The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host an Upper Peninsula Brain Tumor Center (UPBTC) presentation on glioblastoma. The talk will explore research into factors that make the cancer more resistant to treatment, more likely to recur and better able to evade the immune system. The event will be held from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, in the Shiras Room of the Peter White Public Library.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a “Have Fun with Watercolor” class from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Workshop #3 in Peter White Public Library.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host an “Evolution of the U.P. 200 Sled Dog Races” presentation. It will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, in room 101B of the Superior Dome.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved three capital projects. It authorized $20.5 million for the Don H. Bottum University Center renovation. The two-year project will be completed in phases, with construction scheduled to begin in May.

Northern Michigan University’s College of Business will offer a new bachelor’s of applied science in management degree, beginning in fall 2018. The BAS program will be delivered primarily online. It is designed for non-traditional students and returning adult learners who have completed associate of applied science degrees in technical fields. NMU will help them gain added expertise and develop skills to advance to prospective leadership roles in their chosen fields.

Northern Michigan University has received more than $19,000 through the State of Michigan Campus Sexual Assault Grant Program. The funding will support “Empowering the Confidant,” an initiative that will train peers to respond appropriately when friends, roommates or fellow students disclose incidents of sexual misconduct.

NMU is partnering with Michigan Tech on a $12,000 grant-funded project titled "Innovative Sexual Misconduct Prevention Programming Based on Student's Assessed Needs." This is among 13 projects, including one exclusive to NMU (see related story), funded through the State of Michigan Campus Sexual Assault Grants.

Data from the survey of first-time freshmen, with 445 respondents, showed that the top three reasons they chose to attend NMU were: desired academic program; cost of tuition; and size of the institution. In the focus group results, distance from hometown—with Marquette’s remoteness viewed as a positive—ranked second, between academic program and cost.

Sarah Mittlefehldt is one of Northern’s most prominent sustainability advocates. As an associate professor, she teaches students about environmental stewardship. As co-chair of the NMU Sustainability Advisory Council, she promotes initiatives and guiding principles that will help the university fulfill its core values. Mittlefehldt’s commitment extends to her personal life. She and her husband, John Gillette, set out to build a net-zero home employing renewable technologies and local materials. They did much of the work themselves, with support from a general contractor who is an NMU alumnus.

Erin McNabb of Grand Rapids will be the student speaker at Northern Michigan University’s Dec. 16 commencement. She said her speech will address overcoming fear and mistakes. Cheyenne Kaufman of Houghton, Mich., will be the student soloist at the ceremony. She will lead the singing of the university’s alma mater, “Hail Northern” and the national anthem.

If someone had told Maggie Hartman of Huntington, Ind., several years ago that she would return to college at age 28 and be doing research as a McNair Scholar, she would not have believed it. Now, she is graduating with a fisheries and wildlife management degree from Northern Michigan University on Saturday and doing something else she never imagined: applying to graduate school. Her experiences at NMU and with the McNair Scholars Program have completely changed her future career goals.

NMU faculty and staff members who attended the campus holiday celebration contributed two large carts full of non-perishable items for the NMU Food Pantry. Simply Superior made the delivery to the pantry in Gries Hall Tuesday morning. Other recent collections to stock the shelves included Giving Tuesday and Public Safety's Food4Fines program.

A variety of small ensembles from the Northern Michigan University music department will be featured during a holiday radio program to air on WNMU-FM, Public Radio 90. The one-hour show will air at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, and at 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 14-15. Committee meetings will take place Thursday afternoon. The formal/business meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Friday in 602 Cohodas Hall. For the agenda and supporting materials, visit nmu.edu/boardbook. 

Northern Michigan University is one of 43 institutions nationwide whose teacher preparation programs have been accredited this fall by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Northern was among four state universities that partnered with the Michigan Department of Education to pilot CAEP’s self-described new “rigorous, nationally recognized” standards.

Five Northern Michigan University faculty members were recognized at the annual Celebration of Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship. Recipients and their awards were: Antony Aumann of Philosophy and Amy Barnsley of Math and Computer Science, Excellence in Teaching; Josh Carlson of Psychological Science and William Tireman of Physics, Excellence in Scholarship; and Martin Achatz of English, Excellence in Part-Time Faculty Teaching.

e NMU Music Department made a special presentation at its holiday concert Thursday night to honor the memory of former physics department head Dave Lucas, who passed away in December 2015. The music faculty purchased a tabletop metallophone and attached a commemorative plaque. The percussion instrument will be used in the “physics of sound and music” course that Lucas created.

Northern Michigan University English Professor David Wood will deliver the keynote address at mid-year commencement on Saturday, Dec. 16. He is the second recipient of the Students’ Choice Award, a recognition program that allows graduating students to nominate a faculty or staff member to serve as the featured speaker at the ceremony. 

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre will ring in the holiday season with its long-standing traditional production of Scrooge, a musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Performances will be held Thursday, Dec. 14-Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. with 1 p.m. matinee performances Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17.

Eighteen NMU students who participated in a Zambia field studies course this past summer recently presented a Zamposium on campus highlighting their experience. The event featured research posters, artifacts, food, photos and music. Their class, led by Biology Professor Alec Lindsay, included four days of science history in London and 24 days of life in Zambia, from national parks to game preserves to remote villages. 

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning is offering a self-guided tour of a crèche collection that includes more than 300 pieces from around the world. The event will take place from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, and 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at 128 Timber Lane in Marquette.

Peter White Public Library in Marquette will offer extended hours for NMU final exam study. The library will be open from 3-9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, and 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11. Students are asked to use the entrance by the parking lot off Ridge Street. Free coffee and snacks will be available while they last. 

Temporary improvements have been made to expand parking lot 14 along Tracy Avenue in anticipation of the new Birch East and Cedar East residence halls opening in January in The Woods complex. The capacity has increased by 100 cars. Final improvements to the lot, which is designated for resident students, will be made during the summer of 2018. For comments or questions, contact Jim Thams at 227-2475.

Northern Michigan University has received a grant of $450,000 over three years from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. The funding will support an NMU endeavor to increase Native American studies inclusion within the social work curriculum, recruitment and retention of professionals with related expertise by tribal victim service programs in rural areas, and the number of American Indian university graduates, specifically in the social work fields.

The Northern Michigan University Student Law Forum will host a presentation titled "Search and Seizure" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Ore Dock Brewing Co. Attorney experts Karl Numinen and Phillip Toutant will address Fourth Amendment search issues affecting individuals' bodies, homes, vehicles and electronic devices. Admission to this Suds, Buds and Barristers event is free. 

Both the House and Senate tax-reform bills impact universities by imposing new taxes, constraining state budgets and adversely affecting charitable giving. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) identified these as the “three critical issues” confronting higher education in advance of Friday’s Senate vote. Below are more detailed overviews of each issue. 

Northern Michigan University now offers a citizenship studies minor designed to provide students with a multifaceted understanding of citizenship in the United States. NMU history professor Alan Willis said it is the first of its kind in Michigan.

The Beaumier Upper Peninsula Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University received an $11,000 grant from the Michigan Humanities Council to support an upcoming exhibition titled “The Immigrant Experience.” Now the center is inviting any U.P. immigrants to the United States to share information about their experiences for the exhibit. Those who wish to participate will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire.

Northern Michigan University outdoor recreation leadership and management students will share their nature writing and poem projects as part of the annual Pop-Up Art Show at the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center. An opening reception is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7. The exhibit will run through Tuesday, Dec. 12.  

Northern Michigan University’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theater honor society, is presenting Don Zolidis’ The Bold, the Young and the Murdered, a comedic murder mystery play. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7-Saturday, Dec. 9, in the James A. Panowski Black Box Theatre.

Northern Michigan University’s DeVos Art Museum is hosting an exhibition featuring the work of graduating seniors. The show will be on display through the closing reception, which is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15.  

Northern Michigan University’s Center for Academic and Intellectual Freedom will launch a new speaker series to address topics that generate interest on many college campuses. The first event, presented in cooperation with the College Democrats and College Republicans, will focus on the meaning of free speech today. Thomas Cushman, sociology professor and founding director of the Freedom Project at Wellesley College, will present “Who Gets to Speak and What Do They Get to Say?” His talk is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in the University Center Nicolet Room. It is free and open to the public.

Northern Michigan University participated for the first time in Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving, on Nov. 28. The NMU Foundation recorded commitments totaling nearly $1.23 million for the fundraising effort. Donors gave to a wide variety of NMU programs and departments, including $250,000 for faculty support, more than $200,000 for endowed scholarships, a $100,000 gift for theater and dance, $50,000 for research support and more.

Northern Michigan University instrumental and vocal ensembles will perform a Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The NMU band, orchestra, University Choir and Arts Chorale will be featured, along with soloists and small groups. A special presentation is planned to honor former physics department head Dave Lucas, who passed away in 2015.

Northern Michigan University’s Sustainability Advisory Council is hosting the second annual zero-waste challenge. This event will take place during the NMU-Alabama Huntsville men’s hockey game at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Berry Events Center.

Eighteen Northern Michigan University students who participated in a field studies course in Zambia will host a "Zamposium" from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, in the second-floor atrium of the New Science Facility. They will share food, artifacts, research posters, photos, music and more related to their experiences abroad. 

Sue Bilkey is the new president of the Northern Michigan University Alumni Board of Directors. The Ishpeming native graduated with a degree in office administration from NMU’s College of Business in 1982. With her appointment, Bilkey becomes one of three NMU alumni hailing from the west end of Marquette County to hold a leadership position on a university board. Ishpeming native Scott Holman is chair of the university's Board of Trustees and Negaunee native Mark Pynnonen is president of the NMU Foundation Board of Directors.

NMU alumnus Sean Coykendall (‘13) joined Lockton as a property and casualty producer in the Milwaukee office. He will advise clients on construction, real estate and manufacturing. Lockton is the world's largest privately owned, independent insurance brokerage firm. 

Biological research activities at Northern Michigan University will be the topic of an upcoming Northern Center for Lifelong Learning program. NMU assistant professor Kurt Galbreath will give the presentation at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, in the West Science Facility. He also will lead a tour of campus biology laboratories.  

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a presentation on Upper Peninsula wolves from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Shiras Room of Peter White Public Library. DNR wildlife biologist Brian Roell will discuss wolves and their impact on the Upper Peninsula since being reintroduced to the region. 

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is enhancing its production of Scrooge by inviting youth ages 12 and under to write a letter to Santa. In return, they will receive a postcard response from Wildcat Willy with an offer for a free children’s ticket with each adult ticket purchased for Scrooge.

Northern Michigan University students and staff played a major role in producing the FOX Sports Detroit coverage of two 8-player high school football state championships played Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Superior Dome. The live-to-tape games will be regionally broadcast Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Anxiety disorders are not occasional bouts of worry or fear, according to the National Institutes of Health. They persist and can worsen over time, potentially interfering with job performance, schoolwork and relationships. NMU psychology professor Josh Carlson received a prestigious $358,000 NIH grant to study the neuroscience of anxiety disorders and the impacts of a treatment called attention bias modification (ABM). 

Northern Michigan University will unveil a more radiant tree for its 30th annual lighting, thanks to a gift from alumnus and Board of Trustees Chair Scott Holman (’65 BS). The pine on the north side of the University Center will be illuminated with 18,000 new LED lights, compared with last year’s 400. Holman funded the full project cost of about $5,000.

A presentation on the operations of the Lake Superior Community Partnership will be offered from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the Shiras Room of Peter White Public Library. The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning is sponsoring the event.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Chris Heikkila (‘94) recently joined Doig Corporation as an account manager and sales engineer in Cedarburg, Wis. Heikkila earned an associate degree in electrical technology and has 20 years of experience in the processing and industrial equipment industries. Doig Corp. is a privately held full-line distributor of industrial automation components.

Northern Michigan University alumnus B.G. Bradley (‘93) completed his first novel, Winter Heart. The U.P. native earned his master’s degree in English at NMU and previously worked as a newspaper reporter. Bradley has taught English and drama for more than 30 years in the central Upper Peninsula.

A Northern Michigan University graduate student this week successfully defended her thesis research that offers support for the benefits of horticultural intervention. Rachel Ochylski of Grosse Pointe found that gardening increased social engagement and reduced self-reported indicators of depression among older adults living in a long-term care facility. It also reduced stress indicators, such as blood pressure and heart rate, among NMU students. Based on their potential to positively impact mental, physical and social well-being, holistic interventions like gardening workshops should be considered in long-term care facilities and educational institutions, she concluded.

Northern Michigan University has become the first Subaru University (Subaru-U) in the Upper Peninsula and the second in Michigan. NMU will infuse the corporation’s web-based training into its existing two-year automotive service technology curriculum at no extra cost to students. It will also enhance hands-on learning with the recent addition of three vehicle models donated by Subaru of America. Students will graduate with an industry credential that qualifies them to work at any Subaru dealership.

Northern Michigan University will host its 30th annual Lighting Up the Holidays, a free kick off to the season for NMU families, students and community members. It will be held from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, in the University Center.

Northern Michigan University will participate for the first time in Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving, on Nov. 28.  Celebrated after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday kicks off the charitable season when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. The NMU President's Council, Alumni and Foundation Boards. and the NMU Board of Trustees have kickstarted the campaign, with members already pledging significant contributions.  

Northern Michigan University student Elizabeth Rogers of Rhinelander, Wis., won third place in the student poster competition at the 14th International Phytotechnologies Conference in Montreal, Canada. She was the only undergraduate student who received a student award at the conference.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer a trip to Escape Marquette from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in suite L-4 of the Masonic Building. Escape Marquette is a team-based, skill-building game where players decode clues, piece together puzzles and solve riddles to achieve one goal: escape the room in 60 minutes.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a presentation on eclipses by astronomer Scott Stobbelaar from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, in room 101B of the Superior Dome.

The fall semester university forum held Thursday addressed several topics, from the state budget cycle to facilities project updates to the commencement speaker selection process.

The Rotary Club of Ishpeming made a $200 contribution to the Northern Michigan University chapter of Psi Chi, an international honor society that recognizes and promotes excellence in the science and application of psychology. The funds will support Psi Chi’s promotional efforts and community outreach, which includes mental health awareness activities and volunteer service. Pictured are (from left) Lance and Heidi Peterson from the Rotary Club of Ishpeming, student Chatrine “Cat” Johannessen from Psi Chi, and Adam Prus, head of NMU’s Department of Psychological Science.

The Northern Michigan University Food Pantry, an ASNMU-led initiative to assist the campus community, will be open for the first time from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in room 101B of Gries Hall. The university’s Food Insecurity Committee oversees the pantry.

A mandatory meeting for those attending the next Northern Michigan University Regional Police Academy will take place from 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, in 132 Jacobetti Complex. Documentation will be handed out covering the enrollment process for those attending the academy, which begins in May. To sign up, call the NMU Regional Police Academy at 227-1408.

DEAR Self, an event celebrating the four components of wellness--Diet, Exercise, Attitude and Rest--is taking plact through 6 p.m. today in Jamrich Hall. Tables representing these components are set up on the first floor. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stop by and ask questions, learn tips for overall well-being and discover available resources to meet their goals. The new Wildcat Fit Zone near the residence halls is also offering free recreation classes for all students tonight regardless of whether they have a PEIF pass.

Miranda Johnson, a master’s psychology student at Northern Michigan University, will give her thesis presentation titled “Using Peer-Mediated Self-Monitoring to Increase Procedural Integrity of NET in a Clinic Setting” at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in 3085 West Science.

Northern Michigan University's international students will be celebrated Nov. 13-16 during International Education Week. The celebration will include several events for students and community members. All activities will take place in the Whitman Hall commons. 

Because of the forecast for inclement weather,  talk has been rescheduled for next Thursday, Nov. 16.  Northern Michigan University’s Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will host a free presentation titled “Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative and Project ELF.” The event begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Beaumier Center, located at the corner of Seventh Street and Lee Drive in Gries Hall at NMU. It is being held in conjunction with the "Cold War in the U.P." exhibit. 

Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson will present an honorary coin to U.S. Air Force veteran and NMU finance major Paul Flint to recognize his volunteer service. The presentation will take place during a ceremony honoring veterans at noon Saturday, Nov. 11, before the NMU football game. It will take place at the flagpole outside the Superior Dome’s main entrance, weather permitting, or inside.

Northern Michigan University will participate in Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28. The global movement follows the Black Friday and Cyber Monday major shopping events and kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on holiday and year-end giving.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, founder and CEO of The Representation Project, will present “Women and Girls in the Media: If You Can See It, You Can Be It.” The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Admission is free for Northern Michigan University students with ID and $2 for the public.

Navy veteran and Northern Michigan University student Connor Loftus will give a brief presentation at a ceremony honoring veterans at noon Saturday, Nov. 11, before the NMU home football game. NMU will recognize veterans at all of its home athletic events on Veterans Day. The kick-off ceremony will be held near the flagpole outside the Superior Dome’s main entrance, weather permitting, or inside. It will feature the presentation of colors by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Color Guard, the NMU marching band and recognition of NMU veteran students’ accomplishments.

Northern Michigan University’s music department will screen Don Quixote, performed by American Ballet Theatre, as part of the Siril Cinema Series. The film will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, at Forest Roberts Theatre.

The Northern Michigan University English department will host "An Unquieting: power, violence and narratives that refuse to stay silent" from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company. This free event is part of the Bards & Brews creative reading series held the third Thursday of each month.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer a presentation on Esperanto, the worldwide language, from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the Shiras Room at Peter White Public Library.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will host two double-feature film showings about the Cold War during the month of November. The showings are held in conjunction with the Beaumier Center's "Cold War in the U.P." exhibition. They will begin at 7 p.m. on their respective dates and are free to attend. A discussion with Daniel Truckey will follow each film.

Northern Michigan University’s Native American Student Association is hosting the First Nations Food Taster. It will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at the D.J. Jacobetti Complex commons.

