FULL SCHEDULE WILL BE UPDATED SOON
This year’s conference theme is Voices of the Earth: Learning, Leading, and Advancing Equity Together.
2025 UNITED will occur on Monday, March 17th in the afternoon, and all day Tuesday, March 18th. All sessions are free. No tickets are reqired and all sessions are open to the public. 2025 UNITED includes workshops and presentations to magnify the voices of the earth with themes centering around how we learn, how we lead, and how we can advance equity together.
Once again, UNITED includes a Wellbeing Fair, many conference sessions, and two keynote addresses. On Monday, we will feature Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, the author of "As We Have Always Done - Indigenous Freedom Through Radical Resistance." Leanne speaks on a plethora of Indigenous topics, including the rejection of conteporary colonialism. Her book is the 2024/25 selection for the NMU Diversity Common Reader Program. The Wellbeing Fair will occur from 10am to 2pm on Tuesday, March 18th. The second keynote speaker, who will present on Tuesday, March 18th, will be announced soon.
The main conference sessions will run from mid-day Monday, March 17th, and all day Tuesday, March 18th, culminating in Poetry Without Borders during the Tuesday, 5:30pm session. The content covers wide fields of study.
All sessions will be held in the NMU Northern Center.
Monday, March 17, 2025 - List of Sessions
| MONDAY, MARCH 17TH | |
| 10:15-11:15 Ballrooms 1&2 | Opportunity Conference Angie Stebbins - "Mental Health and Resilience" General Session |
| 11:30-1:00 Ballrooms 1&2 | DCRP Keynote Luncheon: Leanne Simpson |
| 1:00-2:00 Ballrooms 1&2 | Caroline Laporte panel Moderator: Justin Schapp "The Role of Universities in Mitigating the Harm of Self-Indigenizing Settlers in Academia" |
| 1:00-2:00 Pen II | Emily Meir, Cat Hardenberg NMU panel "Care Team 101" |
| 1:00-2:00 Founders | Rosie Brito, MarLa Rosser, Freddy Sims - El Caballo Dorado and Electric Slide Dancing Class |
| 2:00-2:15 | Networking Break |
| 2:15-3:15 Ballrooms 1&2 | Dr. Scott Jordan, Joe Theil, Maureen MccFadden, and Andie Balenger - "Access and Outdoor Recreation" |
| 2:15-3:15 Ballroom 4 | Andy Grossmeyer - LGBTQ+ 101 Training |
2:15-3:15 Pen I | Presentation 1: Dr. Derek Anderson Curriculum Controversies Teachers Face Today Presentation 2: Dr. Chris Kobus from Oakland University MICUP program" |
| 2:15-3:15 Pen II | Meegan Smith, MarLanaysia Rosser, Will Sharp, Freddy Sims - Restoring Biological Truth: Gender Is Socially Constructed |
| 2:15-3:15 Founders | Ellen Doan - Gentle Yoga Demonstration |
| 3:15-3:30 | Networking Break |
| 3:30-4:30 Ballrooms 1&2 | Leslie Warren - "Digital Equity - Making Websites Accessible to All Users" |
| 3:30-4:30 Ballroom 4 | Andy Grossmeyer - LGBTQ+ 201 Training |
| 3:30-4:30 Pen II | Jacquie Medina - "Outdoor Training" SCECH session |
| 3:30-4:30 Founders Room | Rosie Brito, MarLa Rosser, Freddy Sims - El Caballo Dorado and Electric Slide Dancing Class |
| 4:45-7:25 Superior Dome | Bagodowe Revitalization Event - RJ Smith, Chris Shawa, NMU Women's Lacrosse Coach Lindsey (LeMay) Majkrzak, & Justin Schapp. Unveiling of Bagodowe Goal Posts, teaching of Bagodowe game, and exhibition Bagodowe game. |
