Teamwork: New Graduate School Dean Begins Duties

Will Cantrell is getting activities garnered in the course of just about two a long time at Michigan
Technological University into his new role as affiliate provost and dean of the Graduate
School—a position he calls “a privilege.”

Past month, Jacqueline Huntoon, provost and senior vice president for tutorial affairs,
declared that Cantrell, then the affiliate dean of the Graduate Faculty and exiting
director of the Earth, Planetary and Area Sciences Institute (EPSSI), would think his new role as dean on July one. 

“It is a privilege to be entrusted with this posture,” mentioned Cantrell. “I am grateful for the assistance and mentorship that I have acquired from my buddies
and colleagues about the previous 19 decades at Michigan Tech. I would not have been in the
posture to realize success in this work with out that assistance.”

He succeeds Pusphalatha Murthy, who is operating with Cantrell to guarantee a sleek transition.
Whilst no more time Graduate Faculty dean, Murthy will carry on to provide on the Graduate
Education and learning Advisory Board of the American Chemical Modern society and stay lively with the
Council of Graduate Schools and the Countrywide Science Foundation.

A heritage of management

As Cantrell commences his 20th calendar year at Michigan Tech, matters appear a ton unique than
they did in 2001. You could even say that the state of affairs is substantially unique
than in 2019. But, as the University plans for a tumble semester commencing in the course of the
COVID-19 pandemic, Cantrell’s peers are confident in his abilities as a chief and
an educator.

“Dr. Cantrell has a extended heritage of offering thoughtful management that, merged
with his effectively-attained track record as an helpful researcher and trainer, make him effectively
well prepared to think this critical role,” Huntoon mentioned in her June announcement.

A strong mix

Cantrell mentioned the Graduate Faculty performs an critical role at the University, noting that graduate education at Michigan
Tech is a exceptional mix of the queries “Why?” and “How?” with theory and apply. “That’s a strong mix, and our learners are valued
by field and by other tutorial establishments simply because of it,” he mentioned.

Cantrell has found his share of difficulties in the course of his tenure at Michigan Tech, but
potentially none as remarkable as the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned the pandemic is a sizeable
trial from various views.

“Of program, there are the fiscal pressures,” he mentioned. “Our learners and their family members are going through them, the state is going through them and as a
consequence, so is Michigan Tech.”

Cantrell’s other instance is some thing that will be occurring all through MTU’s campus
this tumble.

“The social distancing that is essential to maintain the safety of our learners, employees
and faculty also would make instruction in the classroom and the lab far more complicated. Still
we need to carry on to reside into our shared values of community, respect, range and
inclusion,” he mentioned.

Cantrell joined Tech’s Physics Section in 2001 immediately after earning his PhD from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and finishing
a postdoc in chemistry at Indiana University. His study passions involve atmospheric
science, cloud and aerosol physics and chemistry. He is a member of the Michigan Tech
crew that designed and manufactured the Pi Cloud Chamber, which simulates cloud situations and permits for experimentation together with turbulence
and varying aerosol sizes and compositions.

In 2013, Cantrell was named Distinguished Professor of the Calendar year by the Presidents
Council, Condition Universities of Michigan.

Michigan Technological University is a general public study university, dwelling to far more than
seven,000 learners from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University delivers far more than
120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technologies, engineering,
forestry, company and economics, health and fitness professions, humanities, arithmetic, and
social sciences. Our campus in Michigan’s Higher Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway
and is just a couple miles from Lake Excellent.