Northern Michigan University’s Campus Cinema will present a screening of Wind River in partnership with the Center for Native American Studies. The film will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Attendance is free for NMU students and $1 for the public.

Northern Michigan University’s Educator Preparation Program has gained reaccreditation for seven years from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). Northern will continue to recommend those who complete the program for state certification.

A free presentation on the evolution of water quality at the Humboldt Tailings Disposal Facility (HTDF) will take place Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Northern Michigan University. It is scheduled from 1-5 p.m. in the Huron Room of the University Center. The event is sponsored by Eagle Mine and hosted by NMU’s Chemistry Department.

Northern is conducting its second employee satisfaction survey. The link to the anonymous, online survey will be sent via email by Human Resources on Monday, Nov. 6, and remain open through Dec. 3. Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate and share their thoughts. 

The new Northern Michigan University Curling Club, which is open to students and community members, is hosting an informational open house at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Olson Ice Rink in Lakeview Arena.

Northern Michigan University’s music department will host a student recital. The free performance will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in Reynolds Recital Hall. 

Northern Michigan University’s Campus Cinema will present a screening of Everything, Everything at 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, and 6 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Attendance is free for NMU students and $1 for the public.

Russell Magnaghi's new book on prohibition in the Upper Peninsula and a collection of oral interviews he conducted with U.P. residents about a variety of topics will be showcased at the next "Evening at the Archives" at Northern Michigan University. The event begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, on the second floor of the Edgar L. Harden Learning Resources Center, in the atrium in the back of the library. It is hosted by the Central U.P. and NMU Archives. Refreshments will be provided. 

Northern Michigan University’s Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will host a free presentation titled “Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative and Project ELF.” The event begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Beaumier Center, located at the corner of Seventh Street and Lee Drive in Gries Hall at NMU. It is being held in conjunction with the "Cold War in the U.P." exhibit.

Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North will be screened at Northern Michigan University by Dain and Constance Perry, a married couple involved with the film. They will also facilitate a discussion on race, reconciliation and healing. The free screening begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Pioneer Room in the University Center. 

Northern Michigan University's Gonzo Media student organization will screen Milk at 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in room 165 of the Art and Design Building. Milk is about Harvey Milk and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official. 

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer a "More Than Beginning Photography" class. Sessions will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 404A Cohodas Hall on the following Wednesdays: Nov. 15, Dec. 13, Jan. 24 and Feb. 28.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a presentation on prehistoric garden beds from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, in room 122 of the Jacobetti Center.

The next presentation in the Your Health lecture series at Northern Michigan University is titled "Addiction, the Addict and the Opioid Epidemic." This free event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in Reynolds Recital Hall at Northern Michigan University's C.B. Hedgcock Building. The featured speaker will be Dr. Talal Khan, assistant professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and chief of addiction services at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.

Northern Michigan University’s music department will host “A Brief Introduction to Don Quixote,” a lecture introduction to the plotline and music of the upcoming NMU Siril Cinema Series screening of the American Ballet Theatre’s production. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in room 319 of the Russell Thomas Fine Arts building. It is free and pizza will be provided.

Two NMU economics faculty members recently gave a presentation on the Upper Peninsula economy as part of the Regional Economic Conditions Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Sam M. Cohodas professor Tawni Ferrarini and associate professor Hugo Eyzaguirre described some of the economic challenges facing the U.P., including isolation and a lack of major employers.

Regional observations of record-setting, 28.8-foot wave heights and hurricane-force wind gusts during Tuesday’s severe storm were generated by Northern Michigan University-owned monitoring buoys at Granite Island and Munising, as well as the Stannard Rock weather station on Lake Superior. NMU’s project to operate buoys along the southeastern shore was established in 2015 with a grant from the Great Lakes Observing System. Real-time, precise data promotes greater preparedness for coastal weather events and were heavily utilized Tuesday by the National Weather Service, U.S. Coast Guard, recreational and commercial boaters, and other entities.

Northern Michigan University trustee Tami Seavoy is the 2017 recipient of the Evergreen Award of Marquette County. The award honors one individual each year who is “dedicated to supporting and mentoring women and girls and helping them to reach their leadership potential.” NMU student Rachel Gerbig, a sophomore social work major, was given the Evergreen Scholarship Award at the recognition luncheon.

Northern Michigan University’s Campus Cinema will present a screening of Dunkirk at 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, and 6 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Attendance is free for NMU students and $1 for non-students.

The Northern Michigan University Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of James A. Strain, will present its fall chamber music concert. The performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in Reynolds Recital Hall. There is no admission charge.

Northern Michigan University’s Student Law Forum is hosting a "Suds, Buds and Barristers" event on landlord and tenant relations at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company. This free event will address issues such as damage deposits, privacy, health, housing inspections, subletting and more. Local attorneys Jeremy Pickens and Bill Nordeen will lead the discussion. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared with questions about renter and landlord rights. 

The Culinary Café is now open at the NMU Jacobetti Complex. It offers breakfast and lunch options from 10 a.m. to noon Monday-Thursday, and will continue operating through Nov. 16. The facility provides hospitality management students with hands-on training in preparing foods within a busy café setting. The Culinary Café is open to the public. Cash, credit, and an NMU meal plan are accepted. 

A 1950s Sock Hop will be hosted by the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center and the Swinging Cats NMU Swing Dance Club on Saturday, Nov. 4. The event will include a dance contest, instruction on a classic ‘50s dance stroll and live music by Drew and the Geezers. It runs from 7-10 p.m. in the University Center Great Lakes Rooms. Admission is $1 for students and $5 for the general public. Attendees can purchase items from a burger and ice cream stand for an extra cost. Period dress is encouraged. 

Ten NMU student organizations will lead interactive science experiments for children during a “Spooky Science Night” from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum. The event is hosted by the NMU Forensic Biochemistry Club. Participating NMU organizations include: Fisheries and Wildlife Association, Geographical Honor Society, Environmental Science Organization, Physics Club, Pre-Med Club, Pre-Dental Club, Clinical Laboratory Science Club, Student Nurses Association and Public Relations Student Society of America.

Northern Michigan University’s Music Department will present soprano Cheyenne Kaufman in her senior recital. The free performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, in Reynolds Recital Hall.

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is presenting the futuristic romance Constellations. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 9-11 and Nov. 16-18, with 1 p.m. matinees both Saturdays, in the James A. Panowski Black Box Theatre.

Masculinity and men’s relationships will be addressed at the next NMU psychology colloquium at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, in room 1322 Jamrich Hall. Chris Manlick, postdoctoral psychology fellow of Milwaukee VA Medical Center, will present the colloquium. He will discuss how male gender roles and norms shape men’s identities and their relationships with each other. 

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer an origami class from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in 404A Cohodas Hall at Northern Michigan University. Sharon Beach will teach attendees how to fold origami using recycled paper. Attendees will make Scandinavian Christmas heart baskets to hang on their Christmas trees.

NMU Chef Nathan Mileski and Registered Dietician Brett Peterson led a recent cooking demonstration and prepared lunch event hosted by the Employee Wellness Committee. Mileski prepared a Korean Bibimbap salad incorporating ingredients from U.P. farm partners, which won silver in the "Best Local Foods" category of the National Association of College & University Food Services awards competition. It featured steak or tofu, pickled parsnips and carrots, a fried egg, fresh spring mix lettuce, puffed rice cereal and a Gochujang vinaigrette.

Northern Michigan University will ramp up its salute to area veterans at all Veteran’s Day home athletic events on Saturday, Nov. 11. In addition to free admission to most events for each veteran and a guest, along with an opportunity to stand and be recognized at all competitions, there will be a ceremony honoring veterans before the football game.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved final terms of a $6.5 million investment award agreement from the Michigan Strategic Fund that will accelerate NMU’s effort to deliver high-speed educational broadband throughout the Upper Peninsula. NMU will move forward with its plan to build out and equip 64 cities and townships over a two-year period.

NMU will host a forum featuring 109th State House District candidates Democrat Sara Cambensy and Republican Rich Rossway. Campus and community members are invited to serve as the audience for the event, which will be recorded at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Doors open at 6. TV6 will televise the forum from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26. NMU public broadcasting, TV6 and the Mining Journal are collaborating on the event.

Northern Michigan University will hold a dedication ceremony for the Bobbie Marie Henderson ’75 Classroom from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Olson Library in the Edgar L. Harden Learning Resources Center. The naming will honor Roberta Henderson of Marquette, an NMU graduate (’75 MA) who served as professor of library science and reference librarian.

The Northern Michigan University Gonzo Media group will screen Ali: Fear Eats the Soul at 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in room 165 of NMU’s Art and Design Building. The event is free for students and $1 for the public.

Lampricides are the primary weapon in the control of sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes, but relatively little is known about their effects on non-targeted species. The Northern Michigan Biology Department will host a seminar addressing the impacts of the most common lampricide on sturgeon at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in 2701 West Science. The public is invited.

In her fall update, Provost Kerri Schuiling addresses China recruitment, the director of accreditation and assessment's resignation, a new part-time faculty teaching award, the recent Strategic Resource Allocation (SRA) forum, retention and an effort to gain designation as an autism-friendly campus with support for students on the autism spectrum.

Northern Michigan University’s Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will unveil its new “Cold War in the U.P.” exhibit on Thursday, Nov. 2. An opening reception is scheduled at 7 p.m.

Northern Michigan University's Forest Roberts Theatre will transform into a haunted house for its ninth annual Haunted Theatre. Among the new "scares" added this year is a gothic-themed dungeon. Performances are from 7-11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26-Saturday, Oct. 28.

Northern Michigan University’s music department is presenting a screening of Frankenstein, performed by the Royal Ballet, as part of the Siril Cinema Series. The film will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, in Forest Roberts Theatre. Admission is $10 for adults and free for anyone under 18, along with NMU students, faculty and staff with ID.

The Northern Michigan University English department will host "Something Wicked this Way Comes–Poems that Haunt" from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company. This free event is part of the Bards & Brews creative reading series held every third Thursday of each month.

Northern Michigan University’s French Program is presenting its 10th annual “Classic Silent Film with Grand Piano Accompaniment.” La Chute de la Maison Usher, a 1928 French horror film, will be screened at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Brule and Cadillac rooms of the University Center. Admission is free.

Northern Michigan University’s Campus Cinema will present a screening of The Hitman's Bodyguard at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, and 6 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Attendance is free for NMU students and $1 for non-students.

A “Meet the Directors” event designed to connect NMU students with some of the Fresh Coast Film Festival (FCFF) directors will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in the Wildcat Room of the Berry Events Center. For the second year, the School of Health and Human Performance and the outdoor recreation leadership and management program have partnered with the FCFF to host this free event. The festival runs Oct. 19-22 in Marquette.

Northern Michigan University’s 38th Sister City Scholarship student Chika Sawada of Higashiomi, Japan, presented NMU President Fritz Erickson with a handkerchief gift from her mayor. NMU offers an annual scholarship for a Higashiomi student to attend the university for one year. According to Sawada, the handkerchief gift exchange is a kind gesture on behalf of her mayor. It is done yearly as an act of thanks for the continued relationship between NMU and Higashiomi.  

Author Daniel Handler, who wrote A Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions under his pen name, Lemony Snicket, will give a presentation at Northern Michigan University. This NMU Platform Personalities event will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Admission is free for NMU students with ID and $2 for the public.

Northern Michigan University student Madeline Wiles of Gladstone is one of 10 individuals selected to serve on the 2017-18 American Association of University Women National Student Advisory Council.

The Northern Michigan University music department will showcase the talent of pianist Anna Daavettila in her senior recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, in Reynolds Recital Hall.

The Northern Michigan University Gonzo Media group will offer a showing of The Autopsy of Jane Doe at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in room 165 Art and Design.

Northern Michigan University students, regardless of major, and Upper Peninsula high school students are invited to participate in the 11th annual New Business Venture Competition sponsored by the NMU College of Business. Individual students or teams of up to five can compete for a $5,000 cash prize and an additional $5,000 in business support. There is a guaranteed prize of $500 for the best high school idea.

Northern Michigan University will launch a fully online version of its accredited academic program that enables registered nurses to enhance their career goals by earning a bachelor’s degree. The RN to BSN program will combine interactive online nursing coursework with project-based clinical nursing instruction and courses from NMU’s applied workplace leadership major. Scheduled to begin as a pilot in January, the online program will be structured so that licensed RNs can study either part time or full time around work and family schedules.

Northern Michigan University's Career Services will host the 50th Annual Fall Semester Job Fair from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, October 18, in the University Center.

The Northern Michigan University music department will present a performance by the NMU University Choir, Arts Chorale, String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free.

The Northern Michigan University music department will host a concert featuring Yale Storm and Hot Pstromi at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, in Reynolds Recital Hall. This free concert is part of the NMU music department’s Guest Artist Series.

The Northern Michigan University music department will host a concert featuring Kardemimmit at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in Reynolds Recital Hall. This free concert is part of the Beaumier Folk Music Series.

Three Northern Michigan University student organizations are hosting public activities to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day and recognize 525 years of Indigenous resistance against colonization. The events will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, in the academic mall between West Science and Jamrich Hall. 

Northern Michigan University biology professor Neil Cumberlidge was recently awarded a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. This higher doctorate, as opposed to an honorary doctorate, is based on a body of published work that established his authoritative standing in the field of African freshwater crab biology. He also holds a doctoral degree in zoology.

Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson gave a presentation as part of an Oct. 5 webinar titled “The Northeast and Midwest: Advancing the Public College and University Mission Amid Regional Population Loss.” 

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is hosting Rock the FRT at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Six bands will compete for the local title and a cash prize of $300 for first place and $200 for second place at this "battle of the bands" event.

The Northern Michigan University music department will present a screening of Dido and Aeneas, performed by the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet in London. The film will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at Forest Roberts Theatre. Admission is $10 for adults and free for anyone under 18, along with NMU students, faculty and staff with ID. 

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a program titled “The Land Down Under: It’s Animals & Culture” from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Room 101B of the Superior Dome.

The Northern Michigan University music department will host a free concert by The Far North Brass Band at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The concert is part of the department's Chamber Music Series.

The Michigan Humanities Council named Northern Michigan University history professor Alan Willis as one of eight resource scholars for the 2017-18 Great Michigan Read, a biennial statewide literary program.

The Northern Michigan University hospitality and tourism management program will host a series of five-course themed dinners during the month of November. Seating times for each dinner are at 4:30, 5:15 and 6:30 p.m. in Chez Nous at the NMU Jacobetti Complex. Chez Nous is a high-end restaurant that provides students a training ground for menu design, food preparation and service.

An “Evening at the Archives” event focusing on genealogy research will be held on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Central U.P. and Northern Michigan University Archives. The event begins at 7 p.m. in room 224 of the Learning Resources Center. It is free and refreshments will be provided. A tour of the Archives will follow the presentation.

NMU professors Jill Leonard and Taimur Cleary will present “A Positive Feedback Loop: Art, Science and Alexis Rockman’s Great Lakes Cycle” as part of the Science on Tap series. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company.

Thirty-five Northern Michigan University students performed choir music in Vienna, Austria and Kraków, Poland this summer as part of a faculty-led “NMU European Tour.”

Visiting professor Sophie Xu will present on Alice Munro and China at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, in room 1313 of Jamrich Hall. The presentation is part of the English Faculty Research Colloquium.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a tour of the Marquette Area Public Schools Makerspace from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Room 257 at Marquette Area Senior High School.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a “Foodie” class from 1-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in Room A of the Marquette Senior Center.

Coder Dojo 906, a community-based programming club for young people, is offering coding classes through Northern Michigan University's Seaborg Center. The remaining dates for the fall semester are at 4-6 p.m. on the following Wednesdays; Oct. 11, Oct. 25, Nov. 8, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6. Each class will take place in room 2702 of West Science.

NMU alumna Megan Janczak (’17 MS) is volunteering as a grammar teacher and director of marketing at John Paul II Junior College in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize.

The campus of Northern Michigan University will be enhanced by the planting of new trees, thanks to a major gift from an anonymous donor.

Joy Harjo will give a public reading as part of the Visiting Writers Series at Northern Michigan University. This free event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, in the Marquette Room of the University Center.

The Beaumier Center will host a showing of the documentary Québékosie as part of the CineArts Independent Film Series. This free event will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at the Peter White Public Library.

The Northern Michigan University music department will host a free concert featuring horn player Gary Reeves and pianist Nancy Redfern at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The concert is part of the department’s Guest Artist Series.

Northern Michigan University’s Platform Personalities will host a performance by illusionist Kid Ace as part of NMU Family Weekend festivities at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, in room 1100 Jamrich Hall. This family friendly event is free to attend.

Seven Northern Michigan University alumni were honored during Homecoming festivities Sept. 22-23 for significant achievements in their fields, substantial contributions to society and demonstrated exceptional leadership and civic qualities. The recipients and their awards were: Paul Blemberg (’72 BS) of Alexandria, Va., and Todd Holmstrom (’90 BA) of Mohawk, Mich., Distinguished Alumni; Kevin Chandler (’00 BS, ’03 MPA) of New Haven, Mich., and Ron Fonger (’86 BS) of Flushing, Mich., Alumni Achievement; Jim Jenkin, (’81 BS, ’84 MBA) of Appleton, Wis., Alumni Service; and Joshua Ewalt (’08 BS) of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Lee Francisco (’02 BS and ’05 MS) of Marquette, Outstanding Young Alumni.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved a 2017-18 general fund operating budget of about $110 million. The budget is $2.2 million, or 2.1 percent, higher than last year. The increase is attributed mainly to contractual obligations and inflationary cost increases related to supplies, materials and support of designated operations and services.

