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April 8, 2024

College of Engineering works to make Michigan home for semiconductors

Dean Leo Kempel stresses importance of workforce development, research

Leo Kempel
Dean Leo Kempel is working closely with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's team to bring supply chains back to Michigan.

Michigan State University College of Engineering Dean Leo Kempel and Joseph Jorgenson, a mechanical engineering sophomore, were featured recently in a Lansing TV broadcast to discuss the importance of semiconductors. 

Both were interviewed a few weeks after Kempel returned from a trip to Taiwan and South Korea aimed to bring supply chains back to Michigan. He was accompanied on the trip by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and several leaders of higher education and industry.

Kempel told FOX 47 the college's goal is to be the state's leader in cutting edge research and workforce development. He also mentioned in the interview the college's plans to create a new program this fall called Technology Engineering. 

The story can be found on FOX 47's website. 

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Jorgenson is an example of an MSU student who has benefited from the college's efforts to create a talent pipeline that sends Spartan Engineers to employers who can offer internships and high-paying full-time jobs.  

Jorgenson currently holds a research position at Fraunhofer USA Center Midwest, a facility on campus, and will spend the summer there as an intern. He discussed in the interview how valuable the experience at Fraunhofer has been and how he intends on pursuing a job in the semiconductors field after graduation.

Fraunhofer specializes in cutting-edge technologies that include the creation of industrial diamonds, lasers and thin film coatings. It has served as a research partner with MSU and the College of Engineering for more than 20 years. 

Written by Eric Lacy, lacyeric@msu.edu. See more at the Engineering Media and Public Relations page.

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