Author: Coby-Dillon English

Wayne Weaver Named Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Interim Chair

MTU clocktower with green grass and blooming flowers in front on a sunny day.
Wayne Weaver, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has been named the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Wayne W. Weaver has been named interim chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering, effective July 1. Weaver will lead the ECE department, which supports more than 600 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students, for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Wayne Weaver
Wayne Weaver is an MAE professor and associate chair and director of graduate studies. He will serve as the interim ECE chair for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Weaver, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and an ECE-affiliated faculty member, spent more than 11 years serving in his primary appointment with the ECE department as the associate chair and director of graduate studies for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Weaver teaches courses on topics of propulsion systems for hybrid electric vehicles and linear systems theory and design. 

“Wayne brings a strong background of leadership in research and education. I’m looking forward to working with him and ECE to lead the way in these exciting times of energy transition and digital acceleration,” said Michelle Scherer, dean of the College of Engineering. 

Weaver received his BS in electrical engineering and BS in mechanical engineering from Kettering University, then known as the GMI Engineering & Management Institute. He went on to receive his MS and PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Prior to joining Michigan Tech in 2007, Weaver worked as a research and design engineer at Caterpillar Inc., and as a research engineer for the US Army Corp of Engineers at the Engineering Research Development Center and Construction Engineering Research Lab. Weaver’s research interests include power electronics, microgrids, energy conversion, electrified propulsion systems and non-linear and optimal control. He also currently serves as the associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

Patrick Pinhero Named Department of Chemical Engineering Chair

-STEM Building exterior during a sunset with green grass and trees on campus.
Patrick Pinhero, former professor of chemical engineering at the University of Missouri, has been named chair of Michigan Tech’s Department of Chemical Engineering.
Patrick Pinhero
Patrick Pinhero, former professor of chemical engineering at the University of Missouri, has been named chair of Michigan Tech’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

Patrick Pinhero has been named chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering, effective July 1.

Pinhero joins us from the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering at the University of Missouri, where he was a professor of chemical engineering for 18 years. He served as department chair and co-chair, as well as the director of research for the University of Missouri’s nuclear engineering program. He is a leading researcher in understanding how material interfaces control and regulate chemical processes. 

“We are so very fortunate to be welcoming Patrick to our Husky pack to lead our Department of Chemical Engineering!” said Michelle Scherer, dean of the College of Engineering. “The department is recognized nationwide for its research and innovative course design and safety practices and I’m thrilled to have someone with Patrick’s track record of administrative and research leadership joining us.”

Andrew Swartz Named Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Interim Chair

Aerial photograph of Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building and Electrical Energy Resource Center during a sunset; Keweenaw Waterway in the background.
Andrew Swartz, associate professor of civil, environmental, and geospatial engineering, has been named CEGE interim department chair.

R. Andrew Swartz has been named interim chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) at Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering, effective July 1. Swartz will lead the CEGE department, which supports more than 500 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students, for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Andrew Swartz
Andrew Swartz is a CEGE associate professor and associate chair of curriculum. He will serve as interim department chair for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Swartz is an associate professor of civil, environmental, and geospatial engineering and currently serves as the CEGE associate chair of curriculum. He teaches courses on topics of steel design, structural timber design, continuous-system modeling, and advanced structural analysis. Swartz is also an affiliated associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. He serves as the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Student Steel Bridge Competition team

“Andrew is an expert in developing sensors and computing for structural applications and has been instrumental in creating and delivering curriculum to prepare our students to tackle complex infrastructure challenges,” said Michelle Scherer, dean of the College of Engineering. “Andrew brings a strong background of leadership in structures research and engineering education, and I’m looking forward to working with him and CEGE to continue to lead the way in engineering a better world.”

An MTU alumnus, Swartz earned his BS in civil engineering before going on to receive his MS in civil engineering, MS in electrical engineering: systems, and PhD in civil engineering from the University of Michigan. His research interests include applications of sensors and computing for structural systems including load characterization, structural health monitoring, and structural control for civil infrastructure assets such as buildings, bridges, pipelines, wind turbines, roadways, and railroads.


