigan, during open hours...

FIRST Robotics Competition Volunteering - Michigan State Championships

Friday, April 4, 12:00–10:30 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State University

NOTE: Due to the increased travel and distance, Copper Country Robotics at Michigan Tech is requiring $20 per person to attend this trip... This $20 covers a hotel room...

In Praise of Football: Poetics, Aesthetics, Politics, and Identities of the Ball

Friday, April 4, 12–1 p.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 103

Join us on April 4th at noon! Visiting Speaker Daniel Noemi Voionmaa will be giving a public talk titled “In Praise of Football: Poetics, Aesthetics, Politics, and Identities...

PhD Defense: Cora Taylor

Friday, April 4, 12–1 p.m. | R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), 1021

Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Co-advisors: James DeClerck and Jason Blough PROCESS TO DESIGN AND ANALYZE DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT TEST FIXTURES (PDADyE) Attend...

Master's Defense: Laura Schimmel

Friday, April 4, 2–3 p.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, G002

Forest Ecology and Management Advisor: Tara Bal Relict Ponderosa Pine Mortality and Fuels Study in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana, USA

Master's Defense: Ryleigh Parsons

Friday, April 4, 2–3 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 215

Biological Sciences Advisor: Paul Goetsch ASSESSING ACTIVATORS OF CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS GERMLINE

Ladies Bible Study

Friday, April 4, 3–4 p.m. | 1st Floor, Opie Van Pelt Library

Want to learn about women of the Bible? The Do's and Don't of lady wisdom and the harlot? Join Rachel and Gabby as they teach through the ladies of the bible. This is a...

Master's Defense: May Waters

Friday, April 4, 3–4 p.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 316

Chemistry Advisor: Haiying Liu NEAR-INFRARED FLUORESCENT SENSORS FOR MONITORING NAD(P)H DYNAMICS IN LIVING CELLS, DROSOPHILA LARVAE AND KIDNEY TISSUE Attend Virtually:...

PhD Defense: Elizabeth Novotny

Friday, April 4, 3–4 p.m. | Walker Arts and Humanities Center, 318

Rhetoric, Theory and Culture Advisor: Oren Abeles Distributing Composition: Rhetorical Agency in First-Year Writing Attend Virtually:...

Transforming DBS Therapy: Clinically-Driven Innovations in Closed-Loop Stimulation and Neurophysiology-based Targeting

Friday, April 4, 3–4 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 104

Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar Enrico Opri University of Michigan Abstract Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become standard therapy for medically refractory...

Game Night

Friday, April 4, 7–10 p.m. | His House Campus House

Looking for a fun way to unwind and connect with friends? Join us for Game Night! 🕹️ Whether board games, card games, video games, or even ping pong, there’s something...

Talent Show with Prizes!

Friday, April 4, 9:00–11:30 p.m. | McArdle Theater in Walker 207

Grab your friends and join us for a fun night watching the talented people at Michigan Tech! Friday, April 4 at 9 p.m. at the McArdle Theater in Walker. Do you have a talent?...

The Graduate School is pleased to announce the following dissertation, thesis and report defenses occurring next week. Please consider attending to learn more about our students’ scholarship and celebrate their academic accomplishments. Check the University Events Calendar for last-minute updates to times, dates and locations.