February 2021

Thirteen Northern Michigan University faculty members, including a team of five, were selected to receive 2020-21 awards for teaching, scholarship, leadership and technology innovation. The annual celebration was canceled by COVID-19, but here are the recipients and their awards (more detailed feature stories on each can be viewed by clicking on their names).

NMU President Fritz Erickson held a virtual forum Wednesday to update the campus community on topics including the university's COVID-19 statistics and response, enrollment and retention, the state budget process and plans for the fall semester. He also responded to questions. The most common inquiry related to the chance of NMU's Health Center obtaining COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Sarah Mittlefehldt, as associate professor in the Earth, Environmental & Geographical Sciences (EEGS) Department, is Northern Michigan University's 2020-21 Excellence in Scholarship Award recipient. She is working on two National Science Foundation-funded projects related to wood energy in Michigan and sustainable coastal development on Lake Superior's South Shore.

Northern Michigan University alumnus and assistant professor Evan Lucas was selected for NMU's 2020-21 Faculty Emerging Leadership Award. The Marquette native has taught in the construction management program since 2017. He also helped to develop the new indoor agriculture associate degree program that launched this past fall.

Weronika Kusek, an associate professor of human geography at Northern Michigan University, is one of two recipients of NMU's 2020-21 Excellence in Teaching Award. She is a faculty member in the Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (EEGS) Department.

Tracy Wascom, an associate professor of foundations and art history at Northern Michigan University, is one of two recipients of the 2020-21 NMU Excellence in Teaching Award. She also serves as foundations coordinator for the School of Art & Design.

Brian Zinser, associate professor of marketing in Northern Michigan University's College of Business, is the 2020-21 recipient of NMU's Faculty Leadership Award. He also serves as an assistant department head responsible for management, marketing, entrepreneurship, ski area business management and the bachelor of applied science (BAS) programs.

Cameron Contois, a Northern Michigan University alumnus and contingent assistant professor in the English Department, has earned NMU's 2020-21 Excellence in Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award.

Counseling & Consultation Services' pivot to remote service delivery in the context of COVID-19 earned the team a 2020-21 NMU Technology Innovation Award. The multidisciplinary team of licensed counselors, social workers and psychologists includes (pictured clockwise from top left): Shelley Brandow, Christina Hartline, Jennifer Gorton, Jean Kupper and Mary Etchison.

Gordon Xu, assistant professor and head of library systems at Northern Michigan University, received a 2020-21 Technology Innovation Award.