Audra Morse Named College of Engineering Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Aerial photograph of Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building and Great Lakes Research Center during a sunset.
Audra Morse, professor of civil, environmental, and geospatial engineering, has been named the College of Engineering’s associate dean of academic affairs.

Audra Morse has been named the associate dean of academic affairs of the College of Engineering at Michigan Technological University, effective July 1.

Morse has served as chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) since 2017 and previously served as interim dean of the College of Engineering for the 2023-2024 academic year. In her role as associate dean, Morse will support undergraduate curriculum, recruitment, and support across the college’s nine departments and further the college’s mission of delivering world-class education, leadership, and research. 

The College of Engineering Graduating Class of 2025 Shares a Fond Farewell

A crowd of Michigan Tech graduating students wearing their caps and gowns with the audience in the background.
Over 600 College of Engineering students will participate in this week’s upcoming commencement ceremonies.

More than 600 College of Engineering students will take part in Michigan Technological University commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. While their time on campus is coming to an end, they know they’ll be Huskies forever. 

As they prepare for graduation, engineering students are reflecting on their time at Tech, sharing their dreams for the future, and offering advice to the next generation of Huskies.

Hoda Hatoum Selected for Deans’ Teaching Showcase

Hoda Hatoum
Hoda Hatoum, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and affiliated assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has been selected for the Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

For her student-centric approach to teaching, College of Engineering Dean Michelle Scherer has selected Hoda Hatoum, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and assistant affiliated professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, as the final instructor in this year’s Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

Jaclyn Johnson Receives Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award

Jaclyn Johnson works on a piece of imaging equipment
Jaclyn Johnson has been teaching in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering since 2014 and was recently named a Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year.

Jaclyn Johnson, teaching professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is one of three recipients of the 2025 Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award. The awards are presented annually by the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU) to recognize outstanding contributions and dedication to the education of undergraduate students exhibited by the faculty from Michigan’s 15 public universities.

William Endres Selected for Deans’ Teaching Showcase

Headshot of William Endres wearing a tan shirt in a graphic with a photo of Michigan Tech’s campus.
William “Bill” Endres, the Richard and Elizabeth Henes professor of mechanical engineering, has been selected for the Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

College of Engineering Dean Michelle Scherer has selected William “Bill” Endres, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), as the featured instructor in this week’s Deans’ Teaching Showcase.

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

SWE at Michigan Tech Attends WE Local Conference

Twelve members of SWE at Michigan Tech pose together in front of a SWE backdrop.
At WE Local 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, members of SWE at Michigan Tech received scholarships, presented workshops, and networked with other SWE collegiate members. (All images courtesy Michigan Tech SWE)

Michigan Tech’s section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) attended their WE Local 2025 conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in mid-March. Through the generous support of their corporate sponsors, SWE at Michigan Tech was able to send 12 students to attend professional development sessions, network with industry professionals and members of other SWE sections, and bond with their fellow Michigan Tech Huskies.

All aboard! Michigan Tech’s Rail Transportation Program is Leading the Way

Railroad tracks curving around a green hill with shrubs on either side.
Michigan Tech’s Rail Transportation Program (RTP) has been a leader in rail education and technology for nearly 20 years.

For over 15 years, Michigan Tech’s Rail Transportation Program (RTP) has been committed to developing tomorrow’s leaders in rail engineering. As part of the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI) and Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE), RTP has served as a beacon of research, education, and innovation for rail enthusiasts from high school students to expert faculty and everyone in between.

Michigan Tech’s one-of-a-kind program was founded in 2007 by Pasi Lautala, then a recent Michigan Tech doctoral graduate, now long-time faculty member, who serves as director of both RTP and MTTI. Since its inception, the program’s goal has been three-fold: education, research, and outreach.