Forty-three former faculty, staff and administrators have been selected as “transformative leaders” as part of Northern Michigan University's 125th anniversary celebration, based on their significant positive impacts on the university. The selections were made after a committee reviewed nominations and additional historical records.
“These individuals, and countless others, have helped Northern thrive and grow throughout the years, continuously revitalizing the campus and leaving a lasting impact that we are able to see and benefit from today,” said Anne Dahlman, NMU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and Student Success.
Selection committee members were: History Professor Emeritus Russ Magnaghi; NMU Archivist Marcus Robyns; Dean of Library and Instructional Support Leslie Warren; Provost Fellow and Associate Professor of Geography Weronika Kusek; and Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center Director Dan Truckey.
More information on the history of the university and individual contributions of campus members can be found via the following sources:
UPLINK, the U.P. Digitization Network collection led by the Central U.P. and NMU Archives
The late Miriam Hilton's book, Northern Michigan University: The First 75 Years
Magnaghi's book, A Sense of Time: The Encyclopedia of Northern Michigan University
Listed below are the 43 transformative leaders throughout Northern's history, in ascending order from earliest start date to most recent. Current employees were not eligible for this distinction.
Last name | First name | Year started at NMU | Year left NMU | Position/Role |
Spalding | Grace | 1903 | 1939 | Head of Art Department |
Kaye | James, H.B. | 1904 | 1923 | President |
Rushmore | Eulie Gay | 1905 | 1926 | Faculty in Theatre |
Hill | Flora | 1906 | 1920 | English professor |
Chase | Lew Allen | 1919 | 1944 | Head of History Department |
Bowman | James | 1920 | 1939 | Head for English Department |
Carey | Ethal | 1924 | 1956 | Dean of Women |
Robert | Forest | 1928 | Head of Speech Department | |
Olson | Lydia | 1941 | Head Librarian | |
Money | Cloyd Vern | 1947 | 1968 | Athletic Director/HPER Dept Head & Professor |
Harden | Edgar | 1956 | 1967 | President |
Anick | Paul | 1958 | WNMU | |
Rapport | James | 1958 | 1998 | Faculty in Communication and Media Studies |
Turner | Bruce | 1963 | 2019 | TV Station Manager in Broadcast & Audio-Visual Services |
Peters | Tom | 1963 | 1994 | NMU Foundation |
Robinson | William | 1964 | 1998 | Biology |
Patrick | Barb | 1965 | 1991 | Intercollegiate Athletics/Rec Sports |
McClellan | Robert | 1965 | 1993 | History Department |
Zenti | Rico | 1966 | 1975 | Director of Athletics, physical education and intramurals |
Fowler | Duane | 1968 | 2005 | Head of Physics Department/Interim Head of Seaborg Center |
Carter | Jim | 1968 | 1996 | Identity, Brand & Marketing |
Jamrich | John X. | 1968 | 1983 | President |
Kunkel | Karen | 1968 | 1988 | NMU-U.S. Olympic Training Site |
Maier | Cliff | 1968 | 1993 | History |
Magnaghi | Russ | 1969 | 2014 | Head of History Department |
Greene | Jim | 1971 | 2007 | Professor in Philosophy |
Holm | Carl | 1972 | 2014 | Housing & Residence Life Director |
Duerfeldt | Pryse | 1972 | 1997 | Head of Psychological Science |
Walker | Arthur | 1973 | Counselor and Head of the Black Studies Program | |
Kordich | Diane | 1977 | 2007 | Professor Emerita of Art and Design |
Daniels | Gerri | 1987 | 2024 | Admissions |
Watts | Philip | 1978 | 2016 | Professor Emeritus of Sports Science |
Godfrey | Ken | 1978 | 2013 | Director of Athletics/Assoc VP Recreation and Athletics |
Bonsall | David | 1979 | 2013 | Director of Student Activities/Center for Student Enrichment. |
Kinnear | Jean | 1979 | 2011 | Professor in School of Health & Human Performance |
Duby | Paul | 1984 | 2016 | Associate Vice President for Institutional Research |
Lucas | David | 1986 | 2015 | Head of Physics Department |
House | Peggy | 1993 | 2015 | Math & Computer Science Professor |
Fjeldheim | Sten | 1997 | 2021 | Head Coach-Skiing/Track/Running in Intercollegiate Athletics & Rec Sports |
Anderton | John | 1999 | 2014 | Head of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Department |
Major | John | 2006 | 2006 | Adjunct Instructor-Communication and Media Studies Department |
Reinhardt | Martin | 2010 | 2024 | Director of Center for Native American Studies |