December 2020

Tami Seavoy of Marquette will serve as chair of the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees for calendar year 2021. Steve Young of Lansing will be vice chair. The board held elections for the leadership positions at its Dec. 11 meeting.

Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson was invited to give a presentation on NMU's fall semester response to the pandemic during a statewide COVID-19 community response meeting convened Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Northern Michigan University Registrar Kim Rotundo received a personal letter from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer praising her leadership in making it easier for students to transfer credits among Michigan's higher education institutions. Whitmer also congratulated Rotundo on her impending retirement.

Northern Michigan University held its fourth NMU Day of Giving on Dec. 1. Alumni and friends from across the globe, university employees, community members and students came together and responded with Wildcat pride to help increase opportunities and expand critical access and aid at NMU.

Northern Michigan University's “Plan A” for the upcoming winter semester is to provide as much in-person learning as possible, along with on-campus living for students, according to a Monday email from President Fritz Erickson. He also outlined Northern's “Plan B” in the event the university is forced to go to fully remote instruction because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NMU Alumnus Jeff Vande Zande's ('93 BS) has published his latest collection of short stories. The Neighborhood Division travels down the shady lanes of the American neighborhood. From kids egging windows to lost joggers and insomniacs to basement prisoners and Orwellian gated communities, the stories grow ever more surreal, holding a darkened mirror up to that which we are—and may become.

In recent decades, researchers have found that most mammals' guts are surprisingly complex environments—home to a variety of microbial ecosystems that can profoundly affect an animal's well-being. A Northern Michigan University alumna and her faculty mentor are among scientists who have now learned that the American black bear appears to be an exception. Its simple gut hosts a microbial population that varies little across the intestinal tract.

NMU Northern Center staff made a surprise delivery of cookies and brownies to UP Health System-Marquette frontline staff to express gratitude for their dedicated response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Northern Michigan University Alumni Association will present a free virtual program titled "Elevate Your Holiday Leftovers" as part of its Northern Now monthly digital series at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. NMU Executive Chef Alden Griffus, CCC '10, will show viewers how to make her favorite leftover recipes, share stories from her childhood and professional experience, and answer questions live.

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present a radio show performance of A Christmas Carol at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10-Sunday, Dec. 13.