Photographer and adventurer Denis Belliveau traveled in the footsteps of Marco Polo from Italy to China and back. He wrote about his travels and produced a 2008 documentary for PBS, In the Footsteps of Marco Polo. Belliveau will be an "Explorer in Residence" at NMU Sept. 25-29 and will give a public presentation from 6:15-7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Admission is free. A buffet of Central Asian desserts prepared by NMU chef Nathan Mileski will be available before the presentation from 5:30-6:15 p.m.

Northern Michigan University’s Regional Police Academy will host informational meetings at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, and Wednesday, Oct. 4, in room 132 of the Jacobetti Complex. Those interested in attending the academy from May-August 2018 are encouraged to attend one of the 45-minute sessions.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer a Recreational Vehicle Seminar from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 and Thursday, Oct. 5, at Hilltop RV. Dave Korpi from Hilltop RV will provide information and answer questions about Recreational Vehicles to help with your purchase decision. After an introduction, attendees will have the opportunity to tour different models on their lot.

One Book One Community program has planned October events related to this year’s selection, Wolf’s Mouth by John Smolens, NMU professor emeritus. The novel features a World War II Italian officer in a Prisoner of War camp in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the ruthless camp commandant and the officer’s adventures with an American woman after his escape to postwar Detroit.

Northern Michigan University’s College of Business is hosting a “Celebration of Entrepreneurship.” The event will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, in the first-floor atrium of the University Center. There is no cost to attend. Lunch and a t-shirt are included.

The Northern Michigan University Seaborg Center will offer fall College for Kids programs designed for students in grades K-6. They will be held on the last weekend in September and October. All classes run from 9 a.m. to noon and cost $8. To register, visit http://www.nmu.edu/seaborg/college-kids-fall or contact the Seaborg Center at 227-2002.

American contemporary artist Alexis Rockman will visit Northern Michigan University to participate in a series of October events titled “The Great Lakes Cycle: Art + Science with Alexis Rockman.” The artist is known for his paintings of future landscapes depicting the impact of climate change, species extinction and evolution influenced by genetic engineering. He collaborated with Oscar-winning director Ang Lee on concepts for the Life of Pi film. His work has also been exhibited at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Camden Art Center in London and other galleries and museums around the world.

Northern Michigan University’s AFSCME 1094 union, which represents food services staff, maintenance employees and police officers, has ratified a three-year contract. The vote passed 79 to 8.

Northern Michigan University’s sixth annual Rabbit Island Artist in Residence Exhibition will be displayed Monday, Sept. 25-Sunday, Nov. 12 at the DeVos Art Museum. An opening reception and special events are scheduled in conjunction with the show.

NMU Art and Design alumnus Thomas Gallagher (’04 BFA) and his company ERMA Power recently received a Silver Award in the outdoor and garden category at the prestigious International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), a premier competition sponsored annually by the Industrial Designers Society of America. ERMA Power received silver for its battery electric riding lawnmower.

Former Wildcat Nordic skier Adam Martin (’17 BS) is featured in a FasterSkier.com feature article. He has joined the Craftsbury Green Racing Project (CGRP), a professional team in northern Vermont. The article focuses extensively on Martin’s time at Northern, including his four All-American NCAA results in both classic and freestyle races and his stellar academic performance as a double major in mathematics and computer science. It also reflects on his positive relationships with mentor and coach Sten Fjeldheim and his NMU professors. Read the full story here. 

The Northern Michigan University music department will host a performance of Beethoven and Banjos at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in Reynold’s Recital Hall. The ensemble is composed of members of Decoda, a New York-based chamber collective and Carnegie Hall’s affiliate ensemble, along with pianist Jeremy Jordan, banjo player Lauren Premo, songwriter May Erlewine and soprano Mary Bonhag. This will be the first concert of Beethoven and Banjos’ 2017 U.P. tour. Admission is free.

National Surgical Technologists Week runs through Saturday, Sept. 23. NMU offers a bachelor’s degree in clinical health science with an emphasis on surgical technology. The program coordinators are encouraging students to consider this career option. Surgical technologists serve as the behind-the-scenes “backbone” of the operating room.

Northern Michigan University's music department will host a Finnish male choir as part of its Guest Artist Series. Runebergskören BSB will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free.

The Michigan Mathematics and Science Centers Network, which includes the NMU Seaborg Center, partnered with Code.org to send 100 Michigan teachers to professional learning opportunities in Phoenix and Philadelphia. The teachers attended the AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) Course and a 7th-9th grade CS Discoveries pipeline course. About seven U.P. teachers and one educator being trained as a facilitator for future cohorts were among the attendees.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees will meet Thursday, Sept. 21 and Friday, Sept. 22. Committee meetings are scheduled Thursday afternoon and the formal/business session is scheduled from 9-10 a.m. Friday. For the agenda and supporting materials, visit nmu.edu/boardbook. 

Herbs, greens and other vegetables cultivated at the NMU Hoop House near the Jacobetti Complex are now being sold to Dining Services, an area restaurant and community members. The new venture follows requests from chefs interested in using fresh, locally grown food. In addition to generating sales revenue to pump back into its operation, the NMU Hoop House will continue donating produce to its volunteers, local food banks and culinary students in training.

Psychologist Mary Pelton-Cooper will give a presentation titled "Psychotherapy with People on the Autism Spectrum: A Clinician's Perspective" on Friday, Sept. 22, at Northern Michigan University. The event begins at 3 p.m. in 1322 Jamrich Hall. It is part of the Department of Psychological Science Colloquium Series. 

Northern Michigan University will hold its annual Uniting Neighbors in the Experience of Diversity (UNITED) Conference Sept. 25-26. UNITED is composed of a broad range of presentations and films. This year’s featured speakers and events will address such topics as avoiding biases, universal design, identity politics and more.  

Eighteen Northern Michigan University students spent a month in Zambia, Africa this summer for a faculty-led study abroad that focused on African ecology and culture. The NMU “Zambassadors” conducted field research of their own design, while accompanied by biology professor Alec Lindsay and local guides. Research topics ranged from foraging behavior of mixed-species flocks of birds to dung beetle habitat preferences to elephant trunk-use behavior. A related "Zamposium" talk will be held during the UNITED Conference from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, in the Erie Room.

Northern Michigan University will host a Construction Management and Engineering Technology Career Fair on Thursday, Sept. 21. The event will feature 43 employers and runs from 1-4 p.m. in the Jacobetti Complex. It is designed for construction management, engineering technology, electrical and industrial maintenance, HVAC/climate control and welding majors. 

The dedication of the John B. Anderton Trail System at Presque Isle Park will be held on Monday, Sept. 18. Anderton was a geography professor and department head at NMU—his alma mater. He died while cross-country skiing at age 49 in 2014. The park was a special place for recreation and research throughout his lifetime and the focus of his book titled The Jewel in the Crown: An Environmental History of Presque Isle Park, Marquette, Michigan. 

Northern Michigan University’s 2017 Homecoming celebration will include events for alumni and community members Sept. 22-23. All are free unless otherwise indicated.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University is seeking materials related to civil defense in the 1950s and '60s for an upcoming exhibition on the history of the Cold War in the Upper Peninsula. Examples include a fallout shelter, food rations, equipment, water, barrels, signs and other material culture. The center would also like to take photos of fallout shelters that still exist.

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is beginning its 2017-18 season with Noises Off, a British farce by Michael Frayn. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29-Saturday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 5-Saturday, Oct. 7, with 1 p.m. matinee performances both Saturdays.

Ivan Ivanov, former Greco-Roman coach at the U.S. Olympic Training Site, returned to campus for a visit this week. He now runs Suples Training Systems, a company in his native Bulgaria that makes equipment for wrestling, CrossFit and fitness training. Ivanov donated about $10,000 worth of equipment to the program, according to Mike Kaurala of the USOTS. During his tenure from 2002-09, Ivanov coached Olympians Andy Bisek, Spencer Mango, Justin Lester, Adam Wheeler (Olympic Bronze medalist) and Chas Betts. 

The One Book One Community program has planned several events related to this year’s selection, Wolf’s Mouth by John Smolens, NMU professor emeritus. The novel features a World War II Italian officer in a Prisoner of War camp in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the ruthless camp commandant and the officer’s adventures with an American woman after his escape to post-war Detroit.

NMU alumni and twin sisters Natalie and Stephanie Heise have each gained their first acceptance into ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, an open international art competition billed by some as the most-attended public art event in the world. According to the Petoskey News Review, Natalie (BFA 2015) will display her photographic collage titled "Catastrophe." Stephanie (BFA 2014) was accepted for a number of illustrations created with the help of Photoshop. This year's event runs Sept. 20-Oct. 8. Read their full story here.

Northern Michigan University appears in four categories in U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 Best Colleges Rankings. Among regional universities in the Midwest, NMU tied for 83rd best overall and 18th among the top public institutions. It also ranked 67th as a “best value” and tied for 52nd among the best colleges for veterans in the Midwest. 

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has awarded NMU English Professor Kia Jane Richmond and University of Central Florida English Language Arts Education Assistant Professor Elsie Olan with the 2017 English Leadership Quarterly Best Article Award. They are being recognized for their journal article titled “Conversations, Connections, and Culturally Responsive Teaching: Young Adult Literature in the English Methods Class.” Richmond and Olan will receive their honor during the Conference on English Leadership in St. Louis in November.

Northern Michigan University’s 10th day enrollment report shows the number of new first-time, full-time freshmen has increased nearly 11 percent, or 146, over last year. The boost of incoming students helps to minimize some of the overall headcount decline attributed to smaller class sizes in recent years, along with a large graduating class last May.

Diana Lafferty, who joined the biology faculty this fall, is featured in a SIERRA magazine article on her recent postdoctoral research in North Carolina. She and her colleagues used a controlled lab setting to investigate whether snowshoe hares can adjust their behavior to compensate for changes to their environment caused by a warming climate. The hares’ fur turns from a winter white to brown in the spring to keep them camouflaged. But with snow melting earlier, the color change doesn’t always keep pace, making them more vulnerable to predators. To read the full story, click here. 

Northern Michigan University ecology and mathematics major Erin Estes completed the Math-Bio Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). The highly selective program, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides students with hands-on research experience and the opportunity to make a real impact solving scientific problems at the intersection between biology and mathematics. Estes’ project investigated the effect of Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) on the social behaviors of honey bees.

Northern Michigan University alumna Sacha Pence (‘04) is the new director of the applied behavior analysis graduate program at the Drake University School of Education. Pence received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology from NMU. She also holds a doctorate in psychology. Pence is a certified behavior analysist with experience teaching and working directly with children who demonstrate challenging behaviors. She also has diverse clinical training. Read Drake University’s story here. 

Northern Michigan University will host a College Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the University Center Great Lakes Rooms. The program will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. and is open to all high school juniors, seniors and their parents. Representatives from about 40 colleges and universities, including several out-of- state schools, will answer questions about their academic programs, costs, support services and campus life. 

Presentations about the history, life and culture of the Upper Peninsula will be offered at the Sonderegger Symposium XVII at Northern Michigan University. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, in the University Center Pioneer Rooms. It is free and open to the public. 

Danez Smith will give a public reading as part of the Visiting Writers Series at Northern Michigan University. This free event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, in the Marquette Room of the University Center.

Northern Michigan University will host a community Law Enforcement Torch Run/Walk for Special Olympics on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is the largest grassroots fundraising effort for Special Olympics International. Michigan's program generates financial support for more than 23,000 athletes who compete in Special Olympics in the state. 

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a tour of the Keweenaw Peninsula Tuesday, Oct. 10, during the peak of the fall color season.

Kevin McDowell, a health psychologist with U.P. Health System Marquette, will present "A Primer on Psychological Assessment" at Northern Michigan University. His talk is scheduled at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, in 1322 Jamrich Hall. McDowell is a 2008 NMU alumnus.

New architectural renderings for the University Center renovation were unveiled at fall convocation. The project will include a student-centered core on the first floor, with a relocated Center for Student Enrichment, smaller bookstore and new student activity zone with a pub-style atmosphere. The second floor will feature a 12,000 square-foot ballroom/conference space and reconfigured Great Lakes Rooms. The most striking visual differences are the façade, composed mostly of glass instead of masonry to enhance the views into and out of the facility, and the contemporary canopy above the main entrance.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Fred Bryant (‘97 BS) is the new athletic director at Cadillac High School and Cadillac Junior High School. He previously was a physical education and health teacher in Newberry, where he also coached the varsity football and girls' basketball teams and served a stint as the school's athletic director. Read the full MISportsNow story on his new appointment here.

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is hosting auditions for “Rock the FRT,” a battle of the bands event that celebrates local music. To audition, send a video or audio track to Technical Director David Pierce at davpierc@nmu.edu by Friday, Sept. 8.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer a program titled "Effectively Using Facebook" from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in 2302 Hedgcock at Northern Michigan University.

Marquette, home of Northern Michigan University, is the 19th safest college town in America, according to a ranking released by The SafeWise Report. Quality academic programs and affordability are important considerations in choosing a college. But a Wearsafe Labs survey indicated 70 percent of parents consider campus safety a critical factor as well. To formulate the report, Safewise security experts evaluated the most recent FBI crime statistics available.

NMU alumna Gabrielle Revord (‘17) has joined her hometown dance studio's creative team as a choreographer and instructor. Revord danced at Julie’s Top Hat Dance Studio in Kingsford for 15 years before attending NMU, where she majored in health and fitness management and minored in dance. She was president of the NMU Hip Hop Dance Crew and assistant choreographer for Scrooge and The Addams Family. Read The Daily News story here. Earlier this week, NMU held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new dance space, the Panowski Studio ("Studio P"), named after longtime professor and Forest Roberts Theatre director James Panowski. 

NMU's Forest Roberts Theatre will hold its Season Premiere Party, a red-carpet kickoff event, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, in the FRT lobby. Students and community members can enjoy a free ice cream social sponsored by Jilbert's Dairy, tour the theaters, meet the design teams for the 2017-18 season and talk with FRT faculty. They can also learn about the First Nighters Club booster organization and Alpha Psi Omega, the student honors fraternity.

NMU English professor James McCommons wrote an opinion piece in the Lake Tahoe News titled “Learning about the U.S. via trains.” He has ridden Amtrak since college and more recently logged nearly 100,000 miles researching and promoting his book, Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service. In the opinion piece, McCommons explores the social aspects of train travel, including one of his more remarkable encounters in the dining car. He also describes the “intimacy with landscape” afforded by this mode of transportation. Read it here.

Northern Michigan University ranks No. 9 on the list of Best Colleges in Michigan for 2017-18 released by College Consensus. NMU is the only Upper Peninsula institution to appear in the ranking. To identify the best among public and private schools in the state, College Consensus averaged the latest results from respected college ranking systems with thousands of real student review scores from around the web to produce a unique rating for each school.

Jane Wankmiller is the new director of Northern Michigan University’s Forensic Research Outdoor Station (FROST), one of only eight such facilities worldwide and the first to study human decomposition in a cold climate. FROST will be complemented by a forensic anthropology laboratory and a human osteological collection. Wankmiller will oversee both components while developing courses for a bachelor’s degree concentration in forensic anthropology.

Nick Griewahn, a Technology and Occupational Sciences professor at Northern Michigan University, is one of the top 10 air conditioning and refrigeration instructors in the nation, according to HVACClasses.org. Griewahn teaches courses such as principles of air delivery systems and advanced commercial refrigeration systems. He is a certified commercial air conditioning and commercial refrigeration educator, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees and earned both EPA and North American Technician Excellence certifications. He is particularly interested in conservation, particularly related to refrigeration and alternative refrigerant solutions.

The McNair Symposium will take place from noon to 3 p.m Friday, Sept. 1, in Mead Auditorium in the West Science Building. Students in the McNair Scholars Program will give presentations about research projects they conducted this summer on campus, research fellowships on other campuses and off-campus internships. The summer research internship is a central feature of the McNair Scholars Program.

NMU students have moved into the new Birch Hall West and Cedar Hall West for the fall semester. The two buildings comprise the first phase of The Woods student housing complex developed and managed by EdR. The public-private partnership represents the largest construction project in NMU history. According to an EdR press release, Birch and Cedar Halls have 417 beds in a living-learning community that features robust internet and wi-fi capabilities, classrooms, study rooms, TV lounges and laundry facilities.

In his fall convocation, Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson said he could not identify another university in Michigan—perhaps even the upper Great Lakes region—that has made as many innovative, positive strides over the past year and a half as Northern.

The NMU Alumni Association Board of Directors has announced the 2017 alumni award recipients who will be recognized during Homecoming festivities Sept. 22-23. The honorees have attained significant achievements in their field, made substantial contributions to society and demonstrated exceptional leadership and civic qualities. Recipients and their awards are: Paul Blemberg (’72 BS) and Todd Holmstrom (’90 BA), Distinguished Alumni; Kevin Chandler (’00 BS, ’03 MPA) and Ron Fonger (’86 BS), Alumni Achievement; Jim Jenkin, ’81 BS, ’84 MBA), Alumni Service; and Joshua Ewalt (’08 BS) and Lee Francisco (’02 BS and ’05 MS), Outstanding Young Alumni.

During his fall convocation, NMU President Fritz Erickson reminded faculty and staff that they play a vital role in recruitment and retention. Employees can learn how to become more actively engaged in both, share ideas and find out what the university is doing to enhance these efforts at an Enrollment Information Fair. The event will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, in the third-floor Hedgcock atrium. To view a handout on opportunities to engage in recruitment, click here. For retention, click here. 

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radiography and Surgical Technology student organizations will hold a blood drive through the U.P. Regional Blood Center on Thursday, Aug. 31. The campus community is invited to participate from noon to 5 p.m. in Magers/Meyland Hall. Pizza and refreshments will be provided. There will also be prize drawings. Donors may register in advance at the groups’ Fall Fest table.

A number of roadway construction projects across campus are being completed by the City of Marquette as the fall semester gets underway. Two roundabouts are being constructed at Presque Isle/Fair Avenues and Wright Street/Tracy-Sugarloaf, resulting in road intersection closures and detours. In addition, utility mains are being replaced along Wright Street near the armory. Expect delays and rerouting.

