The 2024-25 academic year highlighted the remarkable service and leadership our faculty provided to their professional communities, academic disciplines, and the broader scholarly world. From editorial boards and professional organizations to peer review and conference leadership, these accomplishments demonstrated our faculty's commitment to advancing their professions.
School of Art and Design
On December 6th, the School of Art and Design hosted a professional development day for regional Art Educators, many of whom are alumnae of the program. Four professors presented to the educators on topics such as computer art, graphic design, and printmaking.
In February 2025, Professor Brian Kakas, chair of the SOAD international committee, coordinated grants issued by the European Union's Erasmus+ organization that sponsored four faculty members from the School of Art and Design to visit and teach mobilities at the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Biology Department
Department (Leonard and Mandeville) helped host American Fisheries Society Michigan Chapter conference at NMU with support of professional development workshops (February 2025)
Board member of the International Hibernation Society (IHS) in charge of scientific communication
The Northern Museum of Zoology demonstrated its contributions to the global infrastructure for biodiversity science by surpassing >220 citations in national and international scientific journals that were based in part on NMZ specimens.
The Biology Department organized the 4th Annual Week of Diversity in STEM on campus, which included several events centered on celebrating contributions of people from diverse walks of life to the STEM disciplines.
Faculty served as Associate Editors for journals including Ecology and Evolution, Journal of Wildlife Management, Natural Areas Journal, PLoS One, Scientific Reports
Faculty served as peer reviewers for scientific manuscripts for journals including Ecology and Evolution, Journal of Applied Entomology, Journal of Animal Ecology, Animal Genetics, BioScience, Conservation Physiology, Diversity, Journal of Biogeography, Journal of Mammalogy, Journal of Wildlife Management, Mammal Review, Mammalia, PlosOne, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Scientific Reports, Viruses, Microbiology Research, Antibiotics, Veterinary Sciences, Animals, Pathogens, Microorganisms, Journal of Avian Biology
Pre-Health advising - 2024 cohort: 6 students placed into Medical School, 1 into PA school, 1 into Dental school. 2025 cohort: 9 students placed into Medical School, 1 into PA school. Two additional students have also already been accepted into Medical school through MSU College of Human Medicine Early assurance program for the 2026 cycle.
Faculty served as Editorial Board Members for PLOS ONE, Scientific Reports, Acta Parasitologica
Guest Editor for Journal of Thermal Biology SI "Thermoregulatory & Metabolic Adaptations in a Changing World"
Guest Editor for Frontiers in Metabolic Physiology SI "Torpor & Hibernation: Metabolic & Physiological Paradigms"
Faculty served as experts for Grant Proposals & Panels for the German Research Foundation (DFG), Funds for Research Quebec Nature & Technology (FRQNT), the Alaska IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), US Fish and Wildlife Great Lakes Restoration Act grants, and the National Science Foundation (NSF CAREER; DEB Systematics and Biodiversity Science Cluster), Genome BC , United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Faculty served as external evaluator of PhD Thesis (University of Vienna, Monash University Australia, University of Tromso Norway)
Hayden McKee-Zech sat for and passed the board to become a technician for the American Board of Forensic Entomology.
College of Business
Dean Johnson is an active member of Zonta service organization
Dean Johnson is qualified as a peer-reviewer for AACSB Business accreditation and recently completed a peer review.
Dr. Stacy Boyer-Davis is a member of Rotary International
Dr. Stacy Boyer-Davis is a MICPA Board member
Professor Kathleen Isleib is a gubernatorial appointment to the Michigan State Board of Accountancy
Dr. Jim Marquardson is an active member of the Center of Academic Excellence faculty association
Dr. Paul Byrnes is a member of CMA
Dr. Gary Brunswick is a member of AMA
Dr. Steve Edelson is a member and certified by SHRMA
Dr. Stacy Boyer-Davis is a participant in city citizen leadership academy
Dr. Kevin Berry is the Faculty Athletic Rep (NMU)
Dr. Stacy Boyer-Davis is CUP chair (NMU)
Dr. Murong Miao is a member of FGC (NMU)
Dr. Jared Linna is a member of GEC and Senate (NMU)
Dr. Michael Crum is a member of FRC (NMU)
Dr. Majid Asadi is a member of COIL (NMU)
Professor Kathleen Isleib is a member of LIS (NMU)
Dr. Corrine Bodeman is a member of Senate (NMU)
Dr. Gary Brunswick is a member of the Campus Master Planning Committee (NMU)
Dr. Heejung Park is a member of the International Committee (NMU)
Chemistry Department
Most faculty serve on a University committee.
