Being an educator for K-5 students in the midst of a pandemic comes with many challenges that require patience and the ability to adapt quickly. Northern Michigan University alumna Suzanna Schroeder (‘95 BS, ‘99 MA) is the library media specialist for Brown Deer Elementary School in Wisconsin. She has been coming up with new initiatives to keep her students informed and engaged.

Northern Michigan University will comply with today's Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' decision to extend its epidemic order through mid-January. The extension will not impact the previously planned start of winter semester classes on Tuesday, Jan. 19. It will delay the reopening of campus residence halls to Jan. 15, which will result in a slightly modified schedule for mass COVID-19 testing before the semester gets underway.

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum has announced the winners of its "Your Art Here" competition: Marquette residents Catherine Benda, Kaelyn Wright and Emilee Covers. Their work is featured on three banners that have been installed in a prominent location outside of the museum. 

Northern Michigan University's Heidi Blanck and Kathy Richards personify the success women can achieve in the construction, engineering, design and trades industries. Blanck is an associate professor in NMU's construction management program. Richards is associate vice president for Engineering and Planning/Facilities. Each gave a recent presentation encouraging other women to explore related career opportunities as part of the Build Initiative's “Project Accelerate” program.

NMU alumna Tanya Rule of Atlantic Mine is one of eight new members appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Public Health Advisory Council. Rule serves as environmental health director for the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department. She will share her expertise with the council for a term expiring Nov. 1, 2021.