Detailed Program - United Conference

7:45 AM to 8:00 AM | Ballrooms 1 & 2 | Teal Lake Singers | Opening Drum Circle 

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM | Ballrooms 1 & 2 | Registration and Breakfast Buffet  

9:00 to 9:50 | Ballrooms 1 & 2

• Dr. Yan Ciupak, Grief, Resilience, and Healing

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Ballrooms 1 & 2

• Dr. Michael Lynn Wellman & Dr. Tayla Shanaye Ealom, We The Earth: Sanctuary at the Nexus of Rest, Resilience, and Resistance
  • 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.

11:30 AM to 1:00 PM | Lunch Buffet | Ballrooms 1& 2

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM | Ballrooms 1 & 2

• Dr. Kathy Allen - Sustainability Summit Keynote Speaker
  • Leading From the Roots 

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen 1 

• Justin Schapp – NMU – Assistant Director for Opportunity, Empowerment, and People, Ganonyok: Gratitude as Resilience and Everyday Resistance
  • 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 means of sustaining joy, endurance, and collective well-being in the face of systemic challenges.

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen 2 

• Chloe Ravenscraft – NMU – SHINE Climate Education Intern
• Delany Frank – NMU – SHINE Sustainability Audit Intern
  • Student-Led Sustainability & Resilience Panel 
    • 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.

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen 4

• Rosie Brito - NMU - Opportunity, Empowerment, and People Graduate Assistant, From Busy to Balanced

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Founders Room

• Dr. Kathy Allen Book Signing
  • Each copy of her book will be $12.00 - exact change/check/venmo

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Ballrooms 3 & 4

• Ann Crandell-Williams & Elissa Kent, Rest as Professional Resilience for Human Services Providers

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Ballrooms 1 & 2

• Elizabeth Slater, Reclaiming Power Through Resilience and Resistance

 2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Pen 2

• 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. 
  • 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.

 2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Pen 4

• Mike Rutledge - NMU - Veterans Services, Successful Transition to Civilian Life through Education 

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Pen  3

• Marna Franson - The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, Portals of Grief Training | Closed: session full 

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Pen 4

• Emily Meier - NMU - CARE Team/CARE Management Services, WellBeing Planning: How to build your resilience through self-reflection

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Founders Room

• Dr. Lesley Larkin, Author Book Signing: Reading in the Postgenomic Age: Race, Discipline, and Bionarrativity in Contemporary North American Literature
  • These curated, drop-in book signing sessions offer conference attendees the opportunity to connect directly with featured authors in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Author(s) will be present as guests stop by to purchase books, request signatures, and engage in meaningful conversation about the stories, ideas, and experiences that shape their work.  Books for sale include Reading in the Postgenomic Age: Race, Discipline, and Bionarrativity in Contemporary North American Literature by Dr. Lesley Larkin; Leading From The Roots by Dr. Kathy Allen; Have Dog Will Travel: A Poet's Journey by Stephen Kuusisto. 

2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Ballroom 3 

• Dr. BlackDeer, Mino-bimose'idiwag! From Resilience to Survivance: Reclaiming Indigenous Healing Journeys 

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Founders Room

• Seed Swap & Plant: Growing with NMU's Hoop House

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM | Ballrooms 3 & 4

• Dr. Anna Zimmer, Poetry Without Borders Reception

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM | Ballrooms 1 & 2 | Registration and Breakfast Buffet  

• Women in Entrepreneurship

9:00 AM to 9:50 AM | Ballrooms 1 & 2

• Alex West Steinman, Crowdfunding Your Way to Launch 

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM | Ballrooms I & II

• Lucy Seitz of Read My Lips and Girly Pop, Women in Business Panel Discussion

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Founders Room

• Dr. Kathy Allen, Deans and Department Heads Circle  

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM | Pen 1 

• Marna Franson, Holding Space for the Portals of Grief 

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Ballrooms 3 & 4 | Wildcat WellBeing Fair 

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Pen 3

• WellBeing Hearing Test

 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM | Pen 2

• Jason Williams, Anyone Can Be An Innovator

 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM | Pen 4

• Joe Thiel, Making Entrepreneurship Approachable

11:30 AM to 1:00 PM | Lunch Buffet | Ballrooms 1 & 2

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Ballrooms 1 & 2

• Adela Piper, Effective Communication Strategies For Building Customer Loyalty That You Can Activate Today

1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen 4

• Julie Olson & Lisa DeCaire, Financial Clarity for Business Growth and Financing

 1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen 2

• Eileen Boekestein – Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Transformative Hope for Climate Change Action 
  • 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.

