College of Sciences and Arts Welcomes New Faculty, Celebrates New Appointments

Tyler Martinez joins the Humanities Department as visiting assistant teaching professor. Martinez earned his PhD in writing and rhetoric from George Mason University, where he was also a presidential research scholar. He brings with him his experience as a former writing center assistant director at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about the students at Tech,” said Martinez. “I’m excited to get to work with them. The opportunity to be in community with passionate and inspiring students, faculty, and staff is the part of my academic career that I value most.”Martinez is interested in collaborating at the intersection of environmental sustainability and cultural rhetorics, rhetoric pedagogy, and community engagement projects.

Ian Raymond moves from adjunct professor to assistant teaching professor with the Humanities Department this year, where he’ll be teaching both photography and media production. Raymond has more than 10 years of experience in the film industry. He holds a master’s of fine arts from the California Institute of the Arts. Raymond’s expertise includes cinematography, special effects, documentary camera work, and digital and darkroom photography. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing the stories students create through their images,” said Raymond. “They all have such unique voices and Michigan Tech is an incredibly unique place to tell them.”

Raymond is interested in collaborating on video and photography documentation, design work, and animations.

John Sherrill joins the Humanities Department as visiting assistant teaching professor. He holds a master’s of arts and PhD in English rhetoric and composition, with experience teaching technical and professional writing and communication as well as first-year composition. 

“Michigan Tech is a place where projects can take shape in ways they often can’t elsewhere, thanks to its distinct location and the supportive community here,” said Sherrill. “I’m excited to collaborate across disciplines on research with local and broader impact, and to integrate that work into my teaching and scholarship. I’m also looking forward to snowshoeing again in the Keweenaw!”

Sherrill would love to collaborate using his skills in grant writing, 3D printing, sewing, electronics, and emergent tech. His interests include generative AI and communication, DIY and crafting, conservation, and winter camping.

Jack Van Treese has been named a visiting assistant teaching professor in the Humanities Department, bringing expertise in composition, college reading, student retention, and academic success. He holds his master’s of arts in English from Northern Michigan University and brings with him more than a decade of experience teaching at the University of Wisconsin state College system, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

Van Treese said he’d like his students to know, “You’ve got this! Our class is very process-based—don’t be intimidated if writing hasn’t been your favorite thing in the past.”

Van Treese is interested in collaborating with faculty on disciplinary reading and writing, initiatives to support struggling students, and increasing student motivation and engagement.

Manpreet Boora earned her PhD in applied physics as well as a doctoral finishing fellowship from Michigan Tech in 2023. She returns to Tech as a visiting assistant teaching professor in the Physics Department this fall. Boora spent the past year as a module development engineer with Intel. 

“Coming back to Tech feels like coming full circle,” said Boora, “I’m grateful for the chance to contribute both in teaching and research, and to be part of such a supportive community again.”

Her research areas include photonics characterization techniques and materials synthesis, including the fabrication of twisted heterostructures. Boora is interested in collaborating with other faculty members on photonics, material modeling, and nanofabrication.

Qi Zhong returns to Michigan Tech as a tenure-track assistant professor this year. He earned his PhD in physics from Tech in 2019 and completed his postdoctoral studies at the University of Central Florida, Pennsylvania State University, and St. Louis University. His research interests include nanophotonics, non-Hermitian optics and electronics, and quantum optics.

“The International Year of Light was 2015,” said Zhong. “This year, 2025, is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, marking the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics. I am excited to be back at Michigan Tech, beginning a new chapter of research that brings together the beauty of optics and the mystery of quantum physics.”

He’s open to collaborations regarding optical and electrical sensing for environmental and medical monitoring, integrated photonics and application of single- and multi-photon technologies.

Betsy Lehman continues her work in Tech’s Psychology and Human Factors (PHF) department, moving from earning her PhD in applied cognitive science and human factors to her new role as visiting assistant professor. Lehman also holds her STEM education certification from Tech in addition to her six years of experience teaching, researching, and learning as a Husky.

“I’m excited to be back in a faculty position,” said Lehman. “I’ll be teaching one of the first classes I took as a graduate student, so it’s a full-circle moment. Our PHF students are awesome. I can’t wait to be a part of their journeys and see it from the other side!”

Lehman is interested in a wide range of interdisciplinary collaborations related to humans making decisions in engineering systems design, business organization behavior, and human-AI interactions.

Leeann Youn has been named an assistant teaching professor in the Social Sciences Department. She holds a PhD in political science from the University of Kansas, with experience teaching political science and Asian studies.

Her research areas include democracy and backsliding, political behavior and democratic representation, public policy, and East Asian politics. She is available for collaboration on projects related to global studies, AI, policy and politics, as well as environmental and health policy.

Drew Kilpela moves into a new faculty position this year, shifting from visiting teaching professor to assistant teaching professor of music. A trombonist hailing from Okemos, Michigan, Kilpela earned his master’s of music in jazz studies from the University of North Texas in 2020 and is a former member of the Glenn Miller orchestra. His expertise lies in instrumental performance for trombone, brass, winds, rhythm, bass, and piano as well as jazz history education. 

Kilpela said he encourages his students to “Come with an open, curious mind. Expect to work, but expect to have a lot of fun, too!”

Kilpela is interested in collaborating on jazz performances in Houghton and throughout Michigan, as well as researching the use of music in fiction and nonfiction.