A recent trip home to Paulding, Michigan by way of Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport brought Northern Michigan University alumna Emily Zander '14 BS through Marquette once again, sparking a family conversation on her years as an undergraduate.
Speaking with her parents about that time in her life, she found herself reflecting on the impact of a professor and the scholarship his family created. As a recipient of that scholarship, she ultimately felt the need to reach out directly to express her gratitude.
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for investing in me, both as a student in your classes and through your family's scholarship,” Zander wrote in an email to Dr. Gary Brunswick '84 BS, NMU professor of marketing. “Growing up in a small town in the Upper Peninsula, I was fortunate to be given opportunities that many of my classmates and peers didn't have … and support like yours helped open doors that truly shaped my future.”
The “support” referenced in her email was in the form of the Andrew and Theresa Brunswick Marketing Scholarship, named for Brunswick's paternal grandparents, who were lifelong residents of the Upper Peninsula. The scholarship is given to an Upper Peninsula high school graduate admitted to the NMU College of Business. Applicants must be full-time students with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Brunswick has earned a multitude of awards during his time as an NMU marketing professor, including the NMU Distinguished Faculty Award, the NMU Excellence in Teaching Award, NMU Outstanding Young Alumni Award and being chosen as the NMU Students Choice Commencement Speaker. His impact in the classroom is clear, but Zander said in a recent interview that his impact outside of the classroom was just as important.
Zander remembered one summer prior to earning the scholarship when she took online courses through NMU, worked a full-time day job for the Forest Service, scooped ice cream at night and cleaned cabins on her day off.
“The year I received the scholarship allowed me to really focus on school,” she said.
As her advisor, Brunswick was also able to build Zander's professional network while she was still an undergrad, so when graduation day came, she had a leg-up in seeking her first professional position, with one hiring manager citing her experience at Northern as a “key strength.”
“Getting the scholarship made me really feel that the business school was where I was meant to be,” she said. “Dr. Brunswick was known for challenging students in the classroom and a lot of what he taught me I have used through my last 10 years in corporate retail.”
Since graduating, Zander's career has brought her to several major retailers, including three years at Cabela's headquarters before moving to Nashville to work as an associate buyer for Tractor Supply Company, where she was then recruited by Molson Coors Beverage Company. Zander has now spent seven years with Coors, including the last five in analytics and category sales as a category insights executive for the East region.
“It is very gratifying to learn of Emily's career success, knowing that as a faculty member and a donor we played a small part,” Brunswick said.
It's stories like these that Brunswick said he and his wife were hoping for when they created the scholarship – and it's also why they continue to find new ways to give back to students. In addition to the scholarship Zander earned, the pair created the Dr. Brian Gnauck Memorial Scholarship in 2025, named after a former dean of the College of Business. Gnauck was a professor for over 40 years and earned the Distinguished Faculty Award in 2016. He passed away in 2020.
“My wife, Kimberly, and I are strong believers in the value of education, and NMU provided both of us with a strong foundation for career success, so it was quite logical for us to ‘pay it forward' and hopefully help future students take advantage of the educational opportunities which NMU offers,” Brunswick said. “We hope that our endowed scholarships provide students with the recognition of their hard work and also encourages continued motivation and accomplishment.”
Those hopes were realized in Zander, who has gone on to have a successful career in her chosen field. She's also adopted that same “pay it forward” mentality, sponsoring cadets at the United States Military Academy where her husband, Kevin, taught in the Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering department.
“My experience at Northern taught me the importance donors and impact mentors, like I had at NMU, can have on a young person's life,” Zander said. “Getting this scholarship has taught me the value and importance of supporting those around me.”
In her email to Brunswick, Zander said the scholarship “had a lasting impact on both my career and my future and I'm incredibly grateful.”
Visit foundation.nmu.edu to learn more about NMU scholarships and other giving opportunities.
