March 28, 2025

Two decades of research into his family’s place in Hawaiian history inspired Associate Professor Joel Neves (VPA) to create the tone poem “Kalaupapa” — his first musical composition. In December 2024, he conducted the piece with the University of Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Theatre in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Neves spent more than 25 years researching his family’s genealogy. He uncovered a painful truth: his great-great-grandparents, Manokalanipo and Mele Kaina Nahiolea, were quarantined for life on the Kalaupapa Peninsula of Moloka’i in Hawaii after contracting Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy.

“The main message is that through all their suffering, stigma, and isolation, my ohana (the Hawaiian word for family) lived productive, meaningful, beautiful lives,” said Neves. “Hopefully those going through their own personal tragedies can find light, hope and joy through my music.”

Read about Neves’ research pilgrimage to Kalaupapa and his experience in bringing this piece of music home at Michigan Tech's Unscripted Research Blog.

Registration is now open for the Michigan Tech Essential Education Symposium, which will be held in the Memorial Union Building on April 30. This free event is open to all faculty and staff on campus at Michigan Tech, as well as guests from local community organizations.

Register for the Michigan Tech Essential Education Symposium.

Check-in and breakfast begin at 8 a.m. with the opening welcome address starting at 9 a.m. Lunch will feature a keynote address from Shane Sutherland, founder, CEO and “chief mischief maker” of PebblePad, Michigan Tech’s ePortfolio platform.

The symposium will offer 12 sessions throughout the day with themes such as:

• Industry and student generational experts discussing trends in student attributes and industry talent needs.
• Reflection as storytelling.
• Using Husky Folio to connect student experiences to development of Essential Abilities.
• Embedding Essential Education minor themes into existing classes.
• Building partnerships between faculty and community organizations to develop Essential Education Experiences.
• What students can learn from us when we get comfortable talking about failure.
• Question assumptions and communicate quantitatively — strategies for teaching, Husky Folio and assessment.
• Resources for academic advisors — coaching students to success in Essential Education.
• Building a U.P.-themed Essential Ed minor.

The symposium will conclude at 3:15 p.m. Closing the event will be a panel of industry representatives and deans discussing the value of Essential Education to our future graduates and their future careers, followed by an awards and recognition ceremony.

Session titles, more defined session content and presenters will be communicated soon. Please contact the Essential Education Implementation Leadership Team at essential-ed-l@mtu.edu with any questions.

David Flaspohler, dean of the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES), has selected Assistant Professor Val Gagnon as this week’s featured instructor in the Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

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

Flaspohler praised Gagnon’s dedication to teaching excellence and her thoughtful, student-centered approach to instruction. Since joining CFRES, she has developed a range of impactful courses, including the foundational Natural Resource Policy, as well as more specialized offerings such as Indigenous Natural Resource Management and How We Talk About Our Earth. In student evaluations, she consistently earns high marks, scoring from 4.49 to 4.87 (on a five-point scale) in 2023-24 and 4.62 to 4.81 the previous year across the seven dimensions of teaching effectiveness.

“Dr. Gagnon is a thoughtful and rigorous instructor who structures her courses to be both accessible and intellectually challenging,” said Flaspohler. “She often invites students to question their assumptions — an essential part of any college education. She prioritizes building relationships with her students and community partners, and develops students holistically by supporting their growth in speaking, writing, research, creativity and leadership through carefully designed group projects, reflections and discussions.”

Students speak highly of Gagnon’s ability to connect personally and academically. One graduate student remarked on how she “takes the time to get to know her students” and designs her courses to “center student-driven projects,” creating valuable opportunities for leadership development. This same student emphasized that Gagnon’s classes provided “an interdisciplinary and holistic approach” that stood out from other graduate-level experiences.

Gagnon’s classroom practices are also praised for their inclusivity and engagement. In large lecture settings, often with more than 50 students, she uses tools like Mentimeter to ensure active participation and foster open dialogue. A student noted how these strategies allowed everyone to contribute, even anonymously, and helped make lectures “engaging and memorable.” They added that Gagnon consistently creates “an inclusive classroom environment where all students feel valued.”

Beyond instructional innovation, Gagnon’s commitment to experiential learning bridges the gap between theory and practice, preparing students to address real-world environmental challenges. She is also known for her accessibility outside class, offering a supportive presence for students navigating academic or personal difficulties.

Gagnon exemplifies what it means to care for the whole student. While maintaining high academic expectations, she fosters trust through empathy, openness and respect. “I am thrilled to celebrate her hard work and skill in the classroom,” said Flaspohler.