Evan Pratt is chairing the faculty Grants Committee.
Maris Cinelli is chairing TLAC.
Don Marquardt is on Senate Executive committee.
Faculty from the department are on CASAC and FRC.
Faculty are active in the AAUP union.
Faculty from the department are officers for the local section of the American Chemical Society.
Faculty from the department are Journal Editors and members of study sections for grant review with NIH.
School of Clinical Sciences
The SLHS faculty have successfully revised and submitted the program's candidacy application to the Council on Academic Accreditation with a site visit scheduled for February 10 and 11. (Speech-Language Pathology)
Paul Mann served as the Chair of the American Society of Clinical Pathology Molecular Biology certification exam committee and the Joint Generalist Committee.
Matt Jennings is serving or has served the university in the following roles: o Member of GPC (Graduate Program Committee); Fall 2017 – Winter 2022 Vice-Chair; Fall 2020 – Fall 2021 Chair; Fall 2021- Fall 2022 o Member of Academic Senate; Fall 2022 – Winter 2023 o Member of Graduate Program Directors Committee; Fall 2017 – current o GA (Graduate Assistant) Task Force; Fall 2020 - Fall 2021 o Member of NMU Assessment of Learning (AoL) Committee; Winter 2020 – Winter 2021 o Member of CUP (Committee on Undergraduate Programs); Fall 2017 – Winter 2019 o Member of UMBTC Executive Committee; Spring 2017 - current o Member of ROAR (Rural Opportunities for Academic Researchers) Working Group; Fall 2017 - Winter 2022 o Member of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Academic Accelerator SRA Task Force; 2019
Matt Jennings developed the testing used for the SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Project.
Martin Renaldi has worked over the past 2 years to purchase much needed equipment for the Clinical Laboratory Science laboratory. This year, received funding for and subsequently purchased and implemented the following equipment: o Hematology instrument, Sysmex Corp o used Ortho 5600 chemistry analyzer (acquired from NMU Health Center) o 25 new, cutting edge, microscopes from Evident Corp.
For every year that Martin Renaldi has been CLS Program Director, the CLS students have posted +90% pass rates on the very challenging ASCP National Board of Registry (BoR) Exam for face-to-face students. This is the test that licenses successful students to be able to practice in their profession.
Due to a void in this area when Martin Renaldi onboarded, he now mentors and assists new faculty once they are hired. Since then, he has fully mentored Instructor Anna Sharkey and, most recently, Instructor Jordyn Klumb.
Communication and Media Studies Department
Josh Ewalt serves as Campus Leadership Information Officer, NMU-AAUP/AFT Local 6761 (Winter 2024-Present).
Josh Ewalt served as Chair, NMU Committee on Undergraduate Programs (Fall 2022-Winter 2024).
Josh Ewalt serves on the Editorial Board and as Journal Reviewer for: Western Journal of Communication, Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, Quarterly Journal of Speech, and Rhetoric Society Quarterly.
Sara Potter served as Chair, Teaching Learning Advisory Council — 2022–2024.
Sara Potter served on the Assessment of Learning Committee — 2022–2024.
Sara Potter served as GEC Assessor 2024 and 2025.
Sara Potter serves as Faculty Advisor, COMM Club.
Sara Potter served on the Faculty Review Committee—2025.
Sara Potter served on the Committee of Internationalization—2025.
Sara Potter serves as Chair, Communication Section, Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters Annual Conference — 2024–2025, 2025-2026.
Sara Potter serves as Reviewer, Undergraduate College & University Section, National Communication Association.
Sara Potter serves as Reviewer, Family Communication Division, National Communication Association.
Sara Potter served as Submission Paid Reviewer, McGraw Hill GO — 2024.
