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Howard Michel, Ph.D.
MEMBER GRADE: Life Senior Member and IEEE 2015 President

As a proud IEEE Senior Member for decades as well as a past IEEE President and chair of IEEE’s Public Visibility Committee when IEEE’s “Advancing Technology for Humanity” tagline was first created, Dr. Howard Michel can’t say enough about the positive role IEEE has played in his life, both personally and professionally. “By enhancing my understanding of technology and affording me the opportunity to volunteer at the Section, Region, Member & Geographic Activities, and IEEE President levels, I was able to develop leadership skills across IEEE’s geographic regions which opened doors for me that otherwise would have been closed,” he said. “I’d like to make those kinds of opportunities available to the next generation of technologists and the IEEE Foundation supports that hope.”

In donating to IEEE, Dr. Michel elected not to designate his contribution to a particular fund or destination but rather to entrust the professionals at the IEEE Foundation with decisions regarding the best use of his funds. “The IEEE Foundation supports immediate needs with programs such as EPICS in IEEE and longer-range goals with initiatives like the TryEngineering Summer Institute,” he explained. “I believe that the IEEE Foundation volunteer Board members will use my donation in the most appropriate ways to support IEEE and its mission of advancing technology for humanity.”

Throughout his longtime association, Dr. Michel has remained excited about the technical diversity IEEE represents. “We advance technology to support the human good and make the world a better place; IEEE facilitates this goal and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Dr. Michel said. “I think that it’s our duty to lead by example and help others follow in our footsteps to improve people’s lives through technology,” he added of the importance of giving back. “IEEE and the IEEE Foundation do that, but they need our support to continue.”