Northern Michigan University is hosting the North Coast Dance Festival, an annual event where dancers from across the country come to the Forest Roberts Theatre to perform a professional ballet routine alongside NMU's CO/LAB company. The performances take place at 7:30 p.m. July 27-28.

Northern  Michigan University biology student Maddy Saddler will address freshwater acidification and its implications for the Great Lakes ecosystem during a Thursday, July 27 presentation in her hometown of Alpena. She will give details about her role as a research intern working on the ongoing freshwater acidification monitoring project with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and Michigan Sea Grant. 

NMU alumna Kami Harvey will begin her newly appointed role of Southern Door (Wis.) Middle School principal on Aug. 1. She began her career as a 1st-grade teacher in Michigan, and has accumulated more than 24 years of experience in education.

NMU 1995 criminal justice alumnus John Gudwer is Escanaba's new director of Public Safety. He was recently promoted from his previous role as detective/lieutenant after the former director retired.

The world-famous Mackinac Island attracts visitors from far and wide, but August 18-20 will have a more Upper Peninsula flair as Northern Michigan University hits the docks for an Arts and Athletics Showcase.