Detailed Program - United Conference

Dr. Michael Lynn Wellman & Dr. Tayla Shanaye Ealom

We The Earth: Sanctuary at the Nexus of Rest, Resilience, and Resistance

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Ballrooms I & II 

This session introduces We The Earth, an emerging local nonprofit land initiative focused on fostering ecological rewilding and community healing. The project aims to establish a seasonal retreat center along the Yellow Dog River that serves as a sanctuary for the natural world, a gathering space for activists, creatives, and healers, and a site for experiential education. The initiative emphasizes rest, recreation, and restorative outdoor programming while providing a safer rural space for QTBIPOC communities.

Justin Schapp – NMU – Assistant Director for Opportunity, Empowerment, and People

Ganonyok: Gratitude as Resilience and Everyday Resistance

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen I

This presentation examines Ganonyok, the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, as an example of gratitude practiced as a relational and everyday form of resilience. Rather than framing resilience solely as survival or adaptation to harm, the session explores gratitude as a practice that resists extractive, productivity-driven, and settler colonial frameworks. Through culturally rooted practices of noticing, honoring, and giving thanks, gratitude becomes a way to sustain joy, endurance, and collective well-being in the face of systemic challenges.

Chloe Ravenscraft – NMU – SHINE Climate Education Intern
Delany Frank – NMU – SHINE Sustainability Audit Intern

Student-Led Sustainability & Resilience Panel

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen II

This panel discussion will bring together student leaders from sustainability and wellness organizations across campus to reflect on the UNITED conference theme of resilience. The session will feature perspectives from multiple student groups and explore how students experience and practice concepts of sustainability, rest, and resilience within student organizations. Panelists will share their experiences and insights to inspire meaningful discussion and encourage attendees to take action in their own communities.

Dr. Sarah Mittlefehldt, Ezra Dedenbach, Dr. Adam Naito, Dr. April Lindala, Dr. Matt Van Grinsven, Madi Williams, and Dr. Diana Lafferty

The Northern Woodshed Project: Cultivating Rural Resilience through Local Bioenergy Production in the Upper Peninsula

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Pen II

Inspired by the success of the farm-to-table movement, the Northern Woodshed Project explores the potential for “heating locally” through sustainable bioenergy solutions. This applied research initiative brings together engineers, faculty researchers from multiple disciplines, and community partners to examine how Northern Michigan University could reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. The project investigates the feasibility of heating campus buildings with wood chips sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Upper Peninsula.

Eileen Boekestein – Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Transformative Hope for Climate Change Action

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen II

In the face of escalating climate challenges, many conversations about climate change rely heavily on fear and despair. This presentation explores how grounding climate action in transformative hope can disrupt cycles of pessimism and instead highlight the power of practical skills, collaboration, and critical thinking. The session emphasizes the role of hope in developing a generation of informed, resilient, and proactive climate leaders.

Tesse Sayen and Graduate Studies

BUZZ Session

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | IV

The Buzz Session is a fun, informal experience that gives a brief glimpse into the scholarly activity and research at NMU. With only a couple of slides and five minutes for each presenter, it's quick-paced. The audience is encouraged to ask questions and to join NMU for a Buzz Session every Fall and Winter semester.

Presenter Names:

• Dr. Bimadoshka Pucan - Center for Native American Studies

• Ms. Corinne Bodeman - College of Business

• Dr. Isaac Wedig - School of Health and Human Performance
• Dr. Jim Marquardson - College of Business
• Dr. Maris Cinelli - Chemistry Department
• Mr. Patrick Booth - Department of Music

Dr. Jes Thompson – NMU – Assistant Vice President for Sustainability

Walking the Talk on Sustainability at NMU

2:30 PM to 4:00 PM | Behind Northern Center

Northern Michigan University has worked for decades to advance sustainability across campus. This session will guide participants through a historical overview of sustainability initiatives and innovations that have strengthened campus resilience to climate change. The program will take the form of a 1.5-hour outdoor walking tour of campus, beginning in front of the bookstore at the Northern Center and proceeding rain or shine.

