1948 - 1976

What began as a handful of gentlemen in suits, working under the name of the Industrial Arts Club eventually gave way to Professor Martin O. Johnsen’s journey to creating the Foundry program at Kent State University. Over the decades this program has prepared hundreds of students for employment in the metal casting industry. 

The Metal Casting Lab at KSU was founded in Van Deusen Hall in the late 1960s. In 1970, Johnsen’s Metal Casting Program was officially recognized by the Foundry Educational Foundation and since then has maintained continuous accreditation from this industry leading organization.

1976 - 2004

Instructor, Assistant, Associate, and now Emeritus Professor; taught Industrial Arts courses for teacher preparation and manufacturing courses for Industrial and Aerospace Technology majors with special focus on metal casting. Other experiences included student teaching and industrial co-op supervision, administrative assignments as Assistant Director and Assistant Dean of the School of Technology. Designated as Foundry Educational Foundation "Key" Professor (1976-2004) responsible for involving students with the metal casting industry, FEF scholarships, and advising the student AFS Chapter.

Professional activities included Treasurer and Secretary of the Ohio Industrial Arts Association and President of Canton District Chapter of the American Foundry Society among others. Recipient of the FEF Distinguished Teaching Award 2022.

1998 - 2014

Mike earned his bachelor's degree in Education and his master's degree from the College of Technology, both at Kent State University. He was a devoted, beloved faculty member of the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability, and Technology (CAEST) at Kent State University and had earned a promotion to Associate Professor shortly before his passing. He was a member of the North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), Epsilon Pi Tau – International Honorary Society, and the American Foundry Society (AFS), for which he was serving on the board of directors as well as past president of its Canton-Akron-Cleveland chapter. He was also on the board of trustees of Energy Industries of Ohio. He held the distinction of being a 'Key Professor' in the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF), the educational arm of AFS. He was passionate about his role as a faculty advisor to the student chapter of AFS (KSU-AFS). Among his many professional honors were the FEF/AFS Distinguished Professor Award, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers George Snyder Manufacturing Technology Educator of the Year Award.  

He was also awarded the Van Deusen Alumni Award 2015 posthumously. 

2014 - 2015

2015 - Present

Post high school Trent  served in the US Army as a combat Engineer. He later returned to academics and graduated from KSU having studied under Dragomier. After eight years in industry working at Harrison Steel Casting Company, he returned to his alma mater to take over the program he loved so much. Today he continues to tech the next generation of Engineers all about materials, process, manufacturing and molten metal!