2022 Alumni Service Award
Michael B. Thomas has built a legacy at Carnegie Mellon University through his support of students, student organizations and mentorship initiatives. His deliberate, compassionate manner and words of encouragement have supported many students, and the thoughtful insight he offers university leadership helps to shape CMU diversity and equity efforts.
Michael’s experiences as a young man from Cleveland, Ohio, at CMU in the 1970s left an indelible mark on him. While a student, Michael reached out to the Carnegie Mellon Action Project (CMAP) to receive additional academic and counseling support and advising to deal with the rigors of studying engineering and transitioning to life at CMU. With this help, he was able to maintain his focus and resolve to pursue his goals while honing his interpersonal skills by working with a diverse range of students, staff and faculty.
Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering in 1975. He spent 13 years with U.S. Steel before joining engineering firm CH2M Hill. His experience at CH2M Hill gave him the opportunity to work as a project manager on large, technology-specialized projects that often required extensive, overseas travel.
Michael devoted himself to service through the support of community organizations such as Hill House Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Carnegie Mellon. As a Hill House Association board member for 14 years, he engaged with the association’s community organizations providing human services that ranged from preschool to senior programs and supported the construction of a neighborhood grocery store and county health center in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood. As a 50-year fraternity member, he has been involved with community fundraising, implementing service projects and mentoring college and high school students. He is a founding and active board member of the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund of Western Pennsylvania, which has awarded scholarships totaling more than $3.2 million to more than 200 high school students.
In 1984, the Carnegie Mellon Black Alumni Association (CMBAA) was established to encourage Black alumni to return to campus to help improve current student experiences on campus. Michael has been active CMBAA board member for more than 38 years, director of finance for 13 years, a founding board member of the CMBAA Endowment Fund and student organization coordinator for the past five years. To recognize his efforts with students, CMBAA established the Michael Thomas Emergency Fund to help students experiencing financial hardships find the means to stabilize their situations. He has contributed his time and expertise to the Alumni Association Board, multiple reunion committees, College of Engineering Advisory Board and the Andrew Carnegie Society.