The university community is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Prof. Kelch on Tuesday, April 8, 2008.  His untimely death is a great loss to everyone who knew him as a valued colleague, professor and friend.

Kevin leaves a very important legacy at LTU. He was widely recognized as an excellent and caring instructor. In 2003, he received the Innovations in Technology and Learning Award at the International Conference on Learning and Teaching in Jacksonville, Florida. Kevin was recognized as one of the top five instructors in General Motors Technical Education Program in 1999 and 2000, and received the prestigious Marburger Award for Excellence as Faculty Member of the Year in 2000.

All of the work that Kevin produced was of the highest quality. For several years he was the director of the Diversity Seminar Series, providing public, institutional, and student education in issues of cultural diversity. He chaired the committee that developed and implemented the Assessment of Oral Communication for LTU students. More recently, Kevin developed the initial proposal for a degree program in Media Communication. He formed an advisory board consisting of well known media professionals and, in collaboration with several members of this advisory board, developed the curriculum for the Media Communication program. Kevin has also been very active in both the Laptop Initiative and the Blackboard Initiative. 

Beginning in 2007 Kevin served as the Director of the Lawrence Tech Scholars, Arts & Sciences Undeclared Students, and General Studies Programs.  Kevin founded the Lawrence Tech Scholars Program to build an interdependent, cohesive community whose members support each other’s academic goals.  The program, funded by a multi-year grant from the King-Chavez-Parks (KCP) initiative of the State of Michigan Department of Economic Growth, has rapidly grown to more than 30 student members.

Professor Kevin Kelch joined the faculty at Lawrence Technological University in 1991. He developed and taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in the Technical and Professional Communication program, including Rhetoric of Technical Communication, Presentation Media, and Desktop Publishing, and delivered seminars in Business Communication for Lawrence Tech's Professional Development Division. Professor Kelch also developed online and hybrid course offerings.  Prior to joining Lawrence Tech, Kevin taught at Wayne State University, General Motors' Technical Education Program, and Rancho Santiago College. His research activities and publications address the rhetoric of technology, diversity education, program assessment, media ecology and online learning communities.

The entire LTU community mourns the loss of Prof. Kelch and remembers him fondly as a consummate professional and a good friend.