Sara Potter served as Reviewer, "Public Speaking for Everyone" textbook by Elizabeth Nelson & Ashley Bourne-Richardson, 2024.
Mark Shevy serves on the Board of Directors, WUPX — 2022–Current.
Mark Shevy serves as Faculty Advisor, Marquette Ending Hunger — 2014–present.
Mark Shevy serves as Faculty Advisor, Chi Alpha — 2022–present.
Mark Shevy serves as Faculty Advisor, NMU AV Club — 2018–present.
Mark Shevy serves as Faculty Advisor, WNMU Student Radio — 2017–present.
Rebecca Ewalt serves as Faculty Advisor, NMU Debate Team 2025.
Earth, Environmental & Geographical Sciences Department
Dr. Adam T. Naito received the 2024-2025 Faculty Emerging Leadership Award. https://news.nmu.edu/faculty-emerging-leadership-award-assistant
Dr. Adam T. Naito continues to work with Dean Leslie Warren (Library and Instructional Support) and Dr. Evan Lucas (Technical and Occupational Sciences) to re-establish an official university-wide academic service learning program and infrastructure at Northern. https://nmu.edu/academicaffairs/general-education-pathways#accordion_collapse_638
Dr. Adam T. Naito worked with Drs. Weronika Kusek (EEGS) and Jes Thompson (Business and SHINE) to develop a General Education track in "Environment & Society" wherein students who enroll in three classes and complete a reflection assignment can receive a professional credential in the form of a badge.
EEGS proposed and received approval (via the Academic Senate and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs) to establish a two-year Master of Science in Sustainability program, with the proposal effort led by Drs. Adam T. Naito and Susy Ziegler (EEGS Department Head) and the program to be directed by Dr. Weronika Kusek once fully established.
Dr. Adam T. Naito will be serving as one of four (4) authors for Northern's Assurance Argument for 2025-2026 as part of its re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and attended the HLC Conference in Chicago in April, 2025 for training and preparation.
During the summer of 2024, Dr. Adam T. Naito worked with Drs. Dave Donovan (Physics), Marguerite Moore (Health and Human Performance), and Jon Barch (Psychology) as part of a new Pilot Program to assess the Scientific Inquiry (SCII) component of the General Education Program and wrote a report detailing the assessment process and made recommendations for future assessment efforts.
Dr. Adebiyi was elected the 2024-2025 Vice-Chairman, Sustainability Advisory Council, Northern Michigan University.
Dr. Adebiyi worked with Libby Myren (his student), Dr. Jes Thompson, and SHINE to lead the redesign and implementation of a new Sustainability Dashboard for NMU, an initiative he incubated.
Dr. Adebiyi is a member of the NMU Sustainable Strategy Team (Fall 2024-present), and he is the lead person for the strategy on campus waste audit Action Item 1.4.1.
Dr. Adebiyi conceived the idea of the first Sustainability Summit that was organized at NMU on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Jamrich Hall & Hedgcock Atrium, and served as a member of the organizing committee.
Dr. Adebiyi organized and facilitated a panel discussion entitled "Learning and Leading Aquaponics Together to Foster Nutrition and Food Security in the Upper Peninsula" at the UNITED 2025 Conference, held on Tuesday, March 18th, at the Northern Center, Northern Michigan University.
Dr. Adebiyi was an Invited Speaker at the 2024 Michigan Sustainability Conference, October 3-4,2024, which held at Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, Michigan, where he paneled a discussion on "Food waste reduction in Michigan," alongside Roger Cargill, President, Finite Phoenix LLC, Danielle Todd, Executive Director, Make Food Not Waste, and Bill Whitley, Executive Director, Spurt Compost and Soils. https://egle.idloom.events/2024-MISCON/pages/speakers
Dr. Adebiyi was an Invited Discussant of Peter Chukwuma Obutte's keynote address ( "A Planet in Crisis: Can this be Africa's opportunity to evolve"), at the 15th Ibadan Annual Sustainable Development Summit, 20 – 22 August 2024, Center for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Dr. Adebiyi co-led and co-paneled a workshop on "Organic standards and certification - responding and adapting to new sustainability reporting requirements and the need for outcome-based approaches," at the 21st IFOAM Organic World Congress, alongside (1) James Cashmore, Managing Director, Soil Association; (2) Lisa Ketzer, Project Manager Climate Strategy, Bioland, Germany, (3) Maximillian Schneider, Policy Officer, Bioland, Germany, and, (4) Hanna Winkler, IFOAM Organic EU, Associate Policy Manager. https://owc.ifoam.bio/program/
Dr. Adebiyi collaborated with Dr. Fatimat to organize Aquaponics Workshop II: "Aquaponics for improved nutrition food security in the UP," which was held on October 25, 2024, at the Science Building, Northern Michigan University.
