Dr. Atsushi Akera, associate professor of science and technology studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), will present a public seminar on the topic, “Asians as Model Minorities–Navigating through STEM careers in a Globalized Workforce.”
The talk will be held in the Alumni Lounge in the Memorial Union on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. Refreshments will be available.
The NC State University Building Future Faculty (BFF) Program is a two day all-expenses paid workshop for doctoral students and post-doctoral scholars who are interested in pursuing academic careers, who are committed to promoting diversity in higher education, and who are one to two years away from beginning a job search.
Application deadline: Sunday, November 10, 2013
Program dates: Wednesday, April 2 – Saturday, April 5, 2014
For more information on the workshop, http://oied.ncsu.edu/faculty/building-future-faculty-program/
by John Gagnon, promotional writer
“Service is the rent we pay to occupy the earth,” said Otha Thornton Tuesday night when he addressed about fifty people on an ethic of leadership that focuses on helping others.
“Take care of your people,” the popular military man counseled the group of mostly students. “Listen to your people.” Such service, he said, “can lead to great things.”
It was Thornton’s first trip back to Tech since helping lead the Army ROTC program from 1999 to 2001, when he also earned a master’s degree in rhetoric and technical communication. He will return to campus in May as Spring Commencement speaker.
He is visiting Tech in part to participate in Black History Month. He is scheduled to speak at noon today, Thursday, Feb. 26, about what the military means to African Americans. The session is at noon in the Memorial Union Red Metal Room. The King-Chavez-Parks Visiting Scholars Program, through the Office of Institutional Diversity, supported Thornton’s visit, as did Omicron Delta Kappa, the national student leadership society.
Thornton, a lieutenant colonel, joined the army simply to serve his country for four years. He says that the opportunities have stretched that stint to 20 years. “No regrets,” he said.
His duties have taken him from Hawaii to Upper Michigan, from Germany to Washington DC, where he now works as a presidential communications officer in the White House Communications Agency, located in the Executive Office Building. The agency numbers 1,200 people. He supervises 26.
He has had such duties as traveling to Arizona as part of an advance team to set up all the communications for a fundraising visit by former president Bush on behalf of John McCain during the run for president. In his two years in his current position, he has worked directly on four presidential events.
Asked how he felt about a black president, Thornton responded: “If you work hard and have your things in order, America is a great land of opportunity.”
When he was stationed in Texas, Thornton, a native of Georgia, was overjoyed to get orders for the ROTC program at Georgia Tech. At the last minute, his assignment switched to Michigan Tech.
He looked up Upper Michigan on the web and found out the winter would be the same as he had encountered in northern Japan: cold and snow, which he hated. He begged, “I’ll go to Kuwait. I’ll go to Korea–anyplace but northern Michigan.” His pleas were unanswered, and he was bummed. Then he came to Michigan Tech. “I’m glad I did. It was wonderful. The people are so friendly.” He singled out Associate Professor Patricia Sotirin and Professor Robert Johnson.
Early in his career, Thornton was in intelligence. Lately, he has been in human resources. In May he will go to Afghanistan as a personnel officer, basically helping to direct the “flow of people” who are being deployed there as part of the surge in the number of troops being sent to that country. He will leave behind two children, one in high school and one in college, and his wife, Caryn, a high school administrator.
It’ll be his first posting in a war zone, if you don’t count anti-drug and anti-human trafficking operations in Latin America.
He takes his new duty in stride, for he believes that where he is, is where he’s supposed to be.
His community service includes the National Board of Directors of the Parent Teacher Association and the Boy Scouts.
He told the students that, despite the ailing economy, there are many job opportunities in government and the military. He personally knows a dozen Tech alumni who work in the National Security Agency.
One student at Thornton’s speech definitely got message. Joe Scheinkoenig, a senior in electrical engineering from Waukesha, Wis., and a member of ODK, summed up the gist of the presentation: “You should put your workers first, then what you need from them will come.”
The Van Pelt and Opie Library at Michigan Tech is now a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC). A PTRC is a library officially designated by the Department of Commerce’s US Patent and Trademark Office to freely provide to the University and independent people and businesses the best and most up-to-date databases and other tools, workshops, online guides and assistance with patent and trademark searching.
The Tech Theatre Company, the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and a large cast of local actors, students, faculty and production crew bring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s epic musical “South Pacific” to the Rozsa Center stage at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 14-16.
James A. Michener’s exotic “Tales of the South Pacific” come to life in this Pulitzer Prize-winning classic. The musical takes audiences on a romantic journey to two islands in the South Pacific during WWII. The song “Bali H’ai” sets a mysterious tone, “Cockeyed Optimist” will charm one and all, and “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame” will get everyone’s toes a’ tapping.
