Around NMU

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees elected NMU alumnae Missie Holmquist of Marquette as chair and Brigitte LaPointe-Dunham of Baraga as vice chair, effective Jan. 1.

The book selection for Northern Michigan University's annual Common Reader Program (CRP) is Tourmaline's “Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson,” which was published this past May.

Two Northern Michigan University education majors recently wrapped up their fall semester student teaching placements in New Zealand, supported in part by the Joseph and Nancy Prinzi Educational Study Abroad Scholarship. Elementary education major Kari Betters and secondary English education major Taylor Priestley even connected with donor Joe Prinzi, who was visiting the country, when he treated them to dinner at a revolving restaurant in Auckland's Sky Tower. 

After learning about Northern Michigan University's nursing program from an NMU Admissions representative visiting his Illinois high school, Vince Rodkey said it was his follow-up campus visit and introduction to the surrounding natural environment that convinced him he belonged in Marquette.

When Northern Michigan University senior success adviser and instructor Ryan Bond was notified that he was the students' choice for commencement speaker for the Dec. 13 ceremony, he said he had to re-read the email several times for its contents to sink in.

Mike Letts, Northern Michigan University associate professor of art education, was selected "Higher Education Art Educator of the Year" by the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA). He received the award at the MAEA annual conference in November in Traverse City, where he also presented a workshop titled “Teaching Critical Thinking with Art.”

Northern Michigan University's School of Art and Design is hosting its Fall 2025 Senior Exhibition at the DeVos Art Museum. A closing reception is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, with an awards announcement at 8 p.m. 

Northern Michigan University is featured in the Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2026 Edition. NMU earned a GreenScore of 91 points out of 99, securing a spot on the list of 388 unmarked colleges that meet the standards for practicing and promoting environmental responsibility. This is NMU's second appearance in the guide.

Northern Michigan University is one of a select group of only 30 undergraduate institutions nationwide that The Princeton Review has named to its Mental Health Services Honor Roll for 2026. On a related note, NMU is also featured in The Princeton Review's “Guide to Green Colleges: 2026 edition,” for practicing and promoting environmental responsibility.