Dr. Adebiyi designed and facilitated the Research Ethics and Plagiarism Workshop (ReEthiP) on July 18, 2024, for graduate students and professors, an event that was hosted by the School of Postgraduate Studies at Tayo Aderinokun Hall, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Dr. Adebiyi designed and facilitated a Training Workshop on Systems Thinking for Waste Management for the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) staff on July 26, 2024, in Ijora Olopa, Lagos, Nigeria.
Dr. Adebiyi is serving as Editorial Board Member (Associate Editor, Sustainable Production), Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (2022-present).
Dr. Stock has been Chair of the AAG's Energy & Environment Specialty Group since 2024 and Co-Chair since 2025.
Dr. Stock's work institutionalizing and operationalizing DEI within the AAG specialty group has been celebrated and promoted by the AAG.
Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt serves on the editorial board for the journal Environmental History and in that capacity has reviewed manuscripts and participated in planning meetings.
Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt collaborated with Dr. Diana Lafferty (Biology) to organize a panel on Science, Scholarship & Advocacy for NMU's Diversity in STEM Week 2025.
Dr. Weronika Kusek has introduced the COIL Framework on NMU campus.
Dr. Weronika Kusek has served on the board of the American Association of Geographers Ethnic Geography Specialty Group.
Dr. Weronika Kusek served on the 125th NMU Transformative Leaders Committee (with Russ Magnaghi, Marcus Robyns, Leslie Warren).
Dr. Susy S. Ziegler was elected to serve a five-year term as Executive Secretary of Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society. https://gammathetaupsilon.org/
Economics Department
Hugo Eyzaguirre is completing 8 years of service as the Chair of the International Committee in the National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE) (2017-2025), having received the 2021 Patricia Elder International Award for his services from NAEE.
David Prychitko is a member of Editorial Advisory Board for the Polycentricity: Studies in Institutional Diversity and Voluntary Governance book series published by Lexington Books (Rowman and Littlefield), member of Board of Associate Editors, Review of Austrian Economics, and member of Board of Editors, Molinari Review.
The Department of Economics is represented in service, including Assessment of Learning, CASAC, Faculty Senate, Allies, the Athletic Council and more.
School of Education Leadership and Public Service
Kristen White will be honored in March as the 2025 Michigan Reading Association Teacher Educator of the Year.
Paula Ritari - Excellence in Service Award
Dr. Cindy Basse - Excellence in Online Teaching
Dr. Joe Lubig - Faculty Leadership Award
Dr. Laura Kennedy, Kristen White, and Bethney Bergh, Tesse Sayen, and Lisa Isleib Innovation Award
Faculty member serves on university-wide committees that shape student experience and institutional policy - this work helps keep faculty grounded in a growth mindset.
Faculty member mentors students in both the Student Leader Fellowship Program (SLFP) and First Generation College Students, providing guidance on academic success, leadership development, and personal growth. Mentorship supports students in building confidence, navigating challenges, and achieving their goals through individualized encouragement.
Faculty member and some colleagues are members of the Teaching and Learning Advisory Council (TLAC), actively contributing to the creation of a campus culture that truly values, promotes, recognizes, and rewards excellence in teaching and learning.
Faculty member led a team of four teaching assistants (TAs) across multiple locations, supporting professional development and student success in Global Campus courses.
Faculty member served on multiple Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Standard Setting and Content Advisory Committees, shaping teacher assessment standards at the state level.