As another step in Michigan Tech's growth as an R1 institution, Sponsored Programs Pre-Award now requires a proposal Application Abstract in Cayuse. This abstract will be used internally for review, approval and reporting, and to foster collaboration across Michigan Tech's research community.

Simply use the abstract or proposal summary from your submission — there is no need to create a separate one. Remember to avoid including proprietary or sensitive institutional or sponsor information.

Additionally, the Export Control tab has been renamed Research Security. The questions have been updated and a new question on controlled unclassified information has been added at the end. We will handle CUI data on a case-by-case basis.

Thank you to our research community for embracing these changes as we work to continuously improve!

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) seminar with visiting speaker Kristen Cetin has been canceled due to travel problems.

The seminar was originally planned today, March 28, at 10 a.m. in Dow 875. It will be rescheduled for a later date.

This program/lecture is partially funded/sponsored by the Visiting Professor Program, which is funded by a grant to the Office of the Provost from the State of Michigan's King-Chávez-Parks Initiative.

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 April 6.

One person alone can save up to three lives in only one hour just by donating blood! The Society of Medical Laboratory Scientists (SMLS) is hosting a blood drive on April 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Wadsworth G17/19W with UP Health System.

All blood stays local, so you're saving lives directly in the U.P. Last semester, we collected 60 bags of blood, which is a lot more than we've seen in a long time. Let's keep this trend going and help out our community!

Before donating, you will complete a mini-physical and donor history questionnaire. If you donated through the American Red Cross in February, you are eligible to donate again at our blood drive.

Grab your buddies and see who can donate the quickest. Don't forget to drink plenty of water and eat a snack beforehand. Appointments are prioritized using the link below, but walk-ins are welcome, too!

Please spread the word. Contact Marissa Ritter at mjritter@mtu.edu with any questions.

Sign Up to Donate Blood.

Two speakers will present at the Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar on Monday, March 31, from 3-4 p.m. in GLRC 202.

Presentation 1:
Kenny Larsen will present "Dam Beavers: The Impact of Beaver Dams in Sediment and Phosphorus Retention and Wetland Creation in North America."

From the abstract:
Low-order streams in North America experienced significant alteration to their physical and biogeochemical processes following the extirpation of North American beavers (Castor canadensis) from most of North America. The loss of beaver dams on a large scale has led to increased sediment and nutrient loading in aquatic systems and a significant decline in wetlands across the continent. This study quantitatively estimates the potential impact of beaver dams in the conterminous United States on sediment, phosphorus retention, and wetland creation. It also describes the characteristics of individual dams. Stochastic analysis using a bootstrapped Monte Carlo simulation method estimated total dams, sediment, phosphorus retention, and beaver wetlands in the contiguous 48 United States. Results estimated a mean of 14.21 million beaver dams in the conterminous United States, creating 47.8 thousand square kilometers of wetlands and entraining approximately 25.15 cubic kilometers of sediment and 1.08 million metric tons of phosphorus. These estimates suggest that beaver dams can significantly impact sediment and phosphorus retention, contributing to the creation of wetlands in the conterminous United States. These results demonstrate the prevalence of beavers and support using beavers as an active component of watershed management.

Larsen is a Ph.D. candidate in environmental engineering at Michigan Tech. He is also a Margaret A Davidson Fellow at the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve. His recent work focuses on the role of beaver dams in sediment retention, phosphorus cycling, wetland formation, and understanding the broader impacts of beaver dams on the landscape. Currently, he’s also working on understanding how fluctuating lake levels impact P loading in the St. Louis River Estuary.

Presentation 2:
Cailin Bishop will present "Passive Samplers as a Tool for Assessing PCB Variability Across Freshwater Ecosystems: Methods and Implications."

From the abstract:
The development of passive sampling techniques for quantifying environmental contaminants has advanced significantly, providing a more accurate and cost-effective approach compared to more common active sampling methods. Passive sampling is particularly effective for measuring hydrophobic organic contaminants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in aquatic environments. In this study, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) samplers were deployed across four lakes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to quantify the dissolved phase of PCBs. These lakes include Torch Lake, an Area of Concern contaminated with PCBs, and three other lakes with varying trophic status and no known point-source inputs of contaminants. While challenges with instrumental analysis have delayed reporting of results, this seminar will explain the methods and approach to passive sampling of inland lakes, as well as the broader implications we can investigate with collected data.

Bishop is a master's student in environmental engineering at Michigan Tech. She is currently exploring the use of passive samplers for assessing chemical contamination in freshwater ecosystems. Another research interest of hers is the impact of climate change on biogeochemical cycles and aquatic ecosystems.

Caryn Heldt (ChE/HRI) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $50,000 research and development grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled "I-Corps: Translation Potential of a Continuous Manufacturing Process for Viral Vectors."

