Education

  • Strategic Marketing for the Digital Age, Executive Education, Ross School of Business, Ann Arbor, MI, 2019
  • Mergers & Acquisitions, Executive Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2005
  • MBA, University of Michigan, 2000, Emphasis in Entrepreneurship and Finance
  • M.S., Electrical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Control Theory & Digital Image Processing 
  • B.S., Electrical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 1990

Teaching Interests

Mike Tinskey is a professor of the practice in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and also serves as the interim associate chair for innovation and entrepreneurship. His professional focus combines engineering practice, teaching, and innovation leadership—especially in areas related to electrification, energy systems, and intrapreneurship/entrepreneurship.

Main Areas of Focus

  • Electrification & Energy Systems

Tinskey’s work centers on electrification, particularly as it relates to electric vehicles (EVs) and the evolving energy landscape. He teaches and develops curriculum focused on how electric vehicles interact with power infrastructure and the grid.

  • Education & Hands-On Learning

He leads and teaches courses like Electric Vehicles & the Grid, which covers topics such as battery technology, renewables, power electronics, and how EVs interconnect with the electrical grid—emphasizing experiential, immersive learning.

  • Intrapreneurship & Innovation

As Interim Associate Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Tinskey drives strategic efforts to build intrapreneurship programs, startup support, and industry partnerships within the school. He mentors students and faculty on launching ventures and supports Georgia Tech’s corporate collaborations.

  • Industry Partnerships

He helps cultivate industry relationships that bring real-world collaboration into research and teaching—such as partnerships with companies like Siemens for curriculum development and Hyundai for automotive research projects.

Research Interests

Professor Tinskey focuses his research, teaching, and practical work on areas that bridge technology innovation with real-world business and societal impact. Specifically, his research interests include:

  • Core Research and Teaching Areas

Intrapreneurship and Innovation — Developing frameworks and strategies that help engineers and organizations create new businesses and technologies from within existing structures. This includes mentoring students in entrepreneurial thinking and corporate innovation practices.

Electrification and Electric Transportation — Exploring electrification technologies, especially as they relate to electric vehicles and the systems that support them. His work often focuses on how electrified mobility integrates with broader energy systems.

Energy and Energy Systems — Research and curriculum that spans energy infrastructure, renewable energy integration, grid connectivity, and related topics connected to the electrification of transportation. This includes hands-on education and strategic partnerships to advance understanding of energy challenges.

  • Applied Work and Partnerships

Beyond his scholarly interests, Tinskey also engages in applied research and industry collaboration:

Leading interdisciplinary project teams like Georgia Tech’s FlameJackets, which develop advanced technology solutions for complex real-world challenges such as wildfire response.

Partnering with industry (e.g., with Siemens and Hyundai) to expand research and educational efforts in electric vehicles, grid integration, and related technologies.

In short, his work sits at the intersection of engineering innovation, entrepreneurship, and the evolving energy and electrification landscape

Recent Publications

While there aren’t widely indexed traditional peer-reviewed research publications under his name in standard academic databases in the past year, Tinskey’s scholarly output historically includes:

  • A book chapter in Jolt!: The Impending Dominance of the Electric Car where he authored Chapter 11.
  • Various media and thought pieces on entrepreneurship, automotive electrification, and technology from earlier years.