NMU associate professor Nicholas Griewahn was quoted in a recent article that appeared in The NEWS, a leading resource for those in the HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) field. Griewahn is on The NEWS' Trainer Panel, composed of “some of the country’s best HVAC educators, instructors, and trainers. Their insights are used to answer technical questions from the field and suggest solutions to everyday problems." To read the article on HVAC system evacuations, click here.

An “inside the box” team-building idea submitted by Stephanie Raboin, marketing manager of NMU Dining, appeared in the Ideas and Innovation section of the FoodService Director publication. Raboin said to keep staff motivated, NMU Dining locked them in a room together in the name of fun: “As part of a mid-semester training session, we formed work groups and sent them to a local Escape Room to see which team could play the game together most effectively and escape first,” she wrote. “Not only was this training a great team-building experience, but it supported a local new business and gave our staff a memorable experience.”

Northern Michigan University recently signed a credit transfer agreement with Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wis. Nicolet students who complete the 66-credit culinary arts associate degree can enter NMU with junior status, applying those credits toward a bachelor’s degree.

Nineteen employees and two student athletes volunteered to represent NMU at the Ishpeming Township National Night Out and 150th birthday celebration. NMU’s table at the family-focused event featured frisbees, paper pennants, balloons, pins and other branded giveaway items, as well as information on the Educational Access Network. Two NMU goodie bags were also raffled off.

Why do birds spend time eating bugs from some trees, but leave others untouched? Maybe when the insects start to munch on leaves or needles, the trees then “call for help” by releasing chemicals that the birds can “smell.” That possibility forms the basis of thesis research being conducted in Marquette County jack pine stands by Northern Michigan University Biology master’s student Katie Bjornen. She has recently won several competitive research grants and presented her work Aug. 2 at the joint meeting of the American Ornithological Society and Society of Canadian Ornithologists in East Lansing.

North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun on Monday, Aug. 21. Northern Michigan University’s Physics Department is offering area residents an opportunity to safely view this area’s partial solar eclipse through a telescope equipped with a sun filter at the NMU Observatory Dome. This free event is scheduled from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Northern Michigan University’s nationally recognized Student Leader Fellowship Program (SLFP) is seeking community leaders to serve as leadership mentors. The SLFP pairs citizens who are active in the local community with NMU students who are in the first year of the SLFP.

Northern Michigan University’s Fall Fest is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, the first day of classes. The event will take place on the lawn outside the University Center.

NMU President Fritz Erickson will deliver his fall convocation to faculty, staff and students on Wednesday, Aug. 23. The program begins at 4 p.m. in 1100 Jamrich Hall. A reception will follow. 

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is offering a new season ticket structure, along with a Flex Four Pass option, for its 2017-18 Mainstage productions.

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre will present a full slate of plays, dance, local music and special events during the 2017-18 season. Details will be announced closer to each event, but an overview of the schedule follows. Those with an asterisk are part of the mainstage season ticket package. For updated information, visit nmu.edu/frt.

Northern Michigan University’s criminal justice department will host events that revolve around protecting the Upper Peninsula’s critical infrastructure and key resources from hostile acts. InfraGard Michigan Members Alliance Inc. (MI InfraGard), a public-private partnership with the FBI, selected NMU as a host site for presentations on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 8-9. There is no charge to attend, but advance registration is required.

Percussive Attack Camp will wrap up a week-long study of music at Northern Michigan University with a free public concert on Friday, Aug. 4. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Recital Hall. Students from middle school age through adults will perform on marimbas, xylophones, bongos, timpani, cymbals, triangles, garbage cans and other percussion instruments. 

Northern Michigan University professor David Pierce and student Jill Vermeulen of Marquette are gaining valuable experience this summer working behind the scenes at the Adirondack Theatre Festival in Glens Falls, N.Y. They were part of the best-selling show in ATF history, Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat. This musical depiction of the misunderstood genius and his battle with mentor-turned-rival Thomas Edison is described as “Hamilton meets Tesla.” Given the subject matter, it is no surprise that the production required electrifying technical elements. Pierce was immersed in that aspect through his role of technical director and production manager.

NMU Housing and Residence Life is offering tours of its new residence hall complex, named The Woods, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 26-27. Tours will take about 15 minutes and will include model resident rooms, as well as study and lounge areas.

A bag containing moon dust collected by Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, and purchased for $995 by NMU alumna Nancy Lee Carlson ('74 BS), was sold at a Sotheby's space-themed auction today for $1.8 million. The buyer's identity and intended location for the bag were not released. Carlson is a Chicago-area attorney. She had to wage a legal battle to be declared the rightful owner of the bag before putting it up for auction. Carlson had said she plans to donate some proceeds to various charities and establish a scholarship for speech pathology students at NMU. Read the Chicago Tribune story here.

Northern Michigan University has launched an online Community Engagement Survey for Marquette County alumni and residents who are not currently members of the campus community. The feedback will help to determine their level of engagement with NMU and ways to strengthen that connection. It will also gauge their perceptions of the university and how it can better respond to community needs through innovative programming and services. The survey will remain active through Friday, Aug. 11, at nmu.edu/2017survey. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and responses will remain confidential. NMU will share the results this fall. 

April Lindala, director of the Center for Native American Studies and Judy Puncochar, professor in the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service, have been accepted to the Higher Learning Commission’s Peer Review Corps. The chair of the AQIP Comprehensive Quality Review Team invited both to apply for peer reviewer positions during NMU’s site visit in March.

Provost Kerri Schuiling provides a mid-summer update on the Academic Affairs division. Topics include new and eliminated programs approved by the Michigan Association of State Universities, an effort to replace the Michigan Transfer Network, a new template for tenure, promotion and continuing contract applications, and the Strategic Resource Allocation project.

Nineteen students from Aba Teachers University in China are spending about two weeks at NMU for an English Language Institute focused on art. Faculty from NMU’s School of Art & Design are teaching segments in ceramics, human-centered design, graphic design and painting. NMU’s English Language Institute faculty and staff are coordinating the cultural and language segments, which are also being held in the Art & Design Building.

The 2017 North Country Trail Association Celebration will be held July 27-29 in Marquette. Presentations, break-out sessions and recognition dinners will be held at NMU and some attendees will stay in campus housing. NMU’s School of Health and Human Performance is co-sponsoring the event. A grant-funded project involving one of Professor Jacquie Medina’s classes and North Star Academy that uses art to strengthen connections to the natural environment will be the topic of a break-out session.

Alumnus Alex Maier will also lead a break-out session at the North Country Trail Association Celebration at NMU later this month. He discovered the NCT and his passion for nature photography while enrolled as a student at Northern, initially taking short day hikes with his camera. Maier completed a 1,200-mile journey on the Pacific Northwest Trail after graduating in 2015 with a degree in digital cinema. He returned to the area and decided his next challenge would be to hike different sections of the NCT until he had traversed the entire Upper Peninsula. Maier’s nine-episode video series of his adventures, titled Yooper Tours, will be the topic of his talk.

California native Russell Magnaghi first visited the Upper Peninsula in the midst of a formidable snowstorm in January 1968. Despite the harsh initiation, he accepted a faculty position in Northern Michigan University’s history department and immediately began investigating the region’s s cultural, economic and ethnic heritage. Magnaghi has completed the daunting task of condensing nearly 50 years of meticulous research and oral interviews into a newly released book titled Upper Peninsula of Michigan: A History. This definitive, general-interest account of the area’s past is the first attempt to tackle the topic in more than a century.

NMU alumnus Parker Bambenek (BA ‘12) is the youngest charter captain working on Lake Superior out of Duluth, according to a feature in the Duluth News Tribune. If it weren’t for a “twist of fate” suffered during his senior year of college, the biochemistry grad may not have established his Superior Pursuits charter fishing service so soon. The 27-year-old Bambenek is also pursuing a nursing degree in the hope of becoming a nurse anesthetist. Read the feature here.

NMU alumna Elizabeth Connor (BS 2008) has been appointed to the newly created position of Great Miami Riverway coordinator. Her focus is on marketing and placemaking to promote the area, which connects the bike trails and Ohio's Great Miami River with riverfront communities, as a single tourist destination. Connor also seeks diverse funding opportunities and additional partners. She previously owned EWC Media LLC. See the full story on her new role in the Troy Daily News here.

Northern Michigan University's Jacobetti Complex will host Summer Skilled Trade Camps for 7th-12th graders July 18-20.

An NMU delegation of faculty and staff members traveled to Michigan Tech’s campus to participate in the first Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference. The presentation tracks included active learning, online learning, assessment and other issues in higher education. NMU representatives delivered eight presentations. The event was co-sponsored by the NMU Center for Teaching and Learning and Michigan Tech’s William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning.

Media coverage is welcome when 19 students from Aba Teachers University in China spend about two weeks at NMU for an English Language Institute focused on art. Faculty from NMU’s School of Art & Design will teach segments in ceramics, human-centered design, graphic design and painting. NMU’s English Language Institute will coordinate the cultural and language segments, which will also be held in the Art & Design Building. 

Grand Rapids-based 834 Design & Marketing has hired NMU alumna Sarah Abel (BS 2005) as managing director, according to the Grand Rapids Business Journal. She will assist the firm with business development, team management, account support and operations. Abel will drive the firm's strategy, positioning and client retention, while also providing account support to clients. She previously served as the development communications manager at Rockford Construction. Read the GRBJ story here.

NMU alumnus Barry West (’85 BS) is senior adviser and senior accountable official for risk management at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He was recently interviewed by Federal News Radio about his role in seeing that the Trump administration’s executive order on cyber security is carried out. West said the DHS is working toward greater collaboration among its 22 components, which leads to better situational awareness and more effective cyber monitoring. Listen to the interview here.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer an informational tour of Lambros and LaBonte Parks, along with the accessible kayak launch. Jon Swenson, assistant director of the Marquette Parks and Recreation Department, will lead the program from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, July 12 (rain date July 13).

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, in 602 Cohodas. Most trustees will participate via teleconference. The only agenda item is a vote on whether to approve the negotiated agreement between the university and its technical office professionals (TOP) union, UAW Local 1950. A press release on the union's ratification of the agreement was distributed June 27, indicating the contract required board approval. Here is a link to the release: http://www.nmu.edu/mc/news-releases?articleID=174335&.

The impacts of tobacco litter on the environment and of cigarettes on the human body will be addressed at a UP4Health Challenge Event titled “Nine Lives of a Cigarette Butt.” This free event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, in the second-floor atrium of Lydia Olson Library at Northern Michigan University. 

Northern Michigan University has received a $1.15 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to implement a collaborative operating agreement involving Invent@NMU and the Innovate Marquette SmartZone. Both entities have developed distinct approaches toward the common goal of promoting regional economic development. The new grant-funded partnership enables them to continue that work collectively and more efficiently from one location, enhancing the services provided to inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs.

Northern Michigan University’s technical and office professionals (UAW Local 1950) have ratified a three-year contract, with 63 percent of voting members approving the proposal. The union is composed of 134 employees.

NMU alumna Dr. Cara Crawford-Bartle (’13 BS) is one of six new incoming residents for the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program, beginning July 1. The West Branch native earned her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. The MSU College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Region Campus works in conjunction with the UP Health System-Marquette to coordinate the training of family medicine residents and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine medical students.

Three NMU alumni are featured in a “Soldiers of Food Truck Nation” article in the June issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine. Joanna (Serbinski) Miller ('05 BS) and her husband, Jeff, operate the MMMM Truck, as in "Mmmm" or Multiple Millers Making Meals. Joanna began working in a restaurant at 16 and later studied hospitality management at NMU. She has 20 years’ experience in the field. Drue Wright and Drake Nagel, both 2012 grads, operate a Happy Tacos truck. Read the feature here.

Northern Michigan University offers one of the nation’s best bachelor’s degree programs in insurance and risk management, according to Online Accounting Degree Programs. NMU ranks 13th in a recent listing published on the organization’s website.

The AQIP Evaluation Team has submitted NMU’s final Comprehensive Quality Review Report regarding the site visit that took place in March. After reviewing the report, the Higher Learning Commission will provide NMU with a letter of accreditation status. 

NMU is hosting a "Reimagine STEM Summer Youth Academy" through June 30 for students who have completed grades 10-12. They will learn creative ways to approach science, technology, engineering and math based on Native American traditions, culture and knowledge. This week features faculty-led act

NMU’s “Remove the Label” campaign, designed to raise awareness about the damaging impact of stereotypes, received a Circle of Excellence Gold Award for diversity programs from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Olson Library will open the Digital Media Tutoring Center (DMTC) in Fall 2017. The DMTC will offer peer tutoring to support students incorporating multimedia in class assignments. The goal is to provide support for students who are not in multimedia-related programs such as CAPS or Art & Design.

NMU alumnus and former Wildcat tight end Robert Saleh (’01) is profiled on Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB) website. The article explains how his brother’s ordeal on 9/11 convinced Saleh to quit his job as a credit analyst to pursue his dream of coaching in the NFL. He rose through the ranks to become defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. Saleh is believed to be the first Arab-American to hold an NFL coordinator job. Read the full article here.

The ice surface in the Berry Events Center at Northern Michigan University is being named “Rick Comley Rink” in honor of the longtime head coach. Comley spent 26 years behind the Wildcat bench and guided NMU to the 1991 NCAA Division I Championship.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved a collaborative operating agreement involving Invent@NMU and Innovate Marquette SmartZone. It also authorized a no-cost rental arrangement with the Michigan Department of Corrections that enables NMU to begin developing the future site of its forensic research outdoor station (FROST) before the previously approved property transfer is completed. The board held a special session Wednesday morning to take action on timely agenda items that needed to be addressed before the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Students from Alcovy High School in Georgia recently visited NMU. They are in the school's Teaching as a Profession program established by NMU alumnus Richard Cormier ('92 BS). He formed a distance education partnership with his alma mater, using teleconferencing technology to connect his students with NMU education majors to discuss topics related to teaching. Some of the Alcovy students shared pictures and letters home describing their "amazing" Marquette experience with The Covington News. Read the story here.

A documentary produced by Northern Michigan University professor Dwight Brady and students in his multimedia journalism class earned a Michigan Emmy Award at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' annual gala June 10 in Detroit. Boxed In explores how some big-box retailers have successfully argued to the Michigan Tax Tribunal that their valuations should be compared to older big-box stores elsewhere in the state that closed and remain vacant.

A special formal session of the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees is scheduled at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, in 602 Cohodas Hall. Trustees who are not in town will participate via conference call. The agenda includes three items: lease agreement for Department of Corrections property; MEDC Invent@​NMU/SmartZone grant agreement; and the Berry Events Center rink. 

NMU alumnus Timothy Kangas (BS 1988, MPA 1990) was recently appointed chief operating officer at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), which has been providing care to America's veterans since 1831.

Northern Michigan University ranks 25th on the list of the “Top 50 Best Value Industrial and Product Design Programs of 2017” compiled by Value Colleges. The independent online guide ranked regionally accredited institutions based on three data points: reputation according to U.S. News & World Report’s overall score; prospective salary; and non-resident tuition rates.

NMU alumna and Chicago-area attorney Nancy Lee Carlson (’74 BS) purchased a zippered pouch labeled “Lunar Sample Return” through an online auction two years ago. NASA testing confirmed it contains some of the very first moon dust collected by Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong in 1969. Carlson brought the bag to Sotheby’s auction house, which will feature it as the centerpiece of a Space Exploration sale on July 20 in New York. Her initial $995 investment is expected to fetch $2-$4 million. She plans to donate some proceeds to various charities and establish a scholarship for speech pathology students at NMU. Read the full story here.

Northern Michigan University and the Iron County Board of Commissioners announce the availability of NMU’s Educational Access Network (EAN) in the Crystal Falls area. EAN provides broadband internet service through the university’s high-speed LTE wireless network to learners of all ages. 

NMU professor Nell Kupper put her French language expertise to use at a private dedication ceremony for Marquette’s newest float copper display at Presque Isle Park. She met descendants of the city’s namesake, 17th-century French missionary and explorer Jacques Marquette, also known as Père (Father) Marquette. Dr. Jean-Marie Marquette and his wife, Béatrice, traveled from their home in France for the event. Kupper conversed with the couple in their native language. She also presented them with two coffee mugs featuring the NMU Languages, Literatures and International Studies department insignia.

NMU student Carley Dole of Shelbyville has received a $1,000 disability scholarship from Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. The law firm established the annual award to help students with disabilities or injuries who are in need of financial assistance for education. Dole is studying psychology and public relations. According to a press release, she suffered a traumatic brain injury, dislocated jaw and other injuries in 2012, when a horse she was preparing for a fair unexpectedly bit the right side of her face, knocking her unconscious. Read the full story here.

Adult artists living north of the 45th parallel in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are invited to submit one piece of work for a non-juried exhibition at Northern Michigan University’s DeVos Art Museum. The new format will celebrate the 10th anniversary “North of the 45th Parallel” exhibition and is a departure from previous years’ juried shows. Beginning at noon Friday, June 16, artists will have 24 hours to deliver their work in person to the museum until time or space runs out. An opening reception will be held from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, June 17.

NMU alumna Jennifer Rancourt (’98 MPA) has been named vice president of communications and compliance at Promerica Health. She brings a “unique background of laboratory science, healthcare administration and medical device sales” to the position, according to a press release. Promerica Health annually visits thousands of sites across the country for a variety of Fortune 500 companies. It provides health screenings, employee wellness programming and related solutions tailored to an individual company’s needs. 

Alumni, friends, current and prospective students and their families are all welcome at a special Northern Michigan University Meet and Greet event to be held on Tuesday, June 6 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Nestegg Marine.

