Around NMU

The 2026 IncredibleBank Hope Starts Here Challenge, a variety of running and walking events designed to raise funds and awareness for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center (UMBTC), will be held on Saturday, June 13. The UMBTC is a collaborative effort between Northern Michigan University, UP Health System and the Superior Health Foundation. Registration ends at 11:59 p.m. June 12.

Northern Michigan University is a state leader in cybersecurity education, according to rankings released by Programs.com. NMU offers the top-ranked associate degree program among Michigan universities or colleges, and the fifth-best bachelor's degree.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved a new NMU-American Association of University Professors (AAUP) contract, which was previously ratified by the faculty membership on May 15. The agreement covers one year for financial provisions and five years for non-financial elements.

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum will host "North of the 45th," an annual juried exhibition featuring artists living in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota locations north of the 45th parallel, which is known as the halfway point between the equator and north pole. The show opens June 19 and will be on display through Sept. 4.

Northern Michigan University May BFA graduate Lexi Klamer scored some impressive achievements in her final semester. She was selected for the Society of Illustrators (New York) 2026 Student Scholarship Competition, and received the $2,000 Nancy Lee Rhodes Roberts Scholarship for a gouache-on-paper work titled Pond Water Souls. Klamer was one of only 216 artists from more than 4,550 entries selected for an exhibition in the society's museum, which she attended shortly after  commencement.

Northern Michigan University Theatre & Dance will usher in Pride Month with a Drag Cabaret at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 29-30, in the Panowski Black Box Theatre. Thursday's show will be followed by an opening night party with appetizers, beverages and a meet and greet with the cast and team  

Northern Michigan University will host a series of summer camps for K-12 students. Programs range from day camps for young children to specialized residential experiences for high school students, with options focused on recreation, STEM, health careers, performing arts and athletics.

Northern Michigan University will host the 2026 BIPOC Outdoors Summit & Rest Retreat July 27-31. While the events are designed to center the experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Color in outdoor spaces, everyone is welcome to participate. The emphasis is on creating an environment that fosters belonging, reflection and engagement with nature.

Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health Director Elise Bur has been selected as one of 20 statewide members of the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Advisory Council. The group will provide insight on rural health priorities, review program progress and offer recommendations to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) leadership.

Northern Michigan University's athletic training program recently marked 25 years since its first graduate in 2001. From its humble beginnings as a small certification track, athletic training has evolved into a master's degree offered in two formats: as a 3+2 program for students who first earn a bachelor's in sports science from Northern; or as a stand-alone for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree at NMU or elsewhere.