Joel Isaacson receives Clair M. Donovan Award

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Associate Athletic Director for External Relations Joel Isaacson was honored with Michigan Tech's Clair M. Donovan Award on April 19 at the 25th Annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony. Isaacson received the award due to his diligent work and leadership of the Incident Command Team during the 2018 Father's Day Flood.

"Joel is one of the leaders of the Incident Command Team," Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret said. "That group was instrumental in the University's quick response to the flood and how it was affecting Michigan Tech facilities, students, employees, and visitors.

"Joel is a valuable piece to our department. He also goes above and beyond for the university as a whole, and I'm happy he's been recognized for that."

The Incident Command Team is a group of University staff members who are trained to come together and oversee, direct and implement emergency action plans in the case of a campus emergency.

The Clair M. Donovan Award recognizes a Michigan Tech faculty or staff member, student, or an exceptional community member who has contributed the most outstanding service during the preceding year. The award is in honor of Clair M. Donovan, who made immeasurable contributions to Michigan Tech through his service as national president of Blue Key, as an alumnus, and as a civil leader.

Requirements for the award are to be a Michigan Tech faculty or staff member, student, or an exceptional community member, have positively contributed to the public image of the University, and demonstrates a continuing interest in the development of the University.

Isaacson has been an associate athletic director since 2008 and currently oversees external relations after previously serving in a compliance and operations role. He graduated with a degree in management information systems from Michigan Tech in 2001 and has over a 20-year resume within Michigan Tech Athletics after starting as a manager for the hockey team as a student.

A veteran of numerous NCAA, conference and university committees, Isaacson currently serves as the chair of the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee and other GLIAC committees. Formerly, he has been part of NCAA Regional Advisory Committees for women's soccer and women's tennis.

Isaacson is also an equipment manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. He has served on teams that have claimed six titles, including one Paralympic gold medal (2014), three world championships (2012, 2015, 2019), two World Sled Hockey Challenge titles (2012, 2015) as well as the 2013 USA Hockey Sled Cup, 2016 IPC Pan-Pacific Championship and 2018 Turin Para Ice Hockey International Tournament.