Michelle Andresen retires, leaving a legacy of safety at SURF
In June 2025, after 14 years at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), Michelle Andresen said farewell to her colleagues and began the next chapter of her life: retirement.
Michelle Andresen started as an administrative assistant for Environment, Safety and Health (ESH), but quickly worked her way up the ladder through a series of certifications, promotions, and even a college degree. She was encouraged by a former director to get certification as a construction health and safety technician, which she then did. Soon after, she started attending college, obtaining a degree in occupational safety and health.
Andresen completed her career serving as the experiment and construction safety specialist at SURF.
“Taking on that role has been both a rewarding challenge and an exciting experience, allowing me to support the science team in integrating safety into their daily operations,” Andresen said.
Of all the projects and work Andresen has done for SURF, she is most proud of creating and implementing the contractor safety program, which requires contractors coming on-site to follow SURF’s safety protocols. Andresen’s efforts played an important role in SURF’s one-million hour safety milestone, achieved at the height of the excavation for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.
Safety is SURF’s top priority. Andresen emphasized the value of the strong safety culture at SURF, noting the responsibility she and her colleagues feel in their ESH roles.
“Our goal is for anyone and everyone that shows up on the property to leave just as healthy as when they arrived. We want them to go home safely to their family,” said Andresen.
In addition to keeping SURF and its employees safe, Andresen also highlighted her experience working with and meeting her colleagues and friends at SURF who she describes as passionate and proud of their work.
“My philosophy was always to make a connection first before you discuss a correction. They are the subject matter experts—ESH’s job is to make sure that processes are safe so that we have another day to go to work,” Andresen stated.
Looking to the future, Andresen and her husband are moving to their lake house in eastern South Dakota.
“Thirteen years ago, I walked into SURF with dress shoes on, and now I’m proudly walking out in my steel toe boots,” she said with a smile.
She looks forward to living closer to their kids and family. She is also excited to take up activities that don’t require steel toe boots, like golfing, fishing, and simply enjoying a morning coffee on her back deck.