NMU student Billy McCoy will make a return trip to the Republic of the Congo in July, ideally with $4,000 he's trying to raise to build a security fence around a planned orphanage. According to an Iron Mountain Daily News story, McCoy first encountered the country's "orphan crisis" when he was on a surfing and camping trip through Africa in 2010. The sight of children in torn clothes wandering the streets and begging for money motivated the Florence, Wis. native to take action. He returned with medicine for one orphanage in 2016 and will go back for six weeks in July with funding for a fence around another facility yet to be built. Read the full story here.

Jamie Alberta of Grand Rapids, who recently graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in graphic communications, will become a Teach For America corps member. Teach For America is a selective non-profit that enlists and develops promising future leaders to impact social inequity from the head of a classroom and work in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunity for children facing the challenges of poverty. Alberta will be an early childhood education teacher in Memphis, Tenn.

Northern Michigan University Dining has entered a partnership with Superior Angus, LLC of Rapid River, Mich. 

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center has announced the 2017 recipients of the Upper Peninsula Folklife Award. Three individuals who have done much to preserve and promote the folk traditions of the region will be honored. The awardees are television personality and cultural Finnish-American icon Carl Pellonpaa and folk dance instructors/advocates Bill and Marge Sklar.  The awards will be presented at the Beaumier Center’s benefit, “A Middle Eastern Dinner,” on May 30.  For more information and to register for the event, go to connect.nmu.edu/2017uphd.

The Northern Michigan University organization, Cat Packs, recently won the Innovations in Community Impact Award from Michigan Campus Compact. The award recognizes innovative approaches to problem solving with measured community impact, as led by a campus body and one or more community partners.

Joseph Prinzi (’70 ’79 BS MAE) and Nancy Prinzi (’70 ’74 BS MAE) met at NMU and agree that the university provided an excellent and affordable foundation for their careers. They are passionate about teaching and the benefits of travel. Both have gone abroad extensively and Nancy was a coordinator for the Michigan Department of Education teacher exchange program. Recognizing how an overseas experience can help transform a student personally and professionally, the Grand Haven couple has given NMU a six-figure gift to establish the Joseph and Nancy Prinzi Educational Study Abroad Scholarship.

The River Valley Bank Hope Starts Here Challenge, an annual event that raises funds and awareness for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, will be held this weekend. The UMBTC is a collaborative effort between UP Health System, Northern Michigan University and the Superior Health Foundation. Its mission is to empower patients and families dealing with brain tumors through advocacy, research, education and treatment. Here is information on the Friday night and Saturday events for media interested in covering the challenge.

Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson issued the following statement in response to the death of Rep. John Kivela: "Northern Michigan University lost a good friend in the death of Michigan State Representative John Kivela. John was a friend to so many in the community and an ardent supporter of opportunities for students in the U.P. He worked tirelessly on behalf of the community and our students and he should be recognized for that effort. I extend my sympathies to his wife, Sandy, and the Kivela family. He will be greatly missed."

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley participated in Friday’s dedication of NMU’s Behavior Education Assessment and Research (BEAR) Center. The facility provides free behavior analytic assessment and therapeutic services for children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities and other behavioral concerns. Calley, whose daughter has been diagnosed with ASD, championed autism insurance reform in 2012 and signed legislation to officially license applied behavioral analysts in Michigan early this year.

The NMU School of Nursing is collaborating with other local entities to offer a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training May 15-19 on campus. There are only two SANE-qualified professionals in the Upper Peninsula, so the goal is to increase that number to increase the likelihood of cases being prosecuted. There will also be a public presentation focusing on the role of SANE in human trafficking at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, in Mead Auditorium.

Lake Superior State University President Thomas Pleger died suddenly Sunday at a Petoskey hospital, where he had been recovering from brain surgery. He was 48. NMU President Fritz Erickson issued the following statement: "Northern Michigan University sends its deepest condolences to the LSSU community on the passing of President Tom Pleger. Additionally, I extend my sympathies to Teresa and the Pleger family. I witnessed my colleague serve as an incredible advocate for LSSU students, faculty and staff, and the community. As a fellow Upper Peninsula president, I appreciated Tom's enthusiasm, his dedication and his general zest for life. He will be greatly missed. NMU stands ready to assist in any way possible as the LSSU community navigates the changes ahead." 

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees presented its annual student achievement awards, which recognize significant contributions to the quality of life at NMU through involvement in extracurricular activities or through work in a university department. Recipients were: Gwendolyn Hoenke of Marquette, Outstanding Female Graduating Senior; Zachary Dykema of Holland, Outstanding Male Graduating Senior; Melanie Flaherty of Pinckney, Outstanding Student of Any Class; and Marlina Martinez, originally of Los Angeles, who now resides in Ishpeming, Outstanding Non-Traditional Student.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved a 2017-18 tuition and fees schedule. The combined average cost for full-time resident undergraduates will be $5,280.50 per semester, an increase of $237.50 per semester from last year’s rate. NMU will maintain its longtime rank of having the second-lowest tuition and fees among Michigan’s public universities and the lowest in the Upper Peninsula. Northern’s rate also adheres to the tuition restraint language in preliminary state budget proposals. If the final higher education appropriation bill includes a revised dollar cap, NMU will adjust accordingly.

NMU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will be represented for the first time at commencement. Three students enrolled in the post-master’s track have completed their coursework and will participate in the May 6 ceremony. Theresa Durley of Marquette (also an NMU nursing faculty member), Myrth Condon of Munising and Lacey Crabb of Escanaba were honored at a public reception on Wednesday, May 3. 

Northern Michigan University alumnus Richard Cormier ('91 BS) established a distance education partnership between NMU and his students at Alcovy High School in Georgia. Cormier and his students will temporarily cut that distance when they visit NMU's campus May 19-23.

The first cohort of Marquette-Alger Technical Middle College (MATMC) students will graduate from Northern Michigan University. Eight students began the program at Marquette Senior High School and two started at Negaunee High School. MATMC allows students to earn a high school diploma, a number of college credits and a technical certificate from NMU at no cost.

NMU graduate Velma Blackwell (LPN) became the first African-American to work as a nurse at Northside Hospital Cherokee in Canton, Ga, according to an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That was in 1969, when other black employees—even those with RN credentials—could only work as aides and the cafeteria was segregated. Despite the difficult start, Blackwell, now 71, found her place at Northside. She met U.S. Rep. John Lewis and worked with him to secure a family leave act. She encouraged other African-American women to pursue nursing degrees. And rather than retire, Blackwell will move with her hospital “family” into a new facility May 6. To read the full article, click here.

Area elementary students who will participate in the Marquette-Alger Young Authors' Conference May 8-11 at Northern Michigan University read their books to NMU President Fritz Erickson and his wife, Jan. Over the past 40 years, the conference has grown to include 13 schools and about 3,000 children from pre-K through 5th grade. Literacy activities involve reading, researching, writing, illustrating, sharing and finally publishing a book as a culminating project. This year’s guest author/illustrator is David Biedrzycki.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees will be held on Thursday and Friday, May 4 and 5. Committee meetings are scheduled Thursday afternoon and the formal/business session will begin at 9 a.m. Friday. All take place in 602 Cohodas Hall. For the agenda and supporting materials, visit nmu.edu/boardbook. 

Northern Michigan University’s commencement ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Superior Dome. Of the 1,122 students eligible to graduate, 883 are expected to participate in the ceremony. We kindly request that media covering commencement obtain a media credential in advance from Derek Hall in the NMU Marketing and Communications Office by calling 227-2720.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning is offering an overnight sightseeing tour to the Porcupine Mountains State Wilderness Park to celebrate the summer solstice.

Provost Kerri Schuiling provides a status report on the Strategic Resource Allocation process in this Campus Connect update. She outlines progress made by the facilitation team, support task force and academic task force. She also addresses the revised timeline, particularly for the academic review.

Mark Welke, Northern Michigan University assistant professor of Technology and Occupational Sciences, has been awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. Tim Sokol of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made the official presentation Thursday afternoon at the Jacobetti Complex. 

Northern Michigan University employees were honored for years-of-service milestones at the recent faculty and staff recognition luncheon. Distinguished Team and Excellence in Service Awards also were presented.

Northern Michigan University’s new Behavior Education Assessment and Research (BEAR) Center provides free behavior analytic assessment and therapeutic services for children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities and other behavioral concerns. On Friday, May 5, a dedication will be held from 3-3:30 p.m., followed by an open house to introduce the center’s services to families from 3:30-5 p.m. The facility is located in the NMU Services Building on Sugarloaf Avenue.

Jessica Cruz, NMU’s chief diversity and Inclusion officer, is one of two candidates selected to participate in the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education’s (NADOHE) Chief Diversity Officer Fellows Program, cohort 4, for the 2017-18 academic year. The program for new and early career chief diversity officers provides fellows with mentoring by a senior-level officers and guided professional development experiences.

Entrepreneurship major Jeulani Gahiji of Chicago is Northern Michigan University’s May 2017 student commencement speaker. Her speech will address learning, self-care and persistence. Richard Frankowski of Mundelein, Ill., will be the student soloist at the ceremony. He will lead the singing of the university’s alma mater, “Hail Northern,” and the national anthem.

The River Valley Bank Hope Starts Here Challenge will be held on Saturday, May 13. The annual challenge raises funds and awareness for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center through competitive and leisurely events geared for all ages and skill levels.

The May/June issue of Michigan History magazine includes a feature related to a recent Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center exhibition. The article is titled “Ghost Towns of the Upper Peninsula: A Photographic Journey.” It was co-authored by Dan Truckey, Beaumier Center director, who did the fieldwork of taking photos and collecting historic images, and student assistant Elizabeth Fust, who did most of the research and writing. See the story here. An exhibit website is available online here.

Tawni Ferrarini, Sam M. Cohodas Professor of Economics at NMU, co-authored an article published by the Foreign Policy Research Institute titled "Why Do Some Nations Prosper? The Case of North and South Korea." Both started out as poor nations after WWII. South Korea has benefitted from a democratic government and market economy to achieve the same wealth as Western European nations, on average. North Korea remains at the bottom of the world’s development ladder, with its citizens “doomed to a life of poverty, uncertain personal security and isolation from most of the world.” Ferrarini and co-author Lucien Ellington of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga suggest that institutions matter, especially those that facilitate economic growth for any nations. Read the article here.

NMU criminal justice graduate Sherman Campbell (1992) recently became warden at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility, a multi-security men's prison. He has been serving with the Department of Corrections for 22 years. Campbell told the Daily Telegram in Adrian that Gus Harrison is a busy facility with many important facets, including a large population of prisoners with mental health issues. He wants the facility to be a team environment that emphasizes training and positivity. Read the story here.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a hike on the North Country National Scenic Trail from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9. Lorana Jinkerson, president of the local NCT Hikers chapter, will lead the 3.5-mile walk. 

Registration closes May 1 for a summer Family Camp Expedition on Isle Royale, Lake Superior’s largest island, presented by Northern Michigan University’s Seaborg Center. The program runs Sunday, June 25-Friday, June 30. Participants will camp at Fork Wilkins State Park before traveling to Isle Royale for hiking, kayaking and exploration. Evening programs will feature island history, ecology and creative activities.

Jason Jennings, bestselling author and internationally recognized authority on leadership, growth and innovation, will be the keynote speaker at Northern Michigan University’s commencement on Saturday, May 6. The Negaunee native will also receive an honorary Doctor of Business degree. Jennings attended NMU for one year in 1970 before transferring to the University of Detroit Mercy, where he earned a a bachelor's degree in political science.

Northern Michigan University student Christopher Abbott won third place in the 2017 Cyber Security Challenge at the Association of Information Technology National Collegiate Conference. The qualification round for the Cyber Security Challenge included a 60-minute written test on computer security, methods and tools. More than 85 individuals competed.

Northern Michigan University information systems student Mattie Wright recently won the 2017 Martha Griffiths Award from the Marquette Branch of the American Association of University Women. The Tecumseh native received $250, a certificate and a recognition dinner.

The Northern Climate Network is hosting the Marquette Climate March at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at the Marquette Commons. This is a sister event to the People's Climate March convening the same day in Washington, D.C. Participants are asked to assemble at 9:45 a.m. to begin the 1.5-mile journey. 

Northern Michigan University’s episodic screenwriting students will present a “Binge-Worthy TV” presentation of original TV pilot pitches and short performances from 6-9 p.m. Monday, May 1, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company.

Northern Michigan University’s Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will present a World War I Fashion Show from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, April 29, in the University Center Peter White Lounge. The show will feature scenes portraying life and fashion from 1910 to 1920, including Titanic fashion, suffragist fashion, flapper styles and Great War fashion.

Northern Michigan University student Georgia Harrison of Martin, Mich., has been named a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact for her efforts to increase student involvement in campus sustainability. She is a biology major with a concentration in ecology. Harrison is one of 273 Newman Fellows nationwide who are being honored for taking action in pursuit of long-term social change and who engage and inspire others in their communities.

The Northern Michigan University College of Business is hosting a Kevät Juhla (Spring Celebration) Reception on Thursday, April 27. The event will celebrate College of Business student, faculty and alumni achievements. It is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, April 27, in the University Center Explorer Rooms.

NMU Health and Human Performance Professor Jacquie Medina has received $500 to facilitate a collaborative outdoor education program with North Star Academy teacher Katherine Hargreaves. The program combines classroom curriculum and field experiences, as students in grades 4-6 observe and interpret a local ecosystem through the spring. The NMU Office of Grants and Contracts announced the award.

The NMU Center for Teaching and Learning will co-sponsor the first Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference with colleagues at Michigan Tech. The conference will be held Friday, May 5, at MTU. It features a keynote on "Dynamic Lecturing" by Christine Harrington and includes four tracks of concurrent sessions of invited presentations: active learning; assessment; online learning; and other issues in higher education teaching. 

Peter White Public Library will hold exam study hours for Northern Michigan University students from 3-9 p.m. Sunday, April 30, and 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, May 1. This is the second semester the library has made such accommodations for NMU students. A valid ID is required for entry.

Three NMU students plan to circumnavigate Lake Superior by bike in May to record and share the stories of its people, the places they love and the threat that climate change poses. Throughout the 1,400 mile journey, they will "make a conscious effort to utilize sustainable practices with our food, equipment and energy use. We want to gain an understanding of the impact that Lake Superior has on its surrounding communities while creating a platform of education about ways to keep Lake Superior pristine." The riders are Dylan Gonda, Olivia Walcott and Ryan Watling. For more information, visit their Facebook page here. 

Northern Michigan University alumna Damia Toyras ('02 BS, '14 MAE) was recently the recipient of a 2017 Michigan Reading Association K-6 Educator Award. Toyras is a second-grade teacher at Superior Hills Elementary School in Marquette.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a presentation about the Oregon Trail from 12:15-1:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at the Negaunee Senior Center. There will also be an optional lunch at 11 a.m.

Northern Michigan University's Forest Roberts Theatre is holding its first Battle of the Bands at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Seven Upper Peninsula bands will compete for a cash prize. Forest Roberts Theatre and Double Trouble Entertainment are producing the event as a way to promote and showcase regional music. 

Northern Michigan University's Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Department will host its third annual “Anderton’s Earth Day" celebration in memory of the late professor John Anderton April 17-22. All events are free and open to the public.

NMU administrators addressed several issues at the April 13 university forum, including potential implications of state and federal budget proposals and positive preliminary indicators of fall enrollment.

Mary Zhulkie, Northern Michigan University economics graduate, was recently accepted into the doctoral economics program at George Mason University. She has been awarded a fellowship through GMU’s Mercatus Center, where she will work closely with faculty as a research assistant. The fellowship provides full tuition support and a monthly stipend, with an estimated value of $200,000.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University is seeking public nominations for the 2017 Upper Peninsula Folklife Award. The award recognizes those who make a difference in the creation and/or preservation of Upper Peninsula folk arts, including music, dance, storytelling, crafts and food. Persons or organizations can be nominated through Friday, April 28.

Ben Phillips won first place in the New Business Venture Competition sponsored by the NMU College of Business. His proposal, Ben’s Boards, is a paddleboard rental venture. Phillips also won Best Trade Fair Display.

Northern Michigan University Professor David Wood has been recognized as one of three recipients of the Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year award, which recognizes the outstanding contributions and dedication exhibited by the faculty from Michigan’s 15 public universities to the education of undergraduate students.

Sheet metal worker Ron Aho walked into Invent@NMU on the Northern Michigan University campus with a product idea that would save time and effort on the job. He had spent years manually hammering in drive cleats for air ducts. The repetitive motion of pounding upward put a lot of strain on his shoulder, eventually leading to rotator cuff surgery. Aho invented the Tinknocker Tool to reduce muscle fatigue and increase efficiency. The device attaches to a drill and quickly installs drive cleats, outperforming the traditional hammer method.

Sue Meier (BS 1987), a kindergarten teacher at South Elementary School in Ithaca, has received an Excellence in Education Award from the Michigan Lottery. According to a press release, she is known for instilling a love of learning in her students and working with them and their families on several community service projects, including “Books for Babies,” which promotes early literacy. Winners of the weekly award receive a plaque, a $500 cash prize and a $500 grant to their classroom, school or school district.  One will be selected as the Educator of the Year and receive a $10,000 cash prize. Meier accepted the award from Tom Izzo, NMU grad and MSU men's basketball coach. Read the full story here.

NMU alumnus Edward G. Hansen (BS 1969) was elected secretary/treasurer of the Kentucky Elks Association, which is made up of 16 lodges across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He has been a member of the Elks for 18 years and has served 10 years as secretary of Florence (Ky.) Lodge No. 314. Hansen is a veteran, serving several years in the U.S. Army. His career was spent working for Prestolite Electric, Bundy Tubing, Duro Bag Manufacturing and Nationwide Insurance. He is currently a tax auditor for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Western Marquette County residents affected by the indefinite idling of the Empire Mine could benefit by a planned Northern Michigan University study of how other cities that faced mine closings successfully diversified their economies to retain and grow jobs.

