Office Staff - Institutional Effectiveness

Jason received his bachelor's degree in Psychology from Minnesota State University Moorhead and his Master’s in Applied Psychology with a focus on program evaluation and industrial/organizational psychology from UW-Stout.  He formerly worked in Wisconsin for Cooperative Education Services Agency 10 in Chippewa Falls, and also at the Applied Research Center, a branch of the Institutional Research office at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.  He is currently the director of the Institutional Effectiveness (IE) office at Northern Michigan University overseeing traditional IR duties including state and federal reporting, data analytics, enrollment forecasting, student success analytics support, as well as overseeing university accreditation and assessment support efforts.

Office: 410E Cohodas Hall
Phone: (906) 227-2379
Email: janichol@nmu.edu

Katie received her Bachelor’s in Business Computer Information Systems and her Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Management from NMU.  She formerly worked at Michigan Technological University in the Institutional Analysis office and has been in the IE office for 10 years.  Overall, she has sixteen years of work experience in Institutional Research.

Office: 410C Cohodas Hall
Phone: (906) 227-2675
Email: kschoonv@nmu.edu

Dan has been with Northern Michigan University since 2018. His duties include managing institutional processes related to maintenance of institutional accreditation and assessment of student learning. He is also a member of the NMU Graduate Faculty, teaching research classes as an adjunct in Public Administration and in Education. He is the University's Accreditation Liaison Officer with the Higher Learning Commission, or HLC, and serves as a reviewer in HLC's Peer Corps. 

Previously, Dan served as Deputy Director at the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Duties included developing and implementing academic policies for the state and implementing the legal mandate to regulate postsecondary education for Illinois’ higher education coordinating board.  He has served on the faculty of a variety of institutions, including Ithaca College; Tompkins-Cortland Community College; and University of Colorado-Denver's Moscow, Russia, campus.

Dan completed his bachelor’s in Ecology, Ethology, & Evolution at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, his master’s in Communication, with a minor in Education, at Cornell University, and his doctorate in Educational Organization and Leadership at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Office: 410B Cohodas Hall
Phone: (906) 227-2378
Email: dcullen@nmu.edu

Ellen is the Assistant Director for Strategic Planning in the office of Institutional Effectiveness. Her duties include developing, maintaining, and transforming data into information that is critical to University planning, policymaking, and reporting processes, and providing consultation on analysis of University issues. She supports the NMU strategic planning process and oversees collection and analysis of post-graduation outcomes.  

Her passions include community education and engagement, and advancing evidence-based programs and practices. Ellen received her Bachelor's degree in Spanish Languages and Literatures from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Masters of Public Health, with emphasis in Community Health Promotion, from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Prior to joining NMU, Ellen led a community-based coalition to improve advance care planning and end of life care, and has also served as a public health educator for county and state public health agencies in Wisconsin. 

Office: 410D Cohodas Hall
Phone: (906) 227-2376
Email: ellkoski@nmu.edu

Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and his master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Management from NMU. He is currently an Institutional Researcher II with the Institutional Effectiveness office.

Prior to working at NMU, Ryan has worked for several federal and state agencies in various roles. He also has experience working in non-profit management.

Office: 410H Cohodas Hall
Phone: (906) 227-2216
Email: rpoupore@nmu.edu

Katie Buhrmann is a life-long resident of Marquette, and a Northern Michigan University alum. She graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in English and a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certification. She also dedicated time to International Studies and Writing minors.

Prior to her time at NMU, Katie was a volunteer with the Community Foundation of Marquette County (CFMC) from 2007 to 2012. She then filled the position of CFMC Work Study Intern through NMU from 2019 to 2022. Katie has returned to NMU as the Executive Administrative Assistant for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. In her free time, Katie enjoys reading, spending time with loved ones, and writing.

Office: 410 Cohodas Hall
Phone: (906) 227-1382
Email: kbuhrman@nmu.edu