According to Patricia Helsel, production director, “This is the first large-scale musical we’ve done at Michigan Tech for some time.” Choral Director Jared Anderson is the vocal coach and music director. Assistant Professor Joel Neves will conduct the KSO pit orchestra. Students and faculty have committed their talents to the design and production of what promises to be a phenomenal musical spectacle.
Mark Oliver, a seasoned community actor, is playing Emile. Chemistry senior Tanya Johnson plays Nellie. Christopher Schwartz, PhD candidate in biological sciences (research area: exercise science), plays Lt. Cable. Michigan Tech student Kiersten Birando, also a graduate of Houghton High School, plays the role of Liat. Alesha Fumbanks, a chemical engineering major, plays Bloody Mary. Chip Rohrer, a theatre and electronic media performance major, takes the role of Luther Billis.
1940’s haircuts are courtesy of Hairsmiths Inc. Bicycle props are from the Bike Shop. Portage Health sponsors the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.
Ticket prices are $15 for the general public, $7 for students, and free for Tech students with ID. To purchase tickets, contact the Rozsa Box Office at 487-3200, the Central Ticket Office (SDC) at 487-2073, or go online at www.tickets.mtu.edu .
No refunds, exchanges or late seating, please.
submitted by Visual and Performing Arts
Published in Tech Today
At the recommendation of the US Department of Education, Michigan Tech is establishing an online course on harassment, discrimination and retaliation. All University employees and graduate students will be required to complete the course by Dec. 31.
The course will replace a previous course on sexual harassment that has been required of all incoming employees since 2009. It also satisfies the federal requirement for training mandated by the Violence Against Women Act and Title IX and aligns with the Campus Clarity courses that incoming first-year students must complete.
“The new course is extremely informative regarding harassment and discrimination and suggests best practices in the workplace,” said Jill Hodges, director of the Office of Institutional Equity. Regarding the sexual harassment portions of the course, President Glenn Mroz said: “Despite the significant progress made in reducing violence against women, there is a long way to go. It is our responsibility as a university community to work towards eliminating sexual misconduct and sexual violence, and to do so, we must be well informed.”
Employees and graduate students will receive email notification when the course is assigned and reminders if they have not completed the course. The course requires audio. Employees or graduate students whose computers do not have audio capability can use campus computers designated for training purposes.
If you have questions, contact Title IX Coordinator Beth Lunde in the Office of Institutional Equity at titleix@mtu.edu.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice, and the National Institute of Justice is now accepting applications for their PhD Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Applicants must be US citizens who are conducting research related to crime, violence, and/or other criminal justice-related topics that will hep advance objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the State and local levels.
If interested in applying, please contact Jodi Lehman (jglehman@mtu.edu) in Michigan Tech’s Sponsored Program Enhancement office.
The campus community is invited to a forum on the Intensive English as a Second Language program on March 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. in Walker 102A. The forum is an important part of the IESL program’s ongoing self-study process for accreditation. IESL is seeking independent accreditation from the Commission on English Language Accreditation. A draft of the self-study report is available at the following offices:
*International Programs and Services
*The Graduate School
*The Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success
*The office of the College of Sciences and Arts
*The office of the chair, Department of Humanities
Published in Tech Today.
he Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy, is a 10-week summer internship program that provides opportunities to minority and female students who are pursuing degrees in science, technology (IT), engineering, or mathematics (STEM majors). Candidates who are selected will have the opportunity to work on focused research projects consistent with the mission of the Office of Fossil Energy.
During the 10 weeks, students will work at one of several locations. At the conclusion of the internship, students will attend a “Technical Forum” where they will present their research project and tour several technical sites located nearby (the location of the technical forum changes every year).
Candidates will receive a paid stipend during the program, in addition to approved transportation expenses to and from the internship site and technical forum location. The MLEF program allows students to gain valuable experience in DOE/FE mission-related research programs, and offers an “inside view” of federal employment which encourages students to consider future opportunities within the Department of Energy.
For more information please visit: http://fossil.energy.gov/education/lelandfellowships/
The University is closed on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th. When the University is closed, the “two week” rule for submitting drafts is relaxed to the next available business day. The Graduate School does not expect students to submit drafts to the committee or the Graduate School when the University is closed (but the Pre-defense form will still calculate these dates as the “due” dates).
Additionally, the University is scheduling campus wide home directory maintenance from Thursday Nov. 28, 7 p.m., through Sunday Dec. 1, 11 p.m. During this time:
To track progress during the upgrade please visit http://status.it.mtu.edu.
If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, about the planned upgrade, please call the User Services help desk at 487-1111 or email it-help@mtu.edu for assistance.
