Northern Michigan University alumna Rebecca Pelky ('98 BS, '15 MFA) has won the 2021 Perugia Press Prize for her story-in-poems called “Through a Red Place.” She weaves into the collection her research into her Native and non-Native heritage in Wisconsin using archival documents and images of her ancestors.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Mark Burton ('99 BS) has joined Honigman LLP as partner and co-leader of the firm's economic development incentives group. He  additionally serves in the government relations and regulatory practice and is based in Honigman's Lansing office, according to a press release. Burton most recently served as CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

For Northern Michigan University students studying in healthcare fields, hands-on experience is irreplaceable. The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to obtain that experience because many courses were restructured to an online format. NMU nursing students who had previously missed out were able to assist with two recent vaccination clinics.

Leslie Warren, Northern Michigan University dean of Library and Instructional Support, has accepted an appointment as chair for the final year of her two-year term on the American Library Association's Rural, Native, and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds Committee. She will serve in the leadership role from July 1 through June 30, 2022.

Two Northern Michigan University students utilized their summer employment connections to secure virtual guest speakers from two prominent companies for NMU's Introduction to Business class taught by instructor Corinne Bodeman. One presentation resulted in a donation to the NMU Food Pantry.