Faculty member joined the NMU New Student/Family Orientation as "Group Facilitator" and "Host", welcoming incoming students and their families to NMU on three separate occasions over the summer.
Faculty member contributed to campus and community events such as the NMU Homecoming (AAUP Parade Participant), the Future Educator Picnic, and the International Programs Coffee Connections.
Faculty member joined the NMU Futurecasting Committee to contribute to developing a proposal regarding next steps for AI usage by faculty/staff and NMU and students.
Kennedy serves as a program reviewer for the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting body in the field of teacher education. (Kennedy)
Kennedy serves as a program reviewer and on a variety of advisory committees for the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). (Kennedy)
Kennedy is a board member for the Marquette Alger Resolution Services. (Kennedy)
Faculty member led a book study for middle and high school math educators in partnership with the Seaborg Center
Executive leadership for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Special Interest Group (SIG), Immediate Past Chair (Christi Edge)
Conference Chairs for biennial international teacher education research conference (Bethney Bergh, Christi Edge, Abby Cameron Standerford)
Partnered with Sault Ste. Marie-area school district and teachers to create and lead implementation of a Native American-focused cohort of graduate students seeking to obtain a Reading Specialist graduate degree, leveraging state grant funding and in collaboration with UP-area schools (Joe Lubig, Christi Edge, Kel Sassi)
International partnership and leadership to connect two international conferences focused on teacher education research (International Study Association for Teachers and Teaching with the Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices International) (Abby Cameron-Standerford, Bethney Bergh, and Christi Edge in collaboration with New Zealand partners)
Faculty member served as a dissertation committee member for three CMU EdD candidates (Bergh)
Joe Lubig - Accreditation Commission Chair and Board Member for the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, one of two educator preparation accrediting bodies
Joe Lubig - Chair of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, the only international accrediting body for Montessori education
English Department
Dr. Elizabeth Monske was chosen to be a Faculty Author for the university's upcoming site visit in October 2026.
Joseph Self judged for the 2025 Scholastic Art and Writing awards, and led tours at the De Vos Art museum for groups of elementary and middle school students.
Dr. Amy Hamilton serves as co-president of the international Association for the Study of Literature and Environment.
Dr. Amy Hamilton serves as Editor for the scholarly journal Western American Literature.
Dr. Amy Hamilton serves as Director of NMU's Gender and Sexuality Studies program.
Ari Koontz helped organize and facilitate meetings for the Graduate English Pedagogical Association, and served as a student liaison to the English Graduate Committee.
Dr. Lesley Larkin served on the English Department Executive Committee (EDEC), contributing to annual faculty evaluation, curricular discussions, and other matters of importance to the department.
Dr. Lesley Larkin served on the English Department Graduate Studies committee, contributing to the evaluation of MA and MFA applicants, curricular discussions, and other matters of importance to graduate programs.
Dr. Lesley Larkin served on the Gender and Sexuality Studies (GSS) faculty committee, contributing to event planning, curricular discussions, program promotion, and other matters of importance to the program.
Dr. Lesley Larkin led a book discussion for the Diversity Common Reader Program (DCRP) focused on Leanne Betasamosake Simpson's As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical Resistance.
Dr. David Wood serves as EN Dept Head and all of the Leadership and Professional Service that this position entails.
During the 2024-25 academic year, Dr. Kia Jane Richmond served on the executive board of the Conference on English Leadership; additionally, she was the secretary for the Secondary Education Committee for NMU's School of Education, and in the English department, she served on the Executive Committee (EDEC) and the Curriculum and Assessment Committee.
Nicolette Visciano stepped into the role of Co-Poetry Team Lead for Passages North, after serving one year as an Associate Editor.
Selah Tay-Song is coordinating with current, graduating and former students in the MFA Creative Writing program to create an alumni writing workshop that will meet regularly in Marquette and in field locations in the UP this summer.
Dr. Z.Z. Lehmberg became the Chair of the Michigan Writing Centers Association, responsible for hosting the 2025 Michigan Writing Centers Association Ideas Exchange.
Adam Nesbit provided undergraduate Writing Center tutors with the opportunity to accomplish quantifiable achievements as rotating committee chairs.