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Pen 4

• Tesse Sayen and Graduate Studies, BUZZ Session 
  • 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 per presenter, it's fast-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, and Mr. Patrick Booth - Department of Music

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Ballrooms 1 & 2

• Katie Korpi, Learn your leadership style with Clifton Strengths

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Founders Room

• Bonnie Fahoome, How to Lead A More Inclusive Design Process

2:00 PM to 2:50 PM | Pen 1

• NMU Math Department, Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani

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

• Dr. Jes Thompson, Walking the Talk on Sustainability at NMU 
  • 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.

 3:00 PM to 3:50 PM | Pen 1

• Jill Compton, Digital Accessibility: Small Changes, Big Impact
  • Learn the basics of digital accessibility, why it matters, and discover simple, practical steps you can start using immediately to make your emails, documents, and web content more inclusive. Most changes take only a few minutes to learn, but can make a meaningful difference for students, colleagues, and community members. Just as ramps, grab bars, and elevators remove barriers in physical spaces, accessible emails, websites, and digital documents remove barriers online. Join us to learn quick, easy techniques you can use right away. 

3:00 PM to 3:50 PM | Pen 4

• Mattea Muscat, Individual Actions Matter: Reducing Waste 
  • 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.

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

• Tai Chi Qigong 

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM | Ballrooms 1 & 2

• Makers Fair: Bird Houses

4:00 PM to 4:50 PM | Pen 3

• Krystyna Rickauer – NMU – Health and Human Performance, Asahi Nordic Health Practice
  • 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.

4:00 PM to 4:50 PM | Pen 2

• VIRTUAL: Stephen Kuussito, Workshop: Disability aesthetics, guide-dog culture, and access-centered storytelling

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

• Dr. Pucan & NMU Hoop House members, Anishinaabe Tea Break

4:00 PM to 4:50 PM | Founders Room

• Library and SHINE, Read out loud to children 

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Ore Dock Brewing Company

• Innovation after party

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM | Registration and Breakfast Buffet | Innovation Hall

KCP Student Conference | 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM | Registration and Breakfast | The Founders Room

9:00 AM to 9:50 AM | Innovation Hall

• Keynote Speaker, Bill Hawker

9:00 AM to 9:50 AM | Pen 2

• CRP Virtual Keynote Speaker, Tourmaline, Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P Johnson

KCP Student Conference | 9:45 AM to 10:00 AM | The Founders Room

Dr. Shawnrece Butler, Welcoming Remarks

KCP Student Conference | 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM | The Founders Room

• Bianca Mercado-Velez, Resilience Through Doubt: Navigating Imposter Syndrome in My PhD Journey

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM | Pen 1

• Dr. Jongeun You – NMU – Political Science, Responsible AI for Environmental Management
  • 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.

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM | Pen 3

• Ashlyn Albert, Book Swap: Encouraging Rest and Resilience through Literature
  • This session will feature a book swap and a discussion focused on literature on 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.

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM | Pen 4

• Katie Buhrmann, Intentional Documentation of Lived Experience via Poetry (IDLE Poetry) 
  • 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.

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM | Founders Room

• Bianca Mercado-Velez, Resilience Through Doubt: Navigating Imposter Syndrome in My PhD Journey

10:00 AM to 12:30 PM | Innovation Hall

• Design Jam

KCP Student Conference | 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM | The Founders Room

• Amy Berglund, Its who you know, not what you know

  • You’ve probably heard the phrase “it’s who you know.” But what does that actually mean for college students? This session breaks down how networking really works—how to build genuine connections with professors, mentors, alumni, and employers, even if you’re shy or new to it. Learn simple strategies that can open doors to internships, opportunities, and careers.

11:00 to 11:50 AM | Pen 3

• Dr. Lucy Miller, With Great Lakes Comes Great Responsibility: Digital Outrage and Data Center Resistance
  • 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.

11:00 to 11:50 AM | Pen 4

• Leslie Warren, Digital Accessibility: Small Changes, Big Impact
  • Learn the basics of digital accessibility, why it matters, and discover simple, practical steps you can start using immediately to make your emails, documents, and web content more inclusive. Most changes take only a few minutes to learn, but can make a meaningful difference for students, colleagues, and community members. Just as ramps, grab bars, and elevators remove barriers in physical spaces, accessible emails, websites, and digital documents remove barriers online. Join us to learn quick, easy techniques you can use right away. 