The Northern Michigan University Orchestra will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free.

The next Northern Michigan University Science on Tap event will be titled "The Next Generation: Research Presented by NMU Student Scholars." It is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in the upstairs community space at the Ore Dock Brewing Company.

Madisen Sechena, 2015 NMU biochemistry graduate and former Wildcat swimmer, is a finalist for the Montana AAU Little Sullivan Award. Modeled after the national AAU Sullivan Award, which goes to one outstanding athlete of the year, Montana’s program honors both a female and male. Nominees must be Montana natives who excel in athletics, academics and community service. The winners will be announced at a May 6 banquet.

Northern Michigan University's Lake Effect Show Choir will present its 11th Annual TASTE Concert, a night of musical entertainment complemented by appetizers, desserts and beverages. This year’s event revolves around a “Road Trip!” theme. The show will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, April 26 and 27, in the University Center Great Lakes Rooms.

The Beaumier Coffee House Series will present performances by Jerry Mills and the duo Northern Wylds. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 15, in the Panowski Black Box Theatre in the McClintock Building at Northern Michigan University.

A university forum is scheduled from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The featured topic is the 2017-18 budget. Administrators will give an update on state higher education appropriation funding discussions in Lansing. They will also address factors that will impact the upcoming tuition and fee rate decision, along with the financial impact of President Trump’s federal budget proposal on Northern students and programs.

The Northern Michigan University Golf Course will open for the season on Saturday, April 8. Reports indicate the greens have emerged from winter in "fantastic shape." The course is located on Chocolay Downs Drive, just off M-28 East in Chocolay Township. To schedule a tee time, call 227-3111. To view walk-on and annual membership rates, or for more information, visit nmu.edu/golfcourse. 

NMU is switching to the educational edition of Google’s G Suite for its new email and calendar platform. All students, faculty, staff and retirees should migrate their email and calendars from existing accounts to G Suite by July 31. Email addresses will remain in the current yourID@nmu.edu format. There is no software to download and install. G Suite can be accessed from any computer or mobile device connected to the Internet.

The NMU Student Law Forum will host a presentation titled "Don't Tase Me, Bro! A Citizen's Guide to Police Encounters." Marquette Co. Sheriff Greg Zyburt and attorney Karl Numinen will be the speakers at this Suds, Buds and Barristers event. Their talk begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, in the upstairs community space at Ore Dock Brewing Company. It is free and open to the public.

Northern Michigan University student Samantha Carter of Marquette was recently awarded a Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation (MABF) Scholarship. Carter is a sophomore media production and new technology major with a minor in political science. She received the scholarship at the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference and Expo in Lansing.

David Pilgrim, founder and curator of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, will give a presentation titled “Them: Images of Separation” at Northern Michigan University. His talk will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in Jamrich 1100. It is being held in conjunction with NMU's Diversity Common Reader program, which this year revolves around the book Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine. 

The NMU College of Business hosted a Sales Career Panel Luncheon on April 5. NMU students interested in a career in the field were able to attend for free. They had an opportunity to learn more about the profession and interact with local and regional professionals. The panelists were: Jason Rolling, mBand; Fred Taccolini, EasyIce; Heather Mosher, VAST Insurance; Todd Lysinger, Upper Peninsula Insurance Agency; and Roger Johnson, NMU instructor. 

Northern Michigan University’s Quiz Bowl team won the Delta Burke Invitational on April 1 at Michigan Tech. The final tournament of the academic year featured two squads from Michigan Tech, one from Finlandia University and one from NMU. The NMU “Quiz Cats” had a perfect 9-0 record. Finlandia University took second place, with a 6-3 record.

Eric Wozny (BS 2015) has been promoted from a management trainee to AVP-commercial banking officer by mBank. According to a press release, Wozny started part-time with the company's management trainee program in early 2014 while pursuing his accounting degree from NMU. After graduating, he was promoted to an assistant branch manager as part of the program for the Marquette Branch. Wozny will relocate to the branch in Niagara, Wis., following completion of his training program, to oversee commercial lending in that market.

The Northern Michigan University Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of James A. Strain, will present its spring chamber music concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 9, in Reynolds Recital Hall. There is no admission charge.

Sandra Imdieke, Northern Michigan University education professor, is chair of the 2018 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award selection committee. The annual award is given to author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.

Media are welcome to cover the following: The construction management program at Northern Michigan University will host a hands-on career exploration day for 80 girls in grades 7-12. The Women in Construction event will be held from 8:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, in the Jacobetti Complex. Activities will take place in the CAD Lab (JC111W), the Wood Shop (JC137) and the Welding Shop (140). Twelve U.P. schools will be represented.

Trumpeter Chase Sanborn, an alumnus of Berklee College of Music in Boston, will be the featured guest artist at the Northern Michigan University Jazz Festival. He will perform the closing concert with the NMU Jazz Band and Jazz Combo at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 7 in Kaufman Auditorium. Tickets are $6 for NMU students, $8 for other students and $12 for the general public. 

Northern Michigan University physics students Ashley Adzima and Rachel Hunter presented their research at the national meeting of the American Physical Society in New Orleans.

Two Northern Michigan University staff members have passed the highest level of certification testing offered by APPA, the association dedicated to leadership in educational facilities. Cheryl LaJoye, maintenance and energy management supervisor, and Herbert Brundage, building services supervisor, passed the Certified Educational Facilities Professional exam. 

The Marquette Rotaract Club at Northern Michigan University will host a Feeding America West Michigan mobile food pantry from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18. About 15,000 pounds of food will be distributed to people in need at the Salvation Army in Marquette. That is enough to feed about 400 families.

Northern Michigan University will present a screening of the Royal Ballet adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 9. The production was filmed in London and will be projected in Jamrich Hall’s state-of-the-art auditorium. Admission is free for NMU students, faculty and staff; $15 for general public adults; and $5 for ages 17 and under.

Author Rigoberto González will give a public reading as part of the Visiting Writers Program at Northern Michigan University. The event is being held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6, in the Charcoal Room of the University Center. 

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will host a symposium with several presentations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the United States entering World War I. The event will take place Thursday, April 6, in the Marquette Room of the University Center. Faculty members from NMU and Gogebic Community College will share their research.

Northern Michigan University's 2017 Diversity Common Reader selection is Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine. The following related events are scheduled for April. All are free and open to the public.

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is presenting the musical version of The Addams Family. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5-Saturday, April 8, with additional 1 p.m. matinee performances Saturday and Sunday.

A Rural Health Careers Camp for Upper Peninsula high school students will be held at Northern Michigan University May 15-17. The camp will provide a hands-on learning experience related to different health careers and show students the range of opportunities available in the health professions. 

Northern Michigan University will receive a $6.5 million Investment Fund Award from the Michigan Strategic Fund to accelerate its effort to extend high-speed educational broadband throughout the Upper Peninsula. The funds will be used to build out and equip 64 cities and townships over a two-year period.

Joe Lubig of the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service and Neil Russell of the Physics Department are NMU’s 2017 Distinguished Faculty Award recipients.

Northern Michigan University will host its first-ever presentation by collaborative faculty and student teams who received internal research funding through NMU’s innovative PRIME program. The presentation will serve as the keynote event at the annual Celebration of Student Scholarship on Thursday, April 13. It is scheduled at 5 p.m. in 1100 Jamrich Hall.

Student scholarship is among the core educational endeavors at Northern Michigan University and those efforts will be recognized at the 22nd annual Celebration of Student Scholarship on Thursday, April 13. This event allows undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to publically display and discuss posters and give presentations explaining or demonstrating their work.

Northern Michigan University made the most of this morning’s “Rokerthon” segment on NBC’s Today show, setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest game of freeze tag with 634 student participants. The effort easily beat the previous record of 438.

In addition to this morning’s live broadcast from the Superior Dome, NMU received additional media exposure through recorded footage of the Today show’s Al Roker touring various campus locations and interacting with students, faculty and staff. Following is a summary and related photos of what Roker and his production crew saw and did Monday afternoon in advance of the broadcast.

Northern Michigan University student Jared Jacques played a highly visible role in NMU’s successful bid to bring the Today show’s “Rokerthon 3” to campus. He was recommended for the starring role in an NMU-produced, light-hearted video urging Al Roker to broadcast live from the Superior Dome. Jacques also appeared in the follow-up video announcing NMU was one of five schools nationwide selected to host a televised world record attempt. He even put his experience as a campus visit staff member to use leading Roker on a tour of NMU Monday afternoon.

NMU students Megan Crane and Valerie Urban left the Superior Dome with much more than the satisfaction of participating in a world record game of freeze tag. Cain won a $5,000 Rokerthon scholarship presented through a random drawing at the end of the broadcast. When Fritz Erickson announced that NMU would match the award by presenting its own $5,000 scholarship, Urban was the lucky recipient.

The Olympus Piano Trio will be in residence at Northern Michigan University from March 28-March 31. Its members will deliver classroom presentations at NMU and local schools and participate in lunchtime mini-performances at various campus locations. The trio will also participate in a “Bach vs. Rock” showdown with a local band. The residency will culminate in a public performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31 in the Reynolds Recital Hall.

Excitement is building for Al Roker's Today show broadcast from the Superior Dome. Faculty and staff are encouraged to arrive by 6 a.m. Tuesday to support the world record freeze tag attempt by NMU students. Simply Superior will provide breakfast foods and beverages. Help fill the stands during the event and also see the televised coverage later, as the episode should be available here. An NBC production crew is shooting advance footage along the lakeshore and on campus, including the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center. Al Roker will join them later today for stops at Art & Design, Jamrich Hall, the Learning Resources Center, Thomas Fine Arts and the Superior Dome. Watch for a Campus Connect review of “Rokerthon” on Tuesday.

The winner of the 10th annual Northern Michigan University New Business Venture Competition will be decided on Thursday, March 30. Entrepreneurs behind five products or services will participate in the finale. Events include a trade fair display from 1-2 p.m., an oral presentation of business plans from 2-3 p.m. and 3-3:45 p.m., and a 60-second elevator pitch from 5-5:15 p.m. All are open to the public and will be held in the in the University Center Explorer Rooms. 

Erin Celello’s (MFA ’02) second novel, Learning to Stay, has become the first commissioned play presented by Forward Theater in Madison. Its world premiere runs through April 9. Celello’s novel is about a soldier who returns from Iraq with a traumatic brain injury and a wife struggling to understand the man she no longer recognizes. It was featured as the first pick of the Wisconsin State Journal Book Club in 2013. To see an article on the book's transition to a play and Celello's reaction, click here.

NMU alumna Leigh Ann (Dalton) Roehm is the 2017 Michigan Middle School Science Teacher of the Year. She was honored March 24 at the Michigan Science Teachers’ Association Conference in Novi. 

The role of tropical forests in the global carbon cycle will be the topic of the next “Climate@Noon” seminar at Northern Michigan University. George Weiblen from the University of Minnesota will discuss the findings of a ForestGeo plot he established in New Guinea, an island in the southwest Pacific. The event is scheduled for 12 p.m. Friday, March 31, in 1318 Jamrich Hall.

The genetics and politics of cannabis will be explored during a presentation on Thursday, March 30, at Northern Michigan University. George Weiblen, University of Minnesota professor of plant and microbial biology and director of the Bell Museum of Natural History, will lead the discussion at 8 p.m. in 1100 Jamrich Hall. The public is invited.

Global Citizen Week, a collaborative event put on by several Northern Michigan University student organizations and community members, will take place March 27-31. Several free events will occur throughout the week, with the goal of creating conversation about what it means to be a global citizen.

Al Roker will broadcast live from the Superior Dome during NBC’s Today show on Tuesday, March 28. He is visiting Northern Michigan University as students attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest game of freeze tag. Faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to support this rare opportunity to showcase NMU and Marquette before a national audience by filling the Superior Dome as spectators for Tuesday’s broadcast.

Students in NMU’s multimedia journalism major are finding full-time jobs before they graduate. Chelsea Birdsall was hired near the end of her senior year at ABC10 in Ishpeming, and she recently won two professional awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Birdsall won MAB Merit Awards for news anchoring and investigative reporting.

NMU alumnus Eric Brandt (BS 2016) recently joined Miron Construction as a project manager at the company's corporate headquarters in Neenah, Wis. According to a press release, he will be responsible for providing direct management of construction projects, including handling construction and building challenges, purchasing materials, creating and following schedules, and monitoring and reporting on financial issues related to projects. Prior to joining Miron, Brandt worked at the Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority in Marquette.

Northern Michigan University’s 2017 Exercise Science Seminar Series will continue every Monday through April 24. NMU second-year graduate students in exercise science are presenting their research. The following April events all begin at 6:15 p.m. in room 241 of the Physical Education Instructional Facility (PEIF). The public is invited.

NMU alumnus Corey Welch (MPA 2016) is the new mission advancement director at the Monroe Family YMCA in Monroe, Mich. He previously served as constituent relations director to state Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, serving as a liaison between Lansing and Monroe and Lenawee counties.

A faculty candidate for lake fish biologist will present "Foodweb Forethought: Understanding and Managing Fisheries in a Changing World." Tyler Tunney of the Center for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin will give the talk at 4 p.m. Friday, March 24, in 1320 Jamrich Hall. 

The Michigan Indian Education Council will hold its 2017 Native American Critical Issues Conference at NMU March 23-25. Registration is $150, but NMU students can attend free with an ID (no meals provided). To register, or for more information, click here. 

Tawni Ferrarini, the Sam M. Cohodas Professor of Economics at NMU will address the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's Leadership Conference, scheduled March 24-26 in Indianapolis.

Northern Michigan University will participate in the worldwide Earth Hour movement by shutting of residence hall lights from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25. The annual event encourages individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their lights for one hour to raise global awareness about environmental issues.

Northern Michigan University students recently gained some real-world experience developing public relations tactics for an alumni-owned business in Marquette. Professor Thomas Isaacson's introductory public relations class pitched their suggestions for Nestledown, a Scandinavian-style bed and breakfast across from Lake Superior, to owners Ken and Sue Schauland.

Gisela Pinheiro (2001 BS) is the new vice president of BASF’s Materials and Functional Solutions for South America in São Paolo, Brazil. She’s had experience in the chemical industry since 2004, previously serving in several capacities with the Dow Chemical Company in Michigan and Brazil. Pinheiro began her career as an internal auditor at Ernst & Young. She earned her MBA in finance from Ibmec Business School in Rio de Janeiro. She actively participates in programs related to women’s empowerment, diversity and inclusion, change management, innovation and people development.

Brooklyn-based artist James Leonard will set up a three-day installation giving climate change Tarot card readings inside a hand-sewn tent at Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum. "The Tent of Casually Observed Phenologies" is being presented at the following times: 2-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, March 28 and 29; and 5-8 p.m. Thursday, March 30. Admission is free.

The Central U.P. and Northern Michigan University Archives will host a free presentation titled "The Skeletons in our Closet: The KKK in Michigan." The event will bring together an archivist and librarian who have dealt with criticism over records relating to the Ku Klux Klan's presence in the state. It will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in Mead Auditorium in NMU's West Science Building. 

The Pre-Med and Student Nurses Associations from NMU and MTU will engage in a friendly blood donor drive competition on Wednesday, March 22, to benefit the U.P. Regional Blood Center. Supplies are quickly depleted during the winter months, so the event will help the center to meet the demand at local hospitals. The NMU blood drive will be held from noon to 5 p.m. in the Halverson Hall lobby. Free pizza and refreshments will be available. To make an appointment, email Jennie at jkizer@nmu.edu. 

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a contra dancing class from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at Dance Zone in Marquette. Contra dancing has its origins in English, Irish and French country dancing and has evolved into its own form of American folk dance.

Northern Michigan University’s sustainability advisory committee will host a Campus Sustainability Summit from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 24, in the lobby near 1318 Jamrich Hall. The committee will share highlights from its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) inventory, which earned NMU bronze certification from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. It will also preview the campus sustainability strategy. University and community members are invited to attend all or a portion of the summit and provide input on Northern's Sustainability Plan. 

Seven Northern Michigan University students attended the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology’s Annual Conference & Stage Expo March 8-11 in St. Louis, Mo. The group was led by Assistant Professor David Pierce, who said USITT is the technical theater industry’s “largest and most respected conference.” Students attended sessions and workshops led by some of the industry’s leading professionals and talked with exhibitors about the latest innovations and services.

The NMU Arts Chorale returned from a successful spring break tour, with visits to high schools in the Grand Rapids and Detroit areas and performances at local churches. The NMU students sang for classes, listened to the schools’ vocal ensembles, fielded questions and shared their positive experiences at NMU. Erin Colwitz, director of choral activities, and Robert Engelhart, head of the Music Department, also delivered vocal instruction to the high school students.

Vaccines are among the most effective ways to prevent serious disease at any age, but a number of misperceptions about immunizations have sparked a national debate. The next Your Health presentation at Northern Michigan University will address this issue. Dr. B. Keith English, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, will present “Millions of Lives Saved: The Incredible Impact of Immunizations.” His talk begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free.

Northern Michigan University has planned film screenings and other activities for its World Languages Week celebration March 20-24. All are free and open to the public.

NMU will host a team representing the Higher Learning Commission March 20-23 to review standards and criteria for accreditation. Open forums have been scheduled as follows on Tuesday, March 21, in the University Center: staff (excluding administrators), 11 a.m. to noon in the Charcoal Room; students, noon to 1 p.m. in the Cadillac/Brule Rooms, with pizza served; and faculty (excluding administrators), 4-5 p.m. in the Charcoal Room. For more information on this Comprehensive Quality Review, click here. 

The next NMU Biology Seminar is titled “The Dark Side of the Ecosystem Resource Subsidies.” Faculty candidate and lake fish biologist Brandon Gerig will focus on contaminant biotransport by Pacific salmon to the Great Lakes tributaries. His talk is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, in 1322 Jamrich Hall. The public is invited.