Adam Nesbit coordinated scholarship and presentation opportunities for undergraduate Writing Center tutors, both on- and off-campus.
Adam Nesbit provided undergraduate Writing Center tutors with various academic and career-related trainings, such as resume and CV-writing workshops and graduate school application workshops.
Adam Nesbit served as an active member of the Composition and Leadership Committee.
Adam Nesbit served as a section lead for Passages North, a literary journal hosted by NMU Department of English.
Sandra Burr continues to serve as one of only three members of the College Board's CLEP American Literature Development Committee, charged with sustaining and updating the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP®) in American Literature.
Sandra Burr continues to serve as the inaugural Vice President of Programs for the Lydia Maria Child society.
Sandra Burr continues to serve as the Chair of the English Department Executive Committee.
Sandra Burr continues to serve as a Senator from the English Department for the Academic Senate.
Sandra Burr continues to serve as the English Department AAUP Representative and Faculty Council Member.
Sandra Burr continues to serve as a member of the AAUP Balloting Committee.
In addition to chairing the English Department's Composition and Literacy Committee and serving on the Department's Curriculum and Assessment Committee (both Director of Composition ex officio roles), Dr. Ben Wetherbee also chaired the latter committee, served on the English Graduate Committee, served on the planning committee for the 2025 Michigan Writing Centers Ideas Exchange (a conference to be held at NMU in Oct. 2025), and represented the English Department on the University-wide Educational Technology and Resources Policy Committee.
In addition to her role as the Director of the Master of Fine Arts Graduate Program in Creative Writing at NMU, Dr. Patricia Killelea served on the NMU Strategic Plan Grand Challenges Committee 2.4: Partnering with our Place (Fall 2024).
Dr. Patricia Killelea served as Secretary of the English Department Executive Committee, was a Committee Member for the English Department's Bylaw Committee as well as the Curriculum & Assessment Committee.
Dr. Chad Seader worked with the Composition and Literacy Committee to revise the bylaws and training course for reading tutors. He collaborated with the Director of Composition to update the placement process for the developmental literacy and composition courses, and presented at two Graduate English Pedagogy Association (GEPA) workshops.
Abby LaForest has served as an Associate Poetry Editor for the Passages North literary magazine.
Randi Clemens served as the faculty/staff advisor for the NMU Creative Writing Club which gained more members this year.
Ronnie Ferguson edited four books by award-winning poets: Lamprey, by Erika Kielsgard; Animal Heart, by Sam Moe; A Brief Report On the Human Animal, by Kathleen M. Heideman; and On Natural Things, by Beth Roberts.
Barbra Lounsbury serves as a co-team leader for Passages North's nonfiction, hybrid, and visual essay sections.
Barbra Lounsbury is listed as a reference for several students embarking on their first entry into the workforce. One of these students is a first generation college student finishing their Bachelor's in Special Education who is now a frequent substitute teacher in the Marquette Area School District as a means to gain experience and supplement their income as they continue college unassisted by familial support.
Averi Fier has grown as a leader by volunteering for new things that might be out of her comfort zone. As a result, she has been able to widen her scope of understanding of the different facets and areas within the world of English studies. For example, she is on the MiWCA planning committee and will be helping to evaluate the CFPs received. She is also a volunteer reader for Coalescence Theater's #ShePersisted festival, reading and evaluating plays based on specific criteria.
Dr. Kel Sassi served as chair of the Diversity Common Reader Committee, which gave away 300 copies of Leanne Simpson's book As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical Resurgence and brought the author to campus for a keynote address at the United Conference on March 17, 2025.
Dr. Kel Sassi served as chair of the Secondary Education Committee, which completed a comprehensive re-working of the curriculum for English, Science, Math, and History to align content-specific education courses with state standards.
Dr. Kel Sassi established Northern Michigan University as the institutional home of the Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project site, one of 175 sites in the country and co-hosted with Marcus Robyns and Dr. Emera Bridger-Wilson the first summer institute on campus, which brought local teachers to the archives to study Information Literacy and create lesson plans using primary source materials.
