About the Author
Kellie Raffaelli, EdD
Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
When Spring 2026 Undergraduate Commencement student speaker Caelan Mead-O’Brien addressed his graduating class, he spoke fondly of the countless people across campus who supported his journey at Michigan Tech. Reflecting on his time in Houghton, he observed that “it takes a village to raise a Husky”—a sentiment that captures the core philosophy of student life on campus. At Michigan Tech, supporting student success is never a solo endeavor; it is a shared, campus-wide commitment that requires intentional collaboration.