Mattea Muscat – NMU – SHINE Green Fund Intern

Individual Actions Matter: Reducing Waste

3:00 PM to 3:50 PM | Pen IV

This one-hour session focuses on the impact individuals can have by reducing the amount of waste they generate. Participants will learn about recycling and composting practices, explore statistics related to waste reduction, and discuss practical ways to minimize everyday waste. The session will also include an interactive activity designed to help attendees apply waste-reduction strategies in their own lives.

Krystyna Rickauer – NMU – Health and Human Performance

Asahi Nordic Health Practice

4:00 PM to 4:50 PM | Pen III

Asahi Nordic is a gentle mind-body exercise practice that combines slow, low-impact movements designed to support physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Suitable for individuals of all ages and health levels, the practice promotes improved circulation, immunity, and overall quality of life. This free session will give participants the opportunity to experience the benefits of Asahi Nordic firsthand. No equipment is required.

Dr. Jongeun You – NMU – Political Science

Responsible AI for Environmental Management

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM | Pen I

This 50-minute workshop introduces students to practical and responsible uses of artificial intelligence in environmental management. Participants will explore how AI can support sustainability goals, including reducing energy and water demand, while addressing concerns about AI’s resource-intensive infrastructure. The session will provide strategies to minimize AI’s environmental footprint and to balance its benefits and costs. A laptop is required for participation.

Ashlyn Albert – NMU – SHINE Native Plants Intern

Book Swap: Encouraging Rest and Resilience through Literature

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM | Pen III

This session will host a book swap and a discussion focused on literature related to rest, resilience, sustainability, and well-being. Participants are encouraged to bring a favorite book and share meaningful chapters, passages, or ideas with others. The event will provide a relaxed environment where attendees can exchange books, discuss impactful themes, and connect with one another. Tea and light snacks will be available to create a welcoming and comfortable space for conversation and reflection.

Dr. Lucy Miller – NMU – Assistant Director of Extended Learning and Community Engagement

With Great Lakes Comes Great Responsibility: Digital Outrage and Data Center Resistance

11:00 to 11:50 | Pen III

This presentation explores how members of Generation Z have used social media platforms to support grassroots opposition to data center development along the Great Lakes. Drawing on Jeff Rice’s theory of digital “outragicity” (2016), the session examines how digital storytelling, place-based narratives, and online circulation shape activism, public responsibility, and the reach of environmental resistance movements.

Tyler Dettloff – NMU – Director, Center for Native American Studies

More-than-Human Relative: Giizhik (Cedar) Workshop

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Behind Northern Center

This workshop explores the ecological and cultural significance of giizhik (cedar). The session begins with a review of key concepts from the Ecology and Society research publication Gathering Giizhik in a Changing Landscape (Clark et al.). Participants will then walk to the Woodland Park woods to respectfully gather cedar boughs while learning about cultural teachings related to the plant. The workshop concludes with participants creating cedar bundles and sharing cedar tea together.

Christopher Shawa – NMU - President, Native American Student Association

Indigenous Fashion Show 

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Pen I & II

The Native American Student Association will present the 1st Annual Indigenous Fashion Show. This event will showcase a range of clothing and jewelry styles created and worn by Indigenous Peoples from Turtle Island and beyond. The show highlights Indigenous fashion, artists, and models while also welcoming participation from all students who wish to showcase their fashion, whether Indigenous or otherwise.

Katie Buhrmann – NMU – Institutional Effectiveness

Intentional Documentation of Lived Experience via Poetry (IDLE Poetry)

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM | Pen IV

This workshop introduces participants to a poetry-writing method that encourages reflection and self-expression through a simple acrostic format. The session highlights poetry as a powerful tool for processing lived experiences and documenting personal narratives. By challenging preconceived notions about poetry and writing, participants will explore how creative expression can foster resilience, connection, and empowerment.