Michigan Tech Approves New Graduate Degree in Wildlife Ecology, Recognizes Retiring and Award Winning Faculty

Michigan Tech sent more than 1,000 students off into the world over the weekend. Graduation for the Huskies came on Friday for graduate students and on Saturday for the undergrads. At the end of each semester and while leadership is on campus for various events and ceremonies, the university calls together its board of trustees. On Friday morning the trustees met with the spring graduation ceremony speakers Chang Park from the class of 1973, Graduate speaker Zazil Santizo-Huerta, a Ph.D. in Mathematical science student, and undergraduate speaker Vincent Barfield who dual majored in Mathematics and Computer Science. After meeting with the speakers the board of trustees approved a new Master of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. As well as approved emeritus ranks for four professors. A final announcement to the board included the hiring of three deans of colleges and several award recognition of faculty on campus. 

The Board approved emeritus rank for four professors: 

William Breffle, College of Business 

Ibrahim Miskioglu, Department of Mechanical Engineering – Engineering Mechanics 

Douglas Oppliger, Department of Engineering Fundamentals

David Reed, College of Forest Resources & Environmental Science

Award Recognition:

• The Board approved the awarding of the Board of Trustees Silver Medal to Mr. Chang K. Park, 1973 graduate of Michigan Tech and President and CEO of Universal Remote Control, Inc. The award is given to those whose personal and professional achievements set an outstanding example for recent Michigan Tech graduates.
• The Board also approved the awarding of the Board of Trustees Silver Medal to Mr. Anthony “Tony O” Esposito, NHL Hall of Fame goaltender who led Michigan Tech hockey to an NCAA title in 1965.
• Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew Storer announced a number of faculty recognized with awards for excellence in teaching, including Charles “Chuck” Wallace, who recently received the Distinguished Professor of the Year from the Michigan Association of State Universities. 

New Dean of College Hires:

Michelle M. Scherer, College of Engineering

L. LaReesa Wolfenbarger, College of Sciences & Arts

David J. Flaspohler, College of Forest Resources & Environmental Science