Idris Tohidian (ChE/HRI) and Leonard Switzer (Enterprise/HRI) are co-PIs on this potential one-year project.

Adam Meckler (VPA) was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about the Don Keranen Jazz Festival, which takes place at the McArdle Theatre today and tomorrow, March 28-29. The festival features performances by MTU jazz bands and guest artist Steven Hobert.

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MLive mentioned Michigan Tech's Ford Center and Forest in a story about the coldest recorded temperature in Michigan this winter, which was measured at negative 32 degrees Fahrenheit at the Ford Center in Alberta on Jan. 21. The temperature was confirmed by both manual and remote sensors and verified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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WNMU-FM mentioned Michigan Tech’s appointment of Carlos Rodriguez as chief financial officer and vice president of administration.

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97.9 WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Houghton’s snowfall totals for the 2024-25 season, which could nearly double last year’s amount.

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The Daily Mining Gazette covered Michigan Tech women’s basketball guard Isabella Lenz and men’s basketball guard Marcus Tomashek being named to the 2024-25 Academic All-District teams. My UP Now also covered Tomashek’s selection as a D2CCA First Team All-American.

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The Iron Mountain Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech alum Harold Fitch ’72 (B.S. Geology) in a story about his reappointment to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum Advisory Board.

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Circuits Assembly Magazine mentioned Michigan Tech alum Andrew Davis ’93 (B.S. Electrical Engineering) in a story about his appointment as the Business Development Manager at Federal Electronics.

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WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech alum Michael Renier ’89 (B.S. Chemistry) in a story about his retirement as president of the South Range Fourth of July Celebration Committee. Renier plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry after 18 years of organizing community events.

Art in Silico Submission Deadline

Final Reminder: Submit your work to the 2025 Art in Silico Computational Art Exhibition by midnight today, March 28.

Submissions are open to all! Our artists come from a very wide variety of backgrounds. We want to see how you connect the logical world of computing to the creative world of art! Reach out to silico-art-l@mtu.edu with any questions.

Submit Your Work to Art in Silico.

For more information, visit the Art in Silico website.

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Service Interruptions for University Work Order System

The University Work Order System, aka Maintenance Direct, will be out of service for infrastructure upgrades over the upcoming weekend, starting today, March 28, at 10 p.m. and continuing through Sunday, March 30, at noon. There will be interruptions in service during this time.

Facilities Management would like to reiterate that the 24-hour Facilities Emergency phone line remains dedicated to emergencies only. We ask that the campus community please use that resource accordingly.

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

Men's Tennis vs Roosevelt University

Friday, March 28, 12–3 a.m.

Men's Tennis vs Roosevelt University

Track & Field at WashU Distance Carnival

Friday, March 28, 12–3 a.m. | St. Louis, Mo.

Track & Field at WashU Distance Carnival St. Louis, Mo.

Women's Tennis vs Roosevelt University

Friday, March 28, 12–3 a.m.

Women's Tennis vs Roosevelt University

Isle Royale Art Exhibition - Michigan Tech Art

Friday, March 28, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Rozsa Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Enter into a world of artistic expression inspired by the wilderness of Isle Royale. The artworks showcased in this exhibition have all been...

Graduating and Still Looking

Friday, March 28, 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...

Smarter, Energy Efficient, Grid-Interactive Buildings: Improvements to Housing for Varied Demographics

Friday, March 28, 10 a.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 875

Civil Engineering Speaker Seminar Dr. Kristen Cetin, Associate Professor, Michigan State University Biography Dr. Kristen Cetin is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair...

RTC Brown Bag Talk: "Beauty, Excess, and the Grotesque in the Late-Capitalism Critique of Lauren Greenfield" with Emma Johnson

Friday, March 28, 12–1 p.m. | Walker Arts and Humanities Center, Petersen Library

RTC Brown Bag returns Friday, the 28 at noon where Emma Johnson will present her paper, "Beauty, Excess, and the Grotesque in the Late-Capitalism Critique of Lauren...

Ladies Bible Study

Friday, March 28, 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: Sarah Larkin

Friday, March 28, 3–4 p.m. | Rekhi Hall, 214

Computer Science Advisor: Soner Onder Kangaroo: Dynamic Fusion of Branch Instructions in a Pipelined Uniprocessor Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/87432870867

Game Night

Friday, March 28, 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...

Don Keranen Jazz Festival 2025 - Michigan Tech Jazz

Friday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. | McArdle Theatre

MICHIGAN TECH MUSIC SERIES EVENT The Annual Don Keranen Jazz Festival pays tribute to the founder of the Michigan Tech Jazz Studies Program, Don Keranen. The weekend includes...

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.