April 2026

The Northern Michigan University Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter recently hosted the 8th annual Marquette Coffee Crawl, which drew nearly 500 participants and raised $10,200 for the Marquette Women's Center.

Northern Michigan University students completed a two-week study abroad program titled "Gateway to India: Culture, Community & Social Change" earlier this semester. The international social work course provided them with a "transformative" cultural immersion and global learning experience focused on cultural humility, diversity, community engagement and global social development. 

Northern Michigan University 2012 alumna Kaylee Davenport has been reappointed to the Michigan Board of Audiology. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from NMU with a minor in speech, language and hearing sciences. She currently serves as a clinical audiologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Saginaw.

Northern Michigan University Music Professor Stephen Grugin was honored by WLUC-TV as the latest recipient of the annual Carl V. Pellonpaa Lifetime Achievement Award. He has dedicated nearly five decades to music education, performance and community service throughout the Upper Peninsula and beyond.

Northern Michigan University Social Work Associate Professor Vikash participated in the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, held at United Nations Headquarters earlier this semester.

Northern Michigan University alumni Elissa Macario (‘13 BS, ‘18 MAE) and Cody Scanlon (‘11 BS, ‘18 MAE) were named the 2026 Outstanding Educators at Negaunee Public Schools.

Northern Michigan University's Director of Choral Activities, Erin Colwitz, was selected to serve as conductor in residence at New York City's Carnegie Hall for an April 21 Masterwork Festival Chorus performance. She took full advantage of the opportunity to bring along her own singers, creating a memorable experience for 28 students from the NMU Arts Chorale and 99 members of the Marquette Choral Society, which she also directs. The delegation sang alongside professional chamber orchestra musicians and soloists who typically perform at the Metropolitan Opera and on Broadway.

A Northern Michigan University communication studies class collaborated this semester with the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center on campus to increase student awareness of and participation in the next Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival Oct. 2-4. The event features workshops, demonstrations and performances by folk artists reflecting the ethnic and cultural traditions of the region. Students conducted various levels of research and developed ideas for the center related to programming, promotion and a potential student intern to assist with both.

Northern Michigan University student entrepreneurs took center stage at the Big Pitch competition, the culminating event of NMU's annual New Business Venture Competition and one of the final events at the recent PEAK26 conference. This year, it was held in the Jacobetti Innovation Hall.

Northern Michigan University's Theatre and Dance Department recently announced the recipients of its annual Alumni Awards. The honorees will be recognized at a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, in Forest Roberts Theatre.