November 20, 2017
Rod Olson has been promoted to assistant vice president for campus operations at Trine
University.
Olson will continue to manage university operations, including plant operation and maintenance of university properties; housekeeping; grounds management of main campus, athletic fields and golf course; event services and event space usage; fleet services; the operations call/dispatch center; code review; minor construction; and utilities.
Olson has served as director of campus operations at Trine since 2004.
“I feel very privileged and honored to continue to lead the university operations team. This promotion would not be possible if it weren’t for the dedicated staff we have in operations,” Olson said. “My family and I are very excited to continue to serve at Trine and in this community. Operations looks forward to implementing innovative methods that support the university’s service excellence initiatives.”
His experience has included more than 15 years of facility management consulting for higher education and K-12 clients and more than 20 years of managing higher education facilities. Before working at Trine, his past positions included associate director of operations for Detroit Public Schools, plant operations manager for Oklahoma City Public Schools and director of operations at the University of Sioux Falls.
“Rod’s extensive experience in facility management and his long history with Trine University are invaluable assets as we maintain and continue to expand our main campus facilities,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine University president. “I look forward to his continued leadership in this role.”
Olson holds a bachelor of science degree in technology from the University of South Dakota-Springfield.
Six Trine University civil engineering seniors and two faculty members toured a cement plant and the Newburgh Lock and Dam, learned about the Ohio River Crossing project and traveled to bridge construction sites during a senior trip in November.
Trine engineering mechanical engineering majors Ezekiel Keim, Christian Verst, Collin Seegert, Jacob Batten, Michael Jones, Ryan Somsel and Tristan Pappano secured a sponsorship from one of their hometowns for their senior design project, an entry for the annual Shell Eco-marathon.
Trine University staff members, from left, Emily Chancellor, Lydia Roop and Ben Darnell delivered 51 Christmas wreaths to residents of Northern Lakes Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Angola on Thursday, Dec. 11.