January 2021

Northern Michigan University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kerri Schuiling will step down from her current position next January. She will become special assistant to the president for a year, supporting the initiatives of the NMU Center for Rural Health and also SISU: The Innovation Institute at NMU before she retires in January 2023. 

The Northern Michigan University Alumni Association will present a panel discussion titled “Lifelong Learning: Exploring the right education at the right time” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, as part of the Northern Now digital event series for alumni and friends. The discussion will feature Extended Learning staff and Global Campus students and alumni. 

More than 300 donor-funded scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year are available at Northern Michigan University through the financial support of alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university. The application system is open through Monday, Feb. 15.

"Winter Wonderland," a 1995 film about Michigan's many winter sports by Ironwood-based filmmaker Bill Jamerson, is the next installment in the Beaumier Heritage Documentary Series. It will air at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, on WNMU-TV. It can also be streamed live on the station's website or for 30 days after the broadcast on the Passport App. 

Northern Michigan University's Diversity Common Reader Program will kick off this semester's activities with a virtual discussion of the featured book, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, and how it relates to current events at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. 

Northern Michigan University diverted 287 pounds of glove waste from landfills during the fall semester, further demonstrating its commitments to sustainability and social responsibility. The NMU Safety Department began participating in the RightCycle personal protection equipment recycling program because it anticipated increased reliance on single-use gloves as a Covid-19 precaution this academic year.

Northern Michigan University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host two events to close out its celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. A virtual tour of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, and guest speaker Khayree Williams will discuss truth, racial healing and transformation in higher education at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29.

Evan Lucas, an associate professor for NMU's new multidisciplinary indoor agriculture associate degree program, contributed to an Associated Press story on the burgeoning indoor farming industry. Lucas said the industry is getting a boost from high-tech growing methods developed for cannabis and declining costs of LED lighting.

A car accident motivated U.P. native and alumnus Mike Sherman (BFA '83, MA '89) to refocus on his art, which he had honed as an illustration major at NMU. The self-described “artist naturalist” creates vibrant watercolors and detailed drawings that often combine his love of nature with nostalgic structures such as an old building or barn.

Northern Michigan University's new esports team has not been impacted by COVID-19 to the same level as other sports because it can be adapted to an alternative format. The team opened its first season with a 3-1 record before the semester break. Though they weren't able to attend any local area network (LAN) party events in person, the Wildcats were able to engage in competitions and scrimmages with other schools and amateur organizations.