In 1961, University of Minnesota alumni Leroy (Mike) Fingerson, Ph.D., and Lowell Nystrom, and three other engineers began working on a project that would become TSI Incorporated. Only Fingerson and Nystrom stayed on full-time with the new company, to become our first CEO and CFO respectively.

TSI and the University of Minnesota
From those early days to the present, TSI has had a special and historical relationship with the University. We have hired and promoted countless Gopher grads in engineering and other fields. Each year, interns from the U of M and other local schools brighten our halls for a summer or a semester, trying on careers in manufacturing and applied science.

Chairs in Mechanical Engineering

The Fingerson - TSI Incorporated Chair
In 1998, the TSI Board of Directors and Mike Fingerson endowed a faculty Chair in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Minnesota. This donation provides ongoing support to mechanical engineering research at the U. Since the endowment, Professor David Pui, Ph.D. has held the Leroy Fingerson - TSI Chair in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Pui is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor, a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In 2016, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) elected him as a member, one of engineering’s most prestigious professional distinctions. He has served as president for both the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) and the International Aerosol Research Assembly (IARA), and currently is Director of the Particle Technology Laboratory and the Center for Filtration Research at the University.

The LIU - TSI Incorporated Chair
In 2018, TSI agreed to endow a fund establishing another Chair in the U of M Mechanical Engineering department. The Benjamin Y.H. Liu - TSI Applied Technology Chair in Mechanical Engineering recognizes University alumnus Dr. Benjamin Liu. Dr. Liu is an award-winning researcher and entrepreneur who has dedicated his career to aerosols and particles research. The stated purpose of the Chair is “to assist the University in recruiting, supporting, and retaining outstanding faculty members in the College of Science and Engineering.” As tribute to Dr. Liu, TSI requested that the Chair support faculty “whose research demonstrates the potential for commercialization.”

TSI and Communities Worldwide
As TSI grew into national and international markets, our community widened. Today, in addition to the U of M, we work closely with colleges, universities, research centers, government agencies, non-profits, and businesses around the world. Many of our engineers are also educators, engaging the next generation of creators and scientists in the classroom—or bringing them onsite for hands-on learning.

At TSI, we feel a responsibility to give back to neighborhoods, cities, and students some of the opportunities that allowed us to grow and flourish. TSI belongs to many of the leading professional organizations and actively participates on many standards committees. We have partnered with prominent national and international schools, organizations, and agencies for both short-term projects and long-term explorations. It has been our privilege to do so.

We look forward to many more years of doing great science in the lab, building great products in the plant, and connecting with outstanding current and future leaders everywhere.

Thank you for being part of the TSI community!

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