Category: Social Sciences

LTC Wallace W. Bandeff ‘06 returns to Tech as a professor of military science with the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. Bandeff earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology from Michigan Tech and his master’s degree in geological engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology – previously known as the University of Missouri – Rolla.

“This position allowed me to return to Tech—this time as faculty,” said Bandeff. “After I graduated with my undergraduate degree from MTU, I was commissioned as an officer from the ROTC program. I’ve traveled the world and used the skills I’ve learned here ever since. It’s exciting to be able to return and provide our students with a high-quality education that will serve them well.”

Prior to his return to Tech, Bandeff served as the commander and district engineer for the Detroit District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There he led a workforce of approximately 550 employees overseeing a multimillion-dollar program providing engineering, design, construction, and water resource management solutions for the Upper Great Lakes region.

CPT Kyle Dolezal joins Tech as an assistant professor of military science. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida. Dolezal said he’s excited to work in a program that has a great reputation and a strong cadet corps. He is interested in collaborating with other faculty and staff on historic records preservation related to the AROTC program’s history.

Jordan Barrett joins the mathematical sciences department as an associate teaching professor. He earned his PhD in mathematics from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and was recently a member of the teaching faculty at the University of Oklahoma. Barrett hopes to collaborate with other faculty members on commutative algebra and algebraic geometry.

“Tech’s students are highly motivated, and I’m so excited to teach them,” said Barrett.

Christopher R. M. Rundus joins Psychology and Human Factors as an assistant professor this fall. He earned his Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Iowa and completed his postdoctoral program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“I was excited to come to Michigan Tech because of the strong focus on applied research and the opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Rundus. “I’m especially looking forward to working with students and involving them in hands-on human factors and transportation research.”

Previously, he worked with Gulfstream Aerospace as a human factors engineer, where he conducted research and evaluated human performance and safety in aviation systems. Rundus is interested in collaborating on projects related to driver safety, transportation human factors, advanced driver assistance and automated vehicle technologies, human-autonomy teaming, and decision-making.

Pan-Pan Gou joins the Visual and Performing Arts Department as an assistant professor of sound. Gou earned her MFA in sound design from Carnegie Mellon University. She has worked extensively as a sound designer and composer across theater, games, film, opera, and dance, creating sonic experiences that travel between heightened theatricality and emotional nuances. Her credits include City Theatre, Chautauqua Theatre, Theater Mu, Creede Repertory Theatre, and Pittsburgh Opera. 

“I’m really excited about Tech’s rich research environment that encourages cross-disciplinary, innovative collaboration,” said Gou. “I’m interested in exploring ways to utilize sounds in both storytelling and non-entertainment fields.”

Gou also sound-designed the premiere of the contemporary opera “Time to Act”, and her work will be featured in the commercial recording for national release on the award-winning classical label Bright Shiny Things. Internationally, she won Second Prize in Emerging Sound Design and was shortlisted as one of the 100 final exhibitors at World Stage Design 2025.