Eight Northern Michigan University faculty members selected to receive 2022-23 awards of excellence for teaching, scholarship and leadership were honored at an April 6 celebration on campus. In comments before the presentations, NMU President Brock Tessman said he highly anticipated attending his first such event in his new role. He was a faculty member before ascending through the administrative ranks.

Sarah Carlson, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program director and assistant department head, is a proud graduate of Northern's BSW program and received her MSW from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2013. She maintains a license in clinical social work in Michigan, and has focused her social work practice on mental health with children and families. She has practiced in wilderness therapy, residential care and community mental health.

Jason Doney, BSN RN, has been a part-time clinical instructor for the School of Nursing since fall 2016. He brings a wealth of clinical knowledge to his position as an instructor in adult-health I nursing. As a registered nurse since 2002, he has worked in the following areas: surgical, pediatrics, emergency room and intensive care, with long stints as a clinical manager and trauma program manager. 

Vincent Jeevar has served as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Science since 2019. He earned a doctorate in psychology from Grand Canyon University. Jeevar has taught courses in the general psychology curriculum and developed a new course on positive psychology, which has become highly popular. He is known for being an engaging and innovative instructor, particularly through his use of multimedia technology for both in-person and online instruction.

Bill Digneit is the Director of SISU: The Innovation Institute at Northern Michigan University, as well as the founding head of the Theatre & Dance Department at NMU. He holds a master of fine arts degree in technical direction and production management from Florida State University.