College of Business students have voted Ulrich (Ulli) Schmelzle, assistant professor of supply chain and operations management, as the Teacher of the Year.
Schmelzle leads classes in operations and supply chain management. He also developed and implemented the study abroad experience in Germany, which launched in 2022 and took place again in summer 2023.
“Ulli brings a formula that perfectly complements teaching in a technologically embedded business college: He has a STEM education, industry experience in a pioneering aerospace firm, and a passion for people. Anyone who has met Dr. Schmelzle has witnessed his infectious smile; our students are fortunate to learn from him,” says Dean Johnson, dean of the College of Business.
Here are some notes of praise students submitted for Schmelzle:
“Amazing professor like many at Tech, but also a kind and understanding human.”
“I really enjoy how he would bring in examples from his past experiences in the workforce, because he has lots of stories that tie directly into what we learn about in class.”
“Really cares about students and makes sure you are engaged during class.”
“Always brings a smile to everyone’s faces, even for 8 a.m. classes!”
“After the mid-semester student surveys were completed, he shared the input with the class and shifted his teaching to accommodate preferences.”
“He has a great knowledge base about his content and relates it to ideas that students understand.”
Prior to returning to academia, Schmelzle held managerial positions in supply management, manufacturing, and logistics planning throughout the US and Europe. Building on more than 18 years of industry experience, Schmelzle focuses his research on managerial decision-making promoting efficiency and innovativeness. He is particularly interested in how supply chain management can enhance the innovation performance of an organization.
He regularly presents his research at international conferences from organizations such as the Decision Sciences Institute and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