Rose Bowl MVP and football coaching legend Carl "Buck" Nystrom will present "Thoughts and Stories on Leadership and Life" at Northern Michigan University. His talk begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, in the University Center Brule Room. 

Northern will make a nationally televised attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest game of freeze tag on Tuesday, March 28, in the Superior Dome. Game participation is limited to current NMU students, but anyone is welcome to attend as a spectator. NMU is also seeking general volunteers along with stewards, who will supervise groups during the attempt to ensure full participation. Those planning to attend must arrive at 5 a.m. and plan on staying through 9 a.m. Advance registration for spectators and volunteers/stewards is requested at nmu.edu/mc/world-record. Please watch for more details on this exciting opportunity via campus email.

Best College Values has published its first ranking of the Top 10 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Public Administration. NMU's program ranks ninth on the list.

The NMU English Department will mark St. Patrick's Day by hosting its inaugural Creative Writing Roundtables Night for area high school students. The event is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, March 17, in Jamrich Hall. Under the guidance of NMU student leaders, participants will explore workshops in poetry, short story, memoir and other writing genres. 

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a “Jewelry Making with Copper Findings” workshop from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in 404A Cohodas Hall at Northern Michigan University.

The Northern Michigan University Seaborg Center will mark its 30th anniversary hosting a Science Olympiad on Saturday, March 18. About 325 students from throughout the Upper Peninsula will compete in 46 events facilitated by more than 125 volunteers. The Science Olympiad runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the West Science and New Science Buildings, with an awards ceremony at about 4:30 p.m. in Jamrich 1100. 

Provost Kerri Schuiling identifies the co-chairs of the SRA Academic and Support Task Forces, addresses some early rumors about the process and invites faculty and staff to Thursday's (March 16) SRA forum in this Campus Connect update.

It was a stellar end to spring break for several NMU Wildcats. Swimmer Rachel Helm won NMU’s first national championship in the sport since 1999 and a number of athletes from swimming and diving, Nordic skiing and indoor track & field were named All-Americans based on their performances.

A Northern Michigan University Quiz Bowl team recently won the annual ACRONYM popular culture tournament in Minneapolis, Minn. The NMU “A” team finished with a 9-1 record, placing first among 20 quiz bowl teams from across the country. NMU student Paul Flaminio was the top individual scorer out of 81 players, averaging 100 points per game.

The Lake Superior Community Partnership presented its business Distinguished Service Award to Northern Michigan University at the LSCP annual dinner March 9. Steve VandenAvond, vice president of Extended Learning and Community Engagement, is pictured with LSCP CEO Amy Clickner. In her Mining Journal column previewing the event, Clickner wrote: “It is hard to imagine Marquette County without this economic engine. NMU has been preparing our future workforce, attracting people to our area and giving back to the community in numerous ways since 1899. They are a strong supporter of economic development.”

Northern Michigan University will host a Career Exploration Open House at the Jacobetti Complex to showcase available career and technical education programs. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 18. Participants can enter for a chance to win a $500 NMU scholarship, tour the learning labs and talk with faculty and current students.

The Northern Michigan University Music Department will continue its Guest Artist Series with two upcoming performances in Reynolds Recital Hall. Marquette native and soprano Stephanie Beinlich will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15. Brian Carter will present a horn concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 19. Admission is free to both events.

The Northern Michigan University Diversity Common Reader committee is seeking creative works and essays exploring the complex issues presented in this year's selection, Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine. Submissions can address citizenship, race, micro-aggression and other topics. The deadline is Friday, March 31.

An International Women's Day feature on the SKI Magazine website saluted NMU alumna Jeannie Thoren as one of six influential women who have helped shape the sport. The 1968 grad and 2014 NMU Distinguished Alumni Award recipient is credited with changing the way the downhill skiing industry thinks about female skiers. She developed the “Thoren Theory” as a method for improving women skiers' technique through modified equipment, then went on to operate the Jeannie Thoren Women's Ski Center in Vail, Colo. To see her profiled along with Lindsey Vonn, Suzy Chaffee and others, click here.          

Northern Michigan University's music department will host a piano concert by visiting artist Craig Randal Johnson at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free.

Laura Ling, an award-winning journalist and TV/web host, will present “A Journey of Hope” at Northern Michigan University. Ling made international news in 2009, when she and a colleague were arrested and held captive in North Korea for 140 days after attempting to report on the trafficking of women from that country. She and her sister, Lisa, co-authored a book about the experience titled Somewhere Inside: One Sister's Captivity in North Korea and the Other's Fight to Bring Her Home. Her talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. It is free for NMU students and $2 for the general public.  

A Folk Music School Preview and a Coffee House Concert will take place Saturday, March 11, at Northern Michigan University to help promote the Folk Music School. It will entail free folk music workshops throughout the day for people of all ages. Each workshop will take place at the NMU University Center.

Journalist-turned-comedian Chloé Hilliard will present a free comedy show from 8-9 p.m. Friday, March 17, in room 1100 of Jamrich Hall at Northern Michigan University.

Registration is open for the inaugural “Fresh Water, Fresh Voices” writing conference in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The event will combine workshops led by accomplished authors with outdoor activities along the Lake Superior shore. Hosted by the English department at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, the conference is scheduled Thursday, July 20, through Sunday, July 23.

Northern Michigan University's 2017 Exercise Science Seminar Series will be held each Monday through April 24. The first event on March 13 features a guest presentation titled "Brain in the Game: How Neurocognition Affects ACL Injuries." Mitch Stephenson, an NMU graduate and doctoral candidate at Iowa State University, will give the talk at 6:15 p.m. in room 109 of the Learning Resources Center. The public is invited.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer a tour of the Northern Michigan University Olympic Training Site on Wednesday, March 22. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon, beginning in room 101B of the Superior Dome.

Northern Michigan University has received a $14,000 award from the Michigan Corporate Relations Network to participate in the Small Company Internship Award (SCIA) Program. The program provides paid summer internships with local small businesses and organizations to qualifying university students. Businesses interested in participating have until 5 p.m. Friday, March 31 to apply and must be willing to interview and hire their interns by May 30. 

The 24th annual “Learning to Walk Together” traditional pow wow at Northern Michigan University will be held on Saturday, March 18, in Vandament Arena. General admission is $5; NMU students are admitted free with ID. 

The Northern Michigan University Students’ Art Gallery is accepting submissions for an upcoming juried exhibition titled “Citizenship of the Body.” All media are welcome and pieces may be submitted for free through Thursday, March 23. Students’ works should reflect upon issues raised by the 2017 NMU Diversity Common Reader selection, Citizen: An American Lyric, by Claudia Rankine. The book recounts mounting racial aggressions in ongoing encounters in 21st century daily life and in the media. 

Northern Michigan University's Forest Roberts Theatre is holding its first-ever Battle of the Bands. Auditions are being held on Saturday, March 18. To secure an audition time, email David Pierce, technical director and production manager, at davpierc@nmu.edu. Video submissions will also be accepted from bands unable to make the live audition. Battle of the Bands will be held on Saturday, April 22, with the winner receiving a cash prize to be determined.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a photography workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: March 22, April 26, May 24 and June 28. The class will meet in room 404A of Cohodas Hall at Northern Michigan University.

The Zonta Club of Marquette, which raises funds for NMU student scholarships and community grants, will host a “Nailed It” crafts and cocktails event from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, March 11. Participants can choose from several workshops that will be offered at the NMU Jacobetti Complex.

Northern Michigan University students are staffing a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site on campus.  VITA is a national program offering free basic income tax return preparation to individuals who make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers. The students are IRS-certified and represent Beta Alpha Psi, NMU's accounting and finance professional organization. 

Northern Michigan University has scheduled a semester-long series of presentations, film screenings, reading groups and creative responses to Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric, this year’s Diversity Common Reader Program selection. The book recounts mounting racial aggressions in ongoing encounters in 21st century daily life and in the media. 

A Muslim Awareness Forum will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, March 3, in the Marquette Room of the University Center at Northern Michigan University. Presentations will address Muslim beliefs, practices and lifestyle and offer a comparison with other religions. Political Science Department Head Carter Wilson and History Department Head Keith Kendall will speak at the event. The public is invited.

The Central U.P. and Northern Michigan University Archives will host an evening of presentations about the region's railroad history. The “Tracks Across the U.P.” event begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 2, in the room 126 of NMU's Learning Resources Center.

The Northern Michigan University Arts Chorale will travel to Grand Rapids and Detroit for a recruitment trip from Thursday, March 2, through Tuesday, March 7. The group will meet with and sing for various high school choirs. It will also present a small concert at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Grand Rapids and host a reception afterward for students and NMU alumni. 

NMU alumnus Richard Clark is the executive director of housing, residential life and card services at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He is featured in a Q&A in Las Vegas Business Press for his efforts to develop the HOPE Scholars program, giving unaccompanied homeless youth an opportunity for higher education. Clark was a first-generation college student. He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from NMU. He has been with UNLV since 2004. Read the feature here.

Due to the Winter Storm Warning in effect for multiple counties across the Upper Peninsula, the Region 1 Science Olympiad tournament scheduled for Saturday, February 25 at Northern Michigan University has been cancelled.  The tournament will be rescheduled for March 18, 2017.

The Northern Michigan University Student Law Forum will present "Suds, Buds and Barristers" on Wednesday, March 1, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company. Practicing attorneys will address marijuana law and other legal questions from 7-9 p.m. in the community space upstairs. The event is free and open to the public.

Trevor Zamborsky, a 2007 NMU grad, has joined Secrest Wardle's Troy office as an associate, according to Detroit Legal News. Zamborsky is a member of the firm's motor vehicle litigation practice group. He focuses on first- and third-party automobile negligence claims. Zamborsky is member of the Young Lawyers Section of the Michigan State Bar Association and the Oakland County Bar Association. He also serves as a volunteer attorney at Common Ground in Oakland County.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host six woodworking sessions from 8 a.m. to noon Mondays from March 13-April 17 in room 137 of the NMU Jacobetti Complex.

Northern Michigan University’s Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum will co-host a Vintage Ski Day on Sunday, March 5, at Marquette Mountain. Attendees are encouraged to bring old skis and ski clothing as they “go back in time” for the event.

The application system closes March 1 for more than 300 donor-funded scholarships available at NMU through the generous financial support of alumni, faculty/staff and friends of the university. 

NMU grad Josh Vissering has been promoted to vice president of finance by Honor Credit Union. According to a press release, the Michigamme native most recently served as asset/liability and investment manager. He has been with Honor since 1998, when he started as a co-op student in high school. Vissering also is an alumnus of the CUNA (Credit Union National Association) Management School. He lives in Negaunee.

The 2017 Science Olympiad sponsored by the Seaborg Center at Northern Michigan University will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, in NMU's West Science Building (inclement weather date March 18). Each year, about 325 students from throughout the Upper Peninsula compete in 46 events facilitated by more than 125 volunteers. This marks the 30th anniversary of the Science Olympiad at the Seaborg Center. 

The Northern Michigan University Jazz Band and Jazz Combo will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free.

The Northern Michigan University Choir and Arts Chorale will perform at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Reynolds Recital Hall.

A new exhibit featuring work by artists connected to the Upper Peninsula opens Monday, Feb. 27, at Northern Michigan University’s Devos Art Museum. The exhibit will feature work by painter Michael Friend, an NMU alumnus, and ceramic artist Scott Leipski. A reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 6, shortly before the exhibit closes on Sunday, April 9.

NMU alumnus Lee Francisco received an Operation Action U.P. Excellence Award on behalf of his business, 906 Technologies. The annual award recognizes for-profit businesses that have contributed to the economic well-being of the Upper Peninsula.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved housing and dining rates for the 2017-18 academic year. The cost of a standard double-occupancy room and the “gold constant meal pass” dining option in the established residence halls will be $5,039 per semester, an increase of $237. The cost of a double-occupancy shared suite and meal plan in two new residential units under construction will be $5,432 per semester, a difference of less than $100 per month compared with the remaining facilities.

Northern Michigan University alumna Alesia Woszidlo will present a colloquium on her work with the Kansas Women’s Leadership Institute on Friday, Feb. 24, at NMU. She specializes in family communication and mental health as an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas.

Faculty and staff members comprising the two Strategic Resource Allocation project task forces (Academic Task Force and Support Task Force) have been identified. Members of each will undergo two days of training facilitated by consultant Larry Goldstein of Campus Strategies LLC. Each task force is charged with analyzing and evaluating either NMU academic programs or support services based on specified criteria. Their assessments will be used to develop recommendations on university investment priorities. 

Northern Michigan University's Special Events Committee will host the inaugural WinterFest Tailgate from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, before the NMU-Michigan Tech hockey game. The tailgate will be held in a heated tent between the PEIF and the Berry Events Center. 

Forensic Scientist Zach Blaksmith and addiction medicine physican Dr. John Lehtinen will present “Drugs: More Dangerous Than You Think” at Northern Michigan University. Their talk begins at  7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, in the Jamrich Hall Auditorium. A question-and-answer session will follow. The NMU Forensic Biochemistry Club is sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the public. 

Northern Michigan University will host a Police-Community Relations Forum from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in room 122 of the Jacobetti Complex. The forum is structured for a maximum attendance of 100. It is presented by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).

Northern Michigan University Quiz Bowl recorded its best-ever finish at sectionals at the recent tournament held in Minneapolis. Senior Annika Peterson finished her quiz bowl career with second place in individual scoring among all Division II players, with an average of 63 points per game. That is the equivalent of answering about one-third of all questions, said Michael Joy, faculty adviser and coach.

Northern Michigan University's Forest Roberts Theatre will present the U.S. premiere of Building Madness by Kate Danley, winner of the Panowski Playwriting Competition. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22-Saturday, Feb. 25, with a 1 p.m. matinee performance Saturday.

The Northern Michigan University Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship and the Sam M. Cohodas Endowed Professorship won the U.P. Economic Development Alliance Non-Profit of the Year Award. The award was received for gathering and reporting community and economic data on the 15 U.P. counties.

In celebration of Valentine's Day, the French program at NMU posted selected entries submitted for its Project Joie De Vivre (The Joy in Living). Participants were asked to recall a moment of perfect happiness, recently or in the distant past. The results have been posted anonymously in the hope that the project "will give people pause, if not bring relief and joy, in times of frustration and anxiety." Read the 14 selected submissions here. 

NMU alumnus and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is one of five influential leaders profiled in CNNMoney's new documentary series, The American Dream: New York. Schultz describes how his athletic ability enabled him to escape the Brooklyn projects for NMU before he went on to "create a business empire that revolutionized the way Americans consume coffee." Schultz will step down from Starbucks' top post in April. He will serve as executive chairman, focusing on "innovation, premium offerings and, most importantly, social impact." To see the CNNMoney report, including photos of Schultz speaking at NMU commencement, click here.

Registration will be open Feb. 27-28 for Superior Dental Day, an event offering free oral health care services for uninsured and underinsured adults from Marquette, Alger and Baraga counties. The Upper Peninsula Area Health Education Center (UP-AHEC) based at Northern Michigan University is hosting the event. Qualifying adults, at up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line, can register by calling 227-1628 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the two dates. Dental Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 15.

Simply Superior NMU Catering and Events will partner with Gordon Food Service (GFS) to host a Wine and Beer Pairing Event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the University Center Great Lakes Rooms. Attendees will travel through food sampling stations that feature wine or local beer designed to enhance the flavor profile. NMU alumnus and singer/songwriter Michael Waite will provide musical entertainment.

Northern Michigan University's annual WinterFest Open Skate for NMU and community members will be held from 7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at Lakeview Arena. Skating is free. Rentals are $3, while supplies last. Concessions will be available and Double Trouble DJs will provide music. Skaters will also have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Wildcat Willy and meet NMU athletes who will be in attendance. See the full slate of WinterFest 2017 activities here.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees will hold a brief formal/business session during its previously scheduled retreat Feb. 16-17. The session will begin at 9 a.m. Friday in 602 Cohodas Hall. It is scheduled to run about 40 minutes. The agenda and supporting materials are available at www.nmu.edu/boardbook.

Kuaka New Zealand, a partner of International Studies Abroad (ISA), just released a video of NMU's recent service learning program on the north island of New Zealand. The video shows the NMU group conducting tourist surveys, growing tomorrow's rainforest, measuring water quality, helping with a community garden, learning about Maori culture and engaging in recreational activities. View the video here.

Costa Rica’s biodiversity has made it a leader in global ecotourism. The country’s government also announced an ambitious vow to become the first carbon-neutral destination, according to the International Ecotourism Society. Ten NMU students recently experienced Costa Rica’s effort to develop a local economy while preserving the natural environment and local culture that attract many visitors. 

Northern Michigan University alumnus Scott Beaulier is in his first year as dean of the College of Business at North Dakota State University. An economist by training, Beaulier said he is one of the youngest in the nation to hold such a position. According to his website, he has “spent his career engaged in understanding and advocating for policies that foster dynamic, vibrant economies that best allow businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.”

Northern Michigan University's Alumni Association will again host a hospitality tent for the general public near the starting gate of the UP 200 sled dog race on Friday, Feb. 17. The heated tent will be open from 6-9 p.m. on the corner of Washington and Fourth Streets. Admission is free.

Northern Michigan University’s Platform Personalities will host award-winning cartoonist Keith Knight. He is the creator of three popular comic strips: the Knight Life, (th)ink, and the K Chronicles. The presentation will be at 7:30 pm. Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center. Attendance is free for NMU students with ID and $2 for the public.

Northern Michigan University is among 14 state schools participating in the annual Gift of Life Michigan Campus Challenge, an organ and tissue donor drive competition. NMU students, alumni and other supporters can register to become an organ donor at www.giftoflifemichigan.org/go/nmu until Feb. 22. NMU was in second place in the real-time results as of Feb. 10.