| 5:30-7:30 Ballrooms 1&2 | Professional Networking Dinner, DJ and Dancing. Pre-registration required. $25 per person. |
Tuesday, March 18th, 2025 - List of Sessions
| TUESDAY, MARCH 18TH | |
| Time Room# | All sessions will be held in the NMU Northern Center, except for the Winter Walk which will begin and end at the Land Acknowledgement near Hedgcock. |
| The NMU Wellbeing Fair will be held in Ballrooms 3&4 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. | |
| 7:00-7:45 Founders | Michelle Reed - Anishinaabe Fitness for early risers (high and low impact) |
| 7:30-8:45 Ballrooms 1&2 | Networking Breakfast Buffet |
| 9:00-10:00 Ballrooms 1&2 | Keynote: Dr. Luvelle Brown |
| 10:00-10:15 | Networking Break |
| 10:15-11:15 Ballrooms 1&2 | Emily Meir - Effective Intergroup Dialogue General Session |
| 10:15-11:15 Ballrooms 3&4 | NMU Wellbeing Fair |
| 10:15-11:15 Pen I | Presentation 1: Jaime VanEnkevort, Olivia. Kyle, and Sierra - "Using choice boards as a teaching practice to facilitate understanding and collaboration on "controversial" or seemingly polarizing topics" Presentation 2: Olivia Lubig and Jaime VanEnkevort - "Rurality and Queerness" |
| 10:15-11:15 Pen II | Kel Sassi - "Students respond to "Land as Pedagogy" in Leanne Simpson's As We Have Always Done." |
| 10:30-11:00 | Jud Sojourn - Winter Walk - Begin and end in front of Land Acknowledgement near Hedgcock |
| 11:30-1:00 Ballrooms 1&2 | Keynote Luncheon Performance: Dr. Shannon Epplett and Dr. Aros-Mitchel |
| 1:00-2:00 Ballrooms 1&2 | Leslie Warren, Erik Maillard, Gwen Feamster - "Civic Engagement at NMU: Empowering students, faculty, and staff to contribute to public good" |
| 1:00-2:00 Pen 1 | Jelili Adebiyi - Learning and Leading Aquaponics Together to Foster Nutrition and Food Security in the Upper Peninsula |
| 1:00-2:00 Pen 2 | Ruby Joseph, Michael Love, Avery Owens - Student Athlete Panel |
| 1:00-2:00 Pen 4 | Dan Truckey - Early Female Faculty and Their Influence on Northern |
| 1:00-2:00 Founders | Michelle Reed - Anishinaabe Fitness (low and high impact) |
| 2:00-2:15 | Networking Break |
| 2:15-3:15 Ballrooms 1&2 | Keith Smith (Traditional Healer) and Val Smith (Traditional Helper) - Anishinaabe Traditional Medicine General Session |
| 3:15-3:30 | Networking Break |
| 3:30-4:30 Ballrooms 1&2 | Lila Isleib and Ellen Doan - Best Strategies for Resolving Intercultural Conflicts |
| 3:30-4:30 Pen IV | Marla Rosser, Rosalva Brito, Phoebe Martin, Sy Evans, Crystal Guo, and Alexandra Bowman - Cultivating Student Leadership Models Panel |
| 4:30-5:30 Ballrooms 1&2 | Dr. Shawnrece Butler - Strategies for Living Your Why in Uncertain Times: Facilitated table discussions on staying mission focused when changes abound. |
| 4:30-5:30 Pen I | Rosie Brito - Students Thriving and Belonging Panel |
| 4:30-5:30 Pen II | Emera Bridger-Wilson and MarLanaysia Rosser - Children's Read |
| 4:30-5:30 Founders | Michelle Reed - Anishinaabe Fitness (low and high impact) |
| 5:30-6:45 Ballrooms 1&2 | Poetry Without Borders: Join Anna Zimmer and area poets and presenters to celebrate the beautiful linguistic diversity of the NMU community. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members will present poems in languages other than English. But don't worry, English translations will be provided. Suggested for all. |
