William I. Rose

Following the completion of his PhD at Dartmouth College in 1970, Bill accepted a position as an Assistant Professor in the department. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1974 and full professor in 1979. He chaired the department from 1990-98 during a time of rapid transitions that included significant growth in the graduate programs and the incorporation of advanced computation and use of the internet in education, research, and public outreach. During his 41 years at Michigan Tech, Bill has been instrumental in growing the department’s research activity through vibrant external funding programs, increasing external visibility and program reputation through promoting scholarships, and growing graduate programs through developing and encouraging new offerings in interdisciplinary programs. Bill created the International Masters in Volcanological and Geotechniques (INVOGE, an international dual MS program) and the Peace Corps Master’s International--Mitigation of Geologic Natural Hazards programs. At present, the PCMI Geohazards program is the only PCMI program in the country within a geoscience department.                     

Bill’s entire faculty career was at Michigan Tech, and he held multiple visiting-scientist positions at agencies/institutions: National Center of Atmospheric Research, Cascade Volcano Observatory, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Los Alamos National Lab and the University of Bristol. He’s mentored countless faculty and research scientists and students. In retirement he has refocused his efforts to develop and promote geological understanding in a sociocultural context (geoheritage) among the general public. He and his wife, Nanno, support a variety of community programs and they pass along their appreciation of nature, culture, and the environment to their grandchildren, the offspring of their two sons, Christopher and Jason.