As Director of the Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project site, Dr. Kel Sassi established the site as an affiliate of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, increasing submissions across the Upper Peninsula from 8 to 100 in this prestigious program for teen artists and writers. 34 students received regional awards in a ceremony at DeVos Art Museum and 2 students received national medals.
School of Health and Human Performance
Dr. Marguerite Moore has served in multiple faculty and administrative roles and has numerous certifications, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor and TBI rehabilitation.
Dr. Marguerite Moore contributed significantly to professional and community service throughout her extensive academic career.
Languages, Literatures and International Studies Department
Dr. Maria (Lupe) Arenillas serves as the department representative on the Assessment of Learning committee and the High Impact Practice committee.
Dr. Anna Zimmer completed her third year as chair of the College of Arts & Sciences Advisory Council. Accomplishments included working with CASAC members to revise the council's bylaws, create a tenure & promotion checklist for applicants and reviewers, and strengthened relationships with the CAS, FRC, and AAUP.
As a representative for the Honors Program, Dr. Anna Zimmer joined the newly-formed Fellowships & Scholarships Committee, chaired by Enrico Sassi.
Dr. Rebecca Ulland served as a member and helped create and champion completion a General Education pathway focused on international learning.
Dr. Rebecca Ulland serves on the JEDI Hub committee and as a member of the University Assembly.
Dr. Tim Compton serves as a representative on the Academic Senate and Academic Senate Executive Committee.
Dr. Tim Compton annually organizes the Spanish Field Day event (an event he created) at NMU in which 300-400 high school students of Spanish from across the UP visit NMU to practice their Spanish skills. This past March, Dr. Compton collaborated with Admissions to include a campus tour, admissions table, and lunch for participants.
Dr. Jon Sherman serves as a committee member of the Honors Board.
Professor Amy Orf serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the AAUP.
Professor Amy Orf serves as Chair of the Educational Policy Committee.
Dr. Michael Joy is Director of the Honors Program.
Dr. Anna Zimmer is Assistant Director of the Honors Program.
Library and Instructional Services
Jennifer Donner was voted in as Chair of the UPRLC (Upper Peninsula Region of Library Cooperation) Executive Board, is a member of the ALA Core LIFT Awards committee, and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians in 2024.
Emera Bridger Wilson provided leadership for the OER Working Group, which offered professional development programming for faculty, and was also invited to serve on the Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA) Strategic Planning Committee, which aims to strengthen academic libraries and support library professionals across the state.
Lynne Lambdin has held various leadership roles within NMU Allies, including serving as Chair during the 2024–2025 academic year.
Music Department
Dr. Colwitz served as Michigan American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) President from 2021-2023; she then served as Past President of Michigan ACDA from 2023-2025. Her 6-year term ends on June 30, 2025.
Dr. Theresa Camilli is currently serving as the vice president of the Marquette Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. James Strain served on the Percussive Arts Society's New Music/Research Committee
Physics Department
One faculty member continued to lead the Physics Department in the refining of the Physics Department's assessment of learning process and submitted the first report in the new system.
One faculty member is currently the President of AAUP faculty union. In addition, he serves as Vice-chair of the Higher ED division of AFT-Michigan.
One faculty member is serving on two substantial committees with AAUP National.
One faculty member is the Director General Education for NMU.
Psychological Science Department
Joshua Carlson serves as an Editor for a Special Topics Collection on Climate Anxiety for the journal Frontiers in Environmental Psychology as well as a peer-reviewer for numerous journals such as the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
Fritz Erickson Chaired the Great Lakes Sports Commission dedicated to promoting and developing northern Michigan as a premier destination for sports, recreation and tourism, which facilitated the I500 snowmobile race, the Traverse City Curling Center, Pine Mountain ski jump, ski trails in Houghton and Traverse City, and the Epson Tour Professional Women's Golf Tournament.
Forrest Toegel served on the editorial board for the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.
Technology and Occupational Sciences Department
- Randy Klitzke, Associate Professor of Automotive Technology at Northern Michigan University, was recognized with the NACAT Award of Appreciation during the 2025 NACAT Conference & Expo in Detroit, MI. The Award of Appreciation is given to an individual or company who has gone above and beyond for NACAT and the automotive industry.