Dear Wildcat Alumni and Friends,
In April, it was announced that I will be leaving Northern Michigan University to serve as the president of Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. My last day as NMU President is July 1.
This transition brings me and my family mixed feelings. This process was entirely unanticipated; I was not looking beyond a future at NMU when I was contacted about the MSU position. Leading Montana State University, an amazing institution that I know well in a beautiful place where our family has deep connections, is an incredible opportunity for both personal and professional reasons. That part is exciting, no doubt. At the same time, our entire family is feeling real sadness about this change, especially because it is happening earlier than we would have ever imagined. I have loved serving as the president of Northern Michigan University, and our family loves Marquette and the Upper Peninsula.
As I prepare to depart, I do so knowing without a doubt that Northern is headed in a very positive direction, with growing enrollment, stable budgets, increasing external support, and a new strategic plan. Our students, faculty, and staff achieve amazing things every single day, and our connections to the communities we serve are in a good place. We have a Board of Trustees and a leadership team that is experienced, talented, and more than ready to build on the good momentum that is underway. Interim President Gavin Leach, with nearly four decades of NMU leadership experience, is the right choice to guide Northern until the new president is in place.
NMU alumni and friends, let me thank you for your support and friendship to me and my family, and your dedication to your alma mater. I’ll never forget those very special moments, often after an alumni event, when a graduate would approach me and explain how - against all odds - Northern took a chance on them and they took a chance on Northern, and the result was an experience that transformed their entire life trajectory. In those moments and others, it has been my absolute pleasure to get to meet so many of you, on campus and around the country. Your love for Northern is apparent, and I hope you will continue to take great pride in the strides Northern is making and will be an active participant in helping the university achieve new levels of SUPERIOR (as our new vision statement states) in whatever way you can. Your ongoing support, especially during times ahead that may have strong headwinds, is vital and impactful.
You are an important part of what makes Northern Michigan University such a special place, one that Kristin, Frances, Leona and I will continue to stay abreast on and cheer on loudly and proudly from Montana.
Go ’Cats!
Brock Tessman