KCP Student Conference | 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM | The Founders Room

• Lunch

KCP Student Conference | 11:45 PM to 1:00 PM | The Founders Room

• Session 1: Lynne Vedin and Becca Redmond, Burnout-proof your semester (systems, not willpower)

  • College can feel nonstop—but exhaustion doesn’t have to be inevitable. In this interactive 30-minute session, you’ll learn how to recognize early signs of burnout and build simple habits that protect your energy all semester long. Through reflection and practical planning tools, you’ll identify stress triggers, reset your workload strategy, and create a sustainable rhythm that supports both performance and wellbeing.

• Session 2: Carol Johnson, First Paycheck to First Apartment: Budgeting, Credit, Debt, and Taxes  

  • That first job offer is exciting—but what does the salary really mean for your everyday life? In this interactive 30-minute session, we break down take-home pay, taxes, budgeting, credit, and student debt so you can make informed decisions about housing and lifestyle. Leave with a clearer picture of what you can afford—and a practical plan for building financial stability from day one.

12:30 PM | Innovation hall

• Keynote Speaker, Nancy Lyons, Kick Your Fear in the Face

KCP Student Conference |  1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | The Founders Room

• Session 1: Grant Langdon, AI in Your Job Search: Resume Tailoring, Cover Letters, Interview Prep, Disclosure/Ethics

  • Curious how AI can strengthen your resume and interview prep—without crossing ethical lines? This interactive session explores how to responsibly use AI to tailor resumes, refine cover letters, research employers, and practice interview responses. We’ll also discuss when AI helps, when it hurts, and what employers expect regarding disclosure and authenticity. Participants will leave with practical prompts, verification strategies, and clear guidelines to use AI as a career advantage—not a shortcut.

• Session 2: Dr. Matt Kilgas, AI Literacy for Any Major

  • No matter your field—healthcare, business, humanities, STEM, education, or the arts—AI is shaping how work gets done. This foundational session builds your AI confidence by teaching effective prompting, fact-checking and verification techniques, bias awareness, and privacy protection. You’ll learn how to think critically about AI outputs and how to use these tools to support (not replace) your own thinking. Walk away with practical strategies you can apply in coursework, research, and internships.

KCP Student Conference | 1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Peninsula 3

• Stephanie Zadrogra-Langlois, David Nyberg, Steve VandenAvond, Brad Hamel, Evergreen at NMU: Learning That Grows With Your Career

  • Careers rarely follow a straight line, and learning doesn’t stop at graduation. What if NMU remained part of your learning journey long after you leave campus? The NMU Evergreen initiative is exploring new ways to support lifelong learning, career growth, and skill-building for Wildcats at every stage of life. Join this interactive conversation to share your ideas and learn how NMU is designing future opportunities that connect education, careers, and personal growth. Your voice will help shape how NMU supports lifelong learning for current and future Wildcats.

KCP Student Conference | 1:00 PM to 1:50 PM | Pen 4

• Carol Johnson, Salary Negotiation and Total Compensation 101

  • Your first offer isn’t the final offer—if you know how to respond. Learn what employers actually expect during salary conversations, how to evaluate the full value of an offer, and how to negotiate with confidence. If the idea of talking about money makes you nervous, this session is for you.

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

• Tyler Dettloff – NMU – Director, Center for Native American Studies, More-than-Human Relative: Giizhik (Cedar) Workshop
  • 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.

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Innovation Hall

• Big Pitch & Outdoor Pitch

KCP Student Conference | 2:00 PM to 2:15 PM | Break

KCP Student Conference | 2:15 PM to 2:45 PM | The Founders Room

• Dr. Angie Stebbins, Boundaries and Time Management Session

  • In this interactive 30-minute session, you’ll explore how to set clear boundaries, navigate competing responsibilities and priorities, and design a schedule that aligns with your values as well as obligations. You’ll walk away with practical tools to protect your focus, reduce stress, and stay on track without burning out. Most importantly, you’ll gain insight into your limits, values, patterns, and learn how to protect yourself from guilt and shame when you can’t do everything you think you should. Success isn’t about doing it all. It’s about choosing what matters most and honoring that choice.

KCP Student Conference | 2:45 PM to 2:55 PM | The Founders Room

• Dr. Shawnrece Butler, Closing remarks

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Pen 1 & 2

• Christopher Shawa – NMU - President, Native American Student Association, Indigenous Fashion Show 

  • 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.

5:00 to 7:00 | Innovation Hall

• Big Pitch 
• Reception