Michigan Technological University has been ranked No. 30 for best bachelor’s degree programs in business on the 2023 rankings by Best Accredited Colleges. In a strong field of competitors, the listing places MTU Business ahead of San Diego State University, the University of Georgia, Texas Tech University, and other noteworthy U.S. business programs.
Michigan Tech’s Academy of Business honors outstanding leaders in business and civic affairs, as well those who have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the College of Business (COB). On October 7, 2022, in the Alumni Lounge of the Memorial Union Building, COB welcomed four new members to this esteemed group.
The Student Leadership Awards took place on Friday, April 20. These awards celebrate and reward the individual and group efforts of students involved in organizations across campus. There are awards for student employees, student organizations, programs, and more.
This year, Gina Roose (accounting and finance major) was selected as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement Award for Service. Once nominated, Gina submitted her resume and an essay (featured below) describing the volunteer/community services she has been involved in while enrolled at Michigan Tech.
As a student, I have worked many places on campus. I started at University Images. The past 3 years, I’ve been a Peer Mentor for the Wahtera Center; helping students adjust to college, develop study skills, and get involved has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had.
My favorite job on campus has been working for Residential Life – as an RA for a year and a half, and this year as Community Coordinator. As an RA, I learned how to create an accepting community, bring people together, and apply creativity in problem-solving. This year, I enjoy fostering RA growth as a mentor in the CC role.
In all my roles, I aim to go beyond what is required. Residential Life, for example, is not about checking the boxes for me. I try to take every opportunity to help improve the lives of students I work with. While supporting students is a job requirement, I do my best to live and breathe that aspect of the job, and to extend beyond just the students in my hall. I also seize opportunities to expand my ability to support students I work with by seeking out optional training. I’ve been certified in Mental Health First Aid, as a Safe Place Ally, and as a facilitator for One Love domestic violence training.
While I’ve poured a great deal of myself into my jobs, I have also maintained a focus on school. I love my studies and have done very well in my classes. I have a passion for education, and balancing education and work allows me to combine what I learn in and out of the classroom.
During each spring semester, the five college Deans will identify outstanding instructors within their unit. (Engineering-4, Sciences and Arts-5, Business-1, Forestry-1, and Technology-1) These twelve nominees (allocated proportionally by the total number of affiliated faculty) are announced one per week through the spring term. All twelve are invited to an end-of-term luncheon where they receive formal recognition and a small token of appreciation from the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).
Beginning in 2017, Deans’ Teaching Showcase winners are considered (along with the distinguished teaching award finalists not selected) for three additional university-wide $1000 awards in targeted areas. Awards are given for exceptional large classroom/introductory teaching, innovative or outside the classroom teaching methods, and/or curriculum or assessment development. Each awardee is asked to make a presentation at a separate CTL event the following fall, sharing exceptional contributions and formally receiving recognition. Recipients take part in the next selection process.
This year, the School of Business and Economics is proud to recognize Dr. Jeffrey Wall, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems.
This award is presented each year to alumni under the age of 35 who have distinguished themselves in their career. The award recognizes the achievement of a position or some distinction noteworthy for one so recently graduated.
Captain Amanda (Taylor) Nerg ’10 believes in leaving a place better than when you arrived.
“Your actions will affect those around you and you can be that guiding force in creating a better future for those who come after us.”
For Nerg attending Tech was coming home. During her childhood, she lived near Tech while her mom served as the commander for the Air Force ROTC. “When we moved I missed everything about the area. When I began my search for a college, I only applied to one school, Michigan Tech. It was exciting to return to the place I had once called home.”
Nerg received a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 2010. In 2014, she earned her master of business administration at the Naval Postgraduate School.
She says the training she received at Michigan Tech prepared her for a career in the Air Force. Her first assignment she served as a contract administrator at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota where she managed a $7.6 million architect-engineer services program.
“Michigan Tech instilled a passion for innovation and creative thinking. The Air Force ROTC program guided me to become a strong leader and follower in the military. Alpha Gamma Delta taught me the values of living with purpose and impacting the world. Every class, every extracurricular activity provided the foundation for who I am today.”
Nerg is the Chief of Contracting Office at Moron Air Base in Spain, where she supports multiple Air Force, Marine, and NATO missions. While working on her master’s degree at the Naval Postgraduate School, she says her analytical background from Tech calculus and statistics classes helped create her thesis on geospatial information systems (GIS) and their use in humanitarian and disaster response, developing a transportation routing model for fuels distribution.
She says she has many fond memories from Tech include meeting her husband, Steve Nerg ’11. The couple has been married for more than six years.
Tech helped Nerg discover who she wanted to be. “Everything you do and have done at this university has shaped you into who you are today. Aspire to be your best and do your job with integrity and passion.”