Chris Melvin Olson- PhD

Chris was born on July 21, 1942, to Kathleen Mona Callow and Ottar Melvin Olson in Marinette, Wisconsin. He married Laura Olson in 1976 in Marquette, Michigan. Not long after they moved to Okemos where they currently live.

Chris graduated in 1960 from Menominee High School. In 1969, he graduated from Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science and a Secondary Education, Industrial Arts degree. In 1970 he achieved a Master of Arts Degree in Industrial Arts Education from Northern Michigan University. In 1974 he received a Master of Arts Degree in Guidance and Counseling. In 1981, he received his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Continuing Adult, and Vocational Education, majoring in Curriculum and Instruction, and minoring in Guidance and Counseling.

Chris served in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged in February 1966.

Chris had an extensive work history. From 1970 – 1973, he was an instructor for Auto Mechanics at Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, High School. He developed a modular-instruction for high school auto mechanics students. 1973 – 1975 he was an instructor for Auto Mechanics at the Department of Industry and Technology in Northern Michigan University and developed an objective-based approach to teacher education and technology education at the baccalaureate level in teacher education and the certificate level in automotive technology. 1975 – 1976 he was a Research Associate at Wisconsin Vocational Studies Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Chris was responsible for two vocational instructional materials projects for special needs students.1976 – 1988 Chris was an Associate Professor and Project Director for the Department of Agriculture and Extension Education, Michigan State University (funded through the Vocational-Technical Education Service, Michigan Department of Education). He provided primary leadership in the development of the Michigan Task Level Articulation Model. Chris provided primary leadership in developing the Michigan Occupational Assessment Test Item Bank and wrote user and technical manuals. 1983-1991 Chris went on as a consultant to V-TECS, and worked with member states to understand the full potential of using MODAS/ACROS as a tool for improving curriculum to reflect the changing technology found in the workplace. 1988-1994 he was a Manager in the training Department for the Educational Data Systems, Inc., Dearborn Michigan. Chris developed a model for identifying and assessing workplace literacy skills. 1999-2002, Chris was Co-Director of the Building Linkages Among Academic and Skill Standards in Manufacturing (funded by US Department of Education and Labor) 2000-2001: He was a Chair member for the Framework Committee and helped with manufacturing Skills Standards Council for the National Skills Standards Board. 1994-2006 Chris was the Project Director at Indiana Certificate of Technical Achievement Initiative (Funded by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development).2006-2007 was a Consultant at Idaho Corrections Articulation Initiative (funded by Idaho Department of Professional and Technical Education.) This initiative required the development of a Business Plan to document skills performed in Correctional Industries to be used for Certificates of Technical Achievement.

Chris summed up his life accomplishments as follows:

Developed statewide systems for student and workforce certification based on work performance and what a person knows and is able to do applied to real-time jobs.

Developed computerized system for analyzing jobs, developing contextual assessments, and managing school, company, and state-wide workplace certifications.

Developed training manuals for performing workplace needs assessments, conducting occupational analysis, assessment, and curriculum development, performing workplace literacy audits, and using the Internet to manage these systems.

Managed projects for the federal government, state governments, and private companies.

Taught at the high school, community college, university and graduate levels.

Chris is survived by his wife, Laura Ellen, Okemos, MI, and Son, Kelly Edwin (Beth), Leslie, MI. Two grandsons, Ryan Christopher (Rockelle), Williamston, MI, and Logan Patrick, Macomb, MI, and a granddaughter, MacKenzie Ella, Leslie, MI, as well as two great grandchildren, Kelton and Bowdy.

He is also survived by his brother, James Olson (Jean), Panama City, Florida, and sister: Karen McCord, Wauwatosa, WI. He is predeceased by his parents and his younger sister, Julie.

A Little bit about Chris:

Chris was a prolific writer and had a passion for history. He studied books about BigBay, WWII and General McArthur and others. He spent days tracing his family history and writing his Dad’s life journey through the many letters he received from him over the years. His life could be summed up as “A life well served.”

There will be no memorial service because Chris wanted it this way. He wanted his life to speak for itself.