Carter Wilson, head of Northern Michigan University's Political Science Department, will present two public lectures as part of Black History Month. One will compare the impact of progressive and reactionary intellectual traditions on social inequity and racial oppression. The other will focus on race and the U.S. justice system.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a program titled “Aging in Place” from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Peter White Public Library’s Shiras Room.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s executive budget recommendation released Wednesday calls for an overall 2.5 percent funding increase—$36.5 million—for higher education. The percentage varies from 1.8-3.4 percent among institutions. NMU would receive $46.3 million in operations funding and $1 million in performance funding, a 2.3 percent increase. The tuition cap required for universities to qualify for performance funding is 3.8 percent or $475 per student, whichever is greater. Last year, the governor’s proposed cap was 4.8 percent.

Author Andrew Hilleman, who received his MFA from Northern, is featured in Interview magazine for his debut novel, World, Chase Me Down. The book revolves around historical figure Pat Crowe, who was the most wanted man in America in 1900. The out-of-work former butcher kidnapped the teenage son of Omaha’s wealthiest meatpacking tycoon for a ransom of $25,000 in gold. Crowe then “burgled, safe-cracked and bond-jumped his way across the country and beyond, inciting a manhunt and a showdown in the court of public opinion between the haves and have-nots—all the while plotting a return to the woman he never stopped loving.” To see the interview, click here. To read an excerpt the novel featured in Northern Magazine, click here.

A campus forum on the immigration ban executive order originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon (Feb. 9) has been postponed. Details on a new date and partipating panelists will be announced when they become available. 

Northern Michigan University will present a screening of the Royal Opera House's production of Verdi's most famous opera, La Traviata. The event will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Admission is free for NMU students with ID, $15 for adults and $5 for students under 18.

Tawni Ferrarini, Sam M. Cohodas Professor at NMU, brought two Michigan educators on her most recent trip to Tokyo, where they promoted integrating economics throughout the K-12 system using the U.S. model. She was accompanied by Nancy Usitalo, a 3rd grade teacher at Sandy Knoll in Marquette, and Derek D'Angelo, Utica High School teacher and president of the Michigan Council on Economic Education. The trio ran workshops, led elementary and middle school classrooms, and met with superintendents and teachers. The trip was sponsored by the Council on Economic Education-Japan and funded by the Japan Ministry of Education.

The Associated Students of Northern Michigan University has established an independent Food Insecurity Committee to explore starting a food bank for NMU students. The committee released a survey to students, faculty and staff. If the results determine there is a need, the next step will be finding a suitable location for a food bank and configuring a distribution process.

Nominations are being accepted for the academic and support task forces that will make resource allocation recommendations as part of the Planning for Distinction process. Faculty, staff, department heads and mid-level managers are eligible, provided they can attend two or three days of training scheduled Feb. 21-23. Fifteen to 20 individuals will be needed for each task force to ensure appropriate diversity. To nominate someone, click here. For more information on Planning for Distinction, click here. 

Joan Kimball, business development director at the Quebec Government Office in Chicago, will give a free public presentation titled “Building a Career from Scratch” at Northern Michigan University. The U.P. native and NMU graduate provides strategic business development and marketing expertise to more than 400 manufacturers and key industry association/government partners in Quebec.  

The “Planning for Distinction” campus-wide assessment project kicked off this week with five faculty and staff informational sessions led by consultant Larry Goldstein, president of Campus Strategies LLC. All NMU academic programs and support services will be evaluated based on specified criteria to determine investment priorities. Final reports are expected before the end of the fall 2017 semester.

Northern Michigan University’s School of Health and Human Performance is recruiting cancer survivors 18-65 who are willing to participate in a 12-week exercise training study. NMU is collaborating with the Marquette YMCA on the project.

Applications of behavioral methods and procedures in law enforcement will be the topic of the next Northern Michigan University psychology colloquium. Topics will include an analysis of physical skills training, maintenance and retention; officer behaviors associated with the unintentional discharge of firearms; and the broader implications of applying scientific methods and procedures in the profession.

Northern Michigan University will host its 17th annual Summer Employment Fair from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the University Center. The Summer Employment Fair is an opportunity for companies and organizations to discuss summer jobs, internships and part-time jobs with NMU students and alumni.

Northern Michigan University School of Art and Design faculty will participate in a panel discussion titled "On Practice: Art and Academia" on Friday, Feb. 10. The event will begin at 2 p.m. in room AD165. It is being held in conjunction with the faculty biennial exhibition on display through Feb. 19.

Northern Michigan University has announced the results of its Presidential Scholars Competition. NMU annually invites academically talented high school seniors to compete for the Harden Scholarship, which covers full tuition, room and board; and the Presidential Scholarship, which covers full tuition. Both are awarded over eight consecutive semesters.

EDITORS: Please note the Feb. 9 registration deadline. The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host its “Journey through Italy” ethnic dinner from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at Northern Michigan University’s Jacobetti Complex.

Stephanie Zadroga-Langlois was recently appointed the new director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Northern Michigan University. Her role is to cultivate partnerships with business and industry throughout the Upper Peninsula and oversee a variety of skilled and professional training programs that can be customized to specific needs.

More than 300 donor-funded scholarships are available at NMU through the generous financial support of alumni, faculty/staff and friends of the university. The application system will be open Friday, Feb. 17, through Wednesday, March 1. This represents a change from the initial dates announced last semester.

Northern Michigan University Biology Professor Brent Graves will present "Evolution of Human Sexuality: Forget Freud, Ask Darwin" for the next Science on Tap event. His talk is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company. The event is free and open to the public. 

The annual Wildcat Wellness Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, in the Great Lakes Room of the University Center.

The NMU Military Science and Criminal Justice Departments hosted a Military Police K9 demonstration on Jan. 30 in the McClintock Building. A team from Fort Campbell, Ky., showed students and cadets that Army occupations extend beyond combat and how closely the Military Police mirrors civilian law enforcement. The German Shepherd member of the team is capable of detecting explosives.

The next psychology department colloquium at Northern Michigan University will address "Sexual Assault in Context: Implications for Research and Practice." Alan McEvoy, NMU sociology and anthropology department head, will give the presentation at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, in 1322 Jamrich Hall. The public is invited.

Traditional blues trio Harp, Hart and Bones and the "folk revival" duo Bedrooms and Basements will perform at the next Beaumier Coffee House Series concert at Northern Michigan University. The performance will take place from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Peter White Lounge of the University Center.

NMU will transition to a new email system this summer, replacing the current in-house sendmail and exchange servers with Google Gmail. Chief Technology Officer Dave Maki said the shift will not impact most aspects of the user experience. Employees and students will retain their nmu.edu email addresses and passwords. They will still be able to use Outlook, Gmail or any other imap or pop email client to access and create messages. Maki said the most notable difference from the user perspective will be the Google calendar function. 

Author Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric is the 2017 Diversity Common Reader selection at NMU. Her book recounts mounting racial aggressions in ongoing encounters in 21st century daily life and in the media. Free copies were distributed to students and faculty discussion leaders at a recent event. Related programming around the selection aims to foster discussion on how different forms of racism and oppression interact, overlap and are experienced.

NMU professor emeritus and historian Russell Magnaghi describes the late Tsu-Ming Han as a “brilliant scientist who helped to save the economy of central Marquette County.” Han fled China in the late 1940s, just before the Communist takeover, and immigrated to the United States to complete graduate studies in geology. He later was instrumental in developing lower-grade iron ore refinement processes and pelletization for Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company. Magnaghi and NMU alumnus James Shefchick will present their new biography on Han to his widow and three children on Saturday, Feb. 4. The brief public program and book signing begins at 11 a.m. at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee.

The Northern Michigan University French Club is requesting entries for its Project Joie De Vivre (The Joy in Living Project). Participants are asked to recall a moment of perfect happiness, recently or in the distant past, and post it to http://www.nmu.edu/modernlanguages/joie-de-vivre by filling in the required categories. On Valentine’s Day, entries from across the Upper Peninsula will be posted anonymously on the website in the hope that the project will give people pause, if not bring relief and joy, in times of frustration and anxiety.

The NMU Surgical Technology student organization raised funds to purchase an AED that was installed outside the departmental lab in West Science this week. The students were motivated to take action because of their classmate, Kelin Baar of Greenville. The former athlete was diagnosed in 2008 with an enlarged heart, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. When she appeared ill in a class last semester, instructor Richard Lopez and fellow students learned of her condition and realized there was no AED close by if someone in her situation ever needed it. So they set out to change that.

The next Your Health lecture at Northern Michigan University will be titled “Making a Difference: The Pursuit of Health and Well-Being in Your Community.” Joan Ilardo of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine will present this free talk at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, in Reynolds Recital Hall.

NMU has purchased 21 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) over the past year and installed them in campus buildings. The portable devices automatically diagnose life-threatening arrhythmias and deliver a dose of electric current to restore a regular heartbeat during the critical minutes before first responders arrive. CPR/AED training is also available on campus to increase the number of people prepared to assist in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.

NMU psychology alumna and Ironwood native Alyson DeLandsheer is the new coordinator of university relations at Finlandia University. According to a press release, she is the primary contact for Human Resources and anything related to the Jutila Center, a business incubator off the main campus that was formerly a hospital. DeLandsheer and her husband, also a U.P. native, spent several years in Colorado before returning to the region. 

Northern Michigan University’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development office will host its second annual Learning to Lead Seminar on Friday, Feb. 17. The focus of this year’s event is motivation in the workplace.

A Zero-Waste Challenge will take place during the Northern Michigan University women’s and men’s home basketball games against Michigan Tech on Monday, Jan. 30. The goal is to compost or recycle all trash generated at the event so that the items avoid the landfill. The women’s game begins at 6 p.m. and the men tip off at 8 p.m. at the Berry Events Center.

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre announces that alumnus Bill Digneit has been named the new director of theater. He will start his new role after the current academic year. Digneit said he would like to increase the program’s visibility throughout the region, establish stronger relationships with other theater programs and expose students to opportunities in the entertainment field outside of traditional theater.

Welcome back everyone. I hope you all had an opportunity for time with family, friends and some much-deserved R&R. As we head into the winter semester, I want to update you on the status of some position changes and the President’s initiative: Planning for Distinction – Strategic Allocation of Resources.

Public TV 13 has launched new 24/7 children’s services, including a new WNMU PBS KIDS channel and a live stream on digital platforms. The effort is the station's latest initiative to support early learning in the region. WNMU-TV now broadcasts PBS KIDS shows 24 hours a day on Channel 13.2, available via antenna, on Charter Spectrum Cable channel 199, and on other community cable systems throughout the Upper Peninsula. 

An NMU biology graduate student is profiled in an online feature titled “15 Amazing Jobs at the Interior Department.” Fish biologist is one of the occupations on the list and the employee selected to represent that position is Matt Symbal of Marquette, who works with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s sea lamprey control program. He previously earned a bachelor’s degree from Northern and now balances grad studies with his full-time job at the Marquette Biological Station.

NMU alumna Cara Crawford-Bartle has demonstrated a commitment to providing quality healthcare in underserved rural areas, much like her hometown of West Branch. She completed her undergraduate degree as part of MedStart, a selective program that guarantees admission to the Wayne State University School of Medicine. At WSU, Crawford-Bartle is a National Health Service Corps Scholar. She also has engaged with the local community through her work with a student-run free clinic, a medicine and political action program and ROCK (Raising our Community’s Knowledge), a group she helped coordinate. To see the full feature story on her posted by WSU’s Michigan Area Health Education Center, click here.

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is presenting its second annual Fringe Festival Jan. 26–Feb. 4 in the Panowski Black Box Theatre. Four different theatrical pieces performed, produced and directed by the students in the theater and entertainment arts program will alternate every evening. The Fringe Festival will feature Proof, Painted Rain, The Myths and Bricks Project and In a Mason Jar.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a workshop on estate planning designed to help participants keep their businesses and camps in the family. It is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 702 Chippewa Square in the Community Room.

Editors: Please note the Feb. 3 registration deadline. The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will host a snowshoe hike on the Vielmetti-Peters Conservation Reserve from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. Reserve owner Kathy Peters will lead the hike on the 123-acre reserve.

The Sundance Institute’s Native Program, which supports indigenous filmmakers, has selected NMU student Kayla Bell as one of its Full Circle Fellows. She will fly to Utah on Sunday to enjoy an immersive experience at the annual Sundance Film Festival. Bell will attend screenings, participate in guided film discussions and workshops and network with leaders of the indigenous film community at receptions.

Thirteen NMU students spent part of winter break in New Zealand on a Superior Edge International Service trip. They completed a variety of community service projects in different locations, logging hours toward the citizenship edge. They also explored the Maori culture, earning additional hours toward the diversity edge.

Some Packer fans may be decorating with a new product for their playoff viewing parties this weekend. One of Invent@NMU's latest projects was assisting two local entrepreneurs in developing their idea of The Original Cheese Lights, a string of cheese wedge novelty lights for indoor and outdoor use.

NMU stakeholders are encouraged to attend one of the information-sharing and data-gathering sessions that will begin the “Planning for Distinction” campus-wide assessment project announced last week. All academic and non-academic programs and services, along with their resource allocations, will be evaluated during the process to determine investment priorities.

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum is hosting its Faculty Biennial Exhibition. A reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20.

The grand opening of  “World War I Remembered" exhibitions at Northern Michigan University's Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center and the Marquette Regional History Center will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Coordinated receptions are planned from 5-7 p.m. at the Beaumier Center and 6-8 p.m. at the MRHC. Coffee and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. Admission is free.

Two NMU alumni teachers—Becky Simmons of Marquette and Yuriy Drubinskiy of Garden City, Kan.—each received $25,000 technology packages for their schools as state winners in the Samsung “Solve for Tomorrow” competition. They and other state champions will vie to become national finalists and ideally advance toward the top prize of a $150,000 technology grant.

The Evan and Tom Leahy Band will open the 2017 Warm Up Wednesday concert series co-sponsored by the Hiawatha Music Co-op and the NMU student chapter. The father-son duo will play Irish and American folk and bluegrass tunes at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Ore Dock Brewing Company. Free pizza is included with admission, which is $5 for HMC members and $7 for non-members.  

NMU's athletics department will hold a "Meet the Coaches" event on Saturday, Jan. 21, to introduce new hires Kyle Nystrom (football), Rashinda Reed (volleyball) and Sonia Basma (women's soccer). All will present their coaching philosophies and interact with campus and community members. The event will be held in the Wildcat Room of the Berry Events Center and begins at about 3 p.m., after the men's basketball game against Northwood. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served. 

The NMU swimming and diving team trained in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, over the winter break. The Wildcat men also won the 13th annual Copa Coqui meet in San Juan. Student-athletes participated in weight room and pool workouts, a joint training session with three Minnesota universities and team-building recreational trips. NMU freshman swimmer Sam Williams of Marquette shot and edited a video on the experience. View it here.

The Upper Peninsula Area Health Education Center (UP-AHEC) at NMU has received continuation funding of nearly $185,500 to implement program goals in all 15 U.P. counties. The regional center is part of the broader Michigan AHEC coordinated by Wayne State University, which is designed to improve access to primary care for all state residents. Through recruitment and retention initiatives, as well as special clinical education programs, MI-AHEC seeks to expose disadvantaged students to health care opportunities, expand the number of underrepresented minorities in the health professions, and encourage students and health professionals to work in medically underserved areas. 

NMU President Fritz Erickson is one of five 2017 Honored Alumni selected by the University of Northern Colorado Alumni Association. He earned two degrees from UNC: an interdisciplinary Ed.D. in educational psychology, technology and research methodology in 1987; and a master’s in curriculum and instruction in 1984. 

The NMU employee recognition program policy and associated procedures were recently updated to align the annual individual and team awards with the university’s mission, vision and core values. The nomination deadline for 2017 awards is Monday, Feb. 6.

NMU alumnus Kevin McDowell has joined the neuropsychology team at the Brain & Spine Center at U.P. Health System-Marquette. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from NMU and a doctor of psychology in clinical psychology from the Florida School of Professional Psychology. He joins UPHS-Marquette after most recently working as a clinical psychologist at the University of South Florida. Read the full story on his new appointment here. 

NMU alumna Marilyn King has been promoted to dean of the School of Health and Human Services at Sault College in Ontario. She has been employed at the school for 16 years and is a registered nurse. King holds a master's degree from NMU and has been involved in nursing education since 1997 at a variety of post-secondary institutions. For the last 10 years, she served as chair of the college’s health programs. 

The next Science on Tap presentation is titled "Pirates, Pearlware and Pipes: Using Archaeology to Peer into Beaver Island's Past." Northern Michigan University professor Scott Demel will discuss some of the discoveries he and NMU students have made during summer archaeological field schools on the Lake Michigan island. The talk begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, in the upstairs community space at the Ore Dock Brewing Company. It is free and hosted by NMU’s chapter of Sigma XI-The Scientific Research Society.

NMU Continuing Education and Workforce Development has received $66,500 in continuation funding for its motorcycle safety program. NMU is one of 14 state-sponsored regional training agencies providing motorcycle safety classes funded through a grant from the Michigan Department of State. 

Northern Michigan University received a $50,000 award to fund the sixth year of its Jump Start Program, under the direction of Shirley Brozzo in the Multicultural Education and Resource Center. Jump Start is a King Chavez Parks initiative of the State of Michigan. It is designed to improve retention rates of academically and economically disadvantaged students through academic and career workshops and networking opportunities.

NMU Social Work Professor Patricia Cianciolo was awarded Fellow status through the behavioral and social sciences section of the Gerontological Society of America. GSA fellowship is the highest class of membership and acknowledges outstanding and continuing work in the field of gerontology. Cianciolo recently received the award at the society’s 69th annual scientific meeting in New Orleans.

Northern Michigan University will honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. during a week-long celebration.