Panels

The following panels will be presented as part of the Computing[MTU] Showcase.

The Past, Present, and Future of Computing[MTU]: A Panel Discussion

Rozsa Center


Going all the way back to our founding legislation, Michigan Tech has always focused on “...promot(ing) the industries of the state.” As the world adapts to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, computing and data science are critical components of how we stay true to this commitment. As such, the university has recently launched major high-profile efforts to support and grow computing, including creation of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems and the College of Computing. While these are important updates, computing has long been integral to Michigan Tech, both in terms of computing-specific programs and as an enabling technology in other domains. Our distinguished alumni panelists will reflect on their time at MTU, describe how computing at Michigan Tech led them to their chosen fields, and discuss where computing stands and where it is headed next. Sponsored by the Michigan Tech Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

Moderator: Dennis Livesay, Dave House Dean of Computing; Professor, Department of Applied Computing; Affiliated Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Panelist: Dan Fuhrmann, Chair, Department of Applied Computing; Dave House Professor of Computer Engineering
Panelist: Dave House '65,  Chairman, Brocade Communications; Vice Chairman of the Board, Computer History Museum
Panelist: Dianne Marsh '86 '92, Director of Content Security, Netflix
Panelist: Eric Roberts '93, Executive Director, 20 Fathoms
Panelist: Christine Roberts '91, Senior Vice President and General Manager: Software & Services Solutions, Poly
Panelist: Linda Ott, Chair, Department of Computer Science; Professor, Computer Science, Michigan Technological University

Dennis Livesay

Dennis Livesay, Moderator

Dave House Dean of Computing; Professor, Department of Applied Computing; Affiliated Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Dan Fuhrmann

Dan Fuhrmann, Panelist

Chair, Department of Applied Computing; Dave House Professor of Computer Engineering

Dave House

Dave House, Panelist

Chairman, Brocade Communications; Vice Chairman of the Board, Computer History Museum

Dianne Marsh

Dianne Marsh, Panelist

Director of Content Security, Netflix

Linda Ott

Linda Ott, Panelist

Chair, Department of Computer Science; Professor, Computer Science, Michigan Technological University

Eric Roberts

Eric Roberts, Panelist

Executive Director, 20 Fathoms

Christine Roberts

Christine Roberts, Panelist

Senior Vice President and General Manager: Software & Services Solutions, Poly

Women in IT: A Panel Discussion

Watch a video of the panel discussion.

Ford Logo


Though women make up approximately 47% of the workforce in the United States, the number of women employed in IT or data science fields remains disproportionately low at only 26% of workers, according to the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor. Why do so few women turn to IT as their preferred field and what steps can we take to make IT more accessible and inclusive to women? Our distinguished panelists discuss how they chose IT and reflect on work in the field through a female lens. Sponsored by Ford.

Moderator: Paula Stolar '92, Senior Technology Director, Ally Financial Services; Board of Directors, Michigan Council of Women in Technology
Panelist: Kathi Bellotti, Cybersecurity Program Manager, US Venture Inc.
Panelist: Mari Buche, Associate Dean and Professor of Management Information Systems, College of Business
Panelist: Cindy Rutyna, FNV4 Zonal Module Supervisor, Vehicle Software and Electronic Solutions, Ford
Panelist: Carrie Schaller '87, Business Process Director for Manufacturing Operations, Dow Chemical
Panelist: Elaine Stephens, Head of Customer Engineering, Google; State Board Member, Women in Technology Wisconsin

Paula Stoler

Paula Stolar, Moderator

Senior Technology Director, Ally Financial Services

Kathy Belotti

Kathi Bellotti, Panelist

Cybersecurity Program Manager, US Venture Inc. 

Mari Buche

Mari Buche, Panelist

Associate Dean and Professor of Management Information Systems, College of Business

Cindy Rutnya

Cindy Rutyna, Panelist

FNV4 Zonal Module Supervisor, Vehicle Software and Electronic Solutions, Ford

Carrie Schaller
Carrie Schaller, Panelist
Business Process Director for Manufacturing Operations, Dow Chemical
Elaine Stephens

Elaine Stephens, Panelist

Head of Customer Engineering, Google 

Women in IT Panelist Biographies