John X. Jamrich - Maamawi-Ozhigi - Together We Grow

     John Jamrich was born to Slovakian immigrant parents in 1920 on a farm in Michigan. His family moved back to Europe for a few years during his childhood, but decided to come back to the United States, at which point they settled in Wisconsin. He attended Ripon College and then finished his bachelor’s degree as an Air Force cadet at the University of Chicago. After working some as a meteorologist, he decided to use the G.I. Bill to pursue a master’s degree in mathematics at Marquette University, and then a doctorate in mathematics and higher education administration from Northwestern University. He entered higher education administration as a dean of students for Coe College in Cedar Rapids Iowa, then became Dean of the Faculty at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. When he became president of Northern Michigan University, it was still grappling with the immense changes of so much growth during the tenure of President Harden. Additionally, the cultural climate of the 60s meant students were much more politically active and eager to demand their voices be heard. Jamrich navigated multiple protests and conflicts during his time as president, from issues concerning the treatment of Black students on campus to both pro- and anti-Vietnam War rallies. President Jamrich oversaw the construction of new dorms to accommodate the much larger student population, and many other campus renovation projects over his 15 years at Northern. His legacy is remembered by Jamrich Hall, arguably the focal building of Northern’s campus.