Alumni

What began as a surfing and camping trip in 2010 has evolved into a mission for NMU nontraditional student Billy McCoy of Florence, according to a story in his hometown paper, the "Florence Mining News." The French language and literature major plans to leave in August to study abroad at Institute Francais du Congo, a private school run by the French government in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. Before classes start, he will serve an internship at Mwana Villages, which serves mothers and orphans in the impoverished area of Pointe Noire, Congo. This will be his second trip volunteering for the organization.

Attorney and NMU alumnus Rock Wood ('84 BS) has joined Dickinson Wright PLLC’s Grand Rapids office as Of Counsel. He has more than 30 years of litigation experience as lead counsel in a wide range of business-related trials, including corporate mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, construction and real estate. He has also successfully handled numerous disputes under non-competition agreements employment issues, insurance and UCC utilized in a wide variety of industries and employment positions.

Former NMU student Bruce Konefe joined the recent rescue effort that successfully transported a Thai boys’ soccer team and coach to safety. He has lived in the country for 24 years and is a technical diving instructor who specializes in caves and shipwrecks. A friend and Navy Seals coordinator recruited Konefe to lend his expertise to the rescue planning in Chang Rai.

Two recent NMU alumni—Collin Richter ('17 BS) and Samantha DiGiulio ('16 BS)—received a National Geographic Society Early Careers Grant for a joint study on how last year’s hurricanes impacted reptiles and amphibians on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their June project was a follow-up to independent research they completed as NMU students at the same location during an advanced field marine biology course led by Professor Jill Leonard.

NMU alumnus Barry West ('85 BS) has been named president of MicroTech in Tysons Corner, Va. According to a press release, he will be responsible for the oversight of the corporate business operations and development duties, as well as the expansion of the company's cybersecurity and cloud computing business.

Elizabeth Endelman ('16 BS) will work the sideline of high school athletic events in Tennessee this fall for Starr Regional Medical Center in Athens, which took over the sports medicine services for the McMinn County School System earlier this year. In an SRMC feature story, Endelman said completing her athletic training degree at NMU gave her opportunities most students in the field do not get to experience: "While I was there, I was lucky enough to work with Olympic athletes in weightlifting and Greco-Roman wrestling."

Joel W. Duling (’85 BS) is the new president of BWX Technologies' Nuclear Operations Group subsidiary in Lynchburg, Va. According to a news release, BWXTis a leading supplier of nuclear components and fuel to the U.S. government. Duling has nearly 30 years of leadership and management experience in the manufacturing and nuclear industries, including reactor operations, nuclear facility operations, armor and steel manufacturing, safety, environmental compliance and remediation.

Zac Fosler (BS 2006) was recognized by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell on Capitol Hill, where he accepted honorable mention in the public housing category of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition's annual Edson Awards. The AHTCC is a national trade organization of housing professionals who advocate for affordable rental housing financed using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Fosler is executive director/CEO of the Ypsilanti Housing Commission, which opened its New Parkridge affordable housing redevelopment project in January. Located at a former segregated housing site, New Parkridge was one of only three public housing projects nationwide honored through the awards program.

Mary Nash ('74 BSN) has announced her plans to retire in October after 43 years in nursing. She serves as chief nursing and patient care services officer for The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and also associate vice president for health sciences and assistant dean for clinical affairs at the OSU College of Nursing.

Heidi Kattula ('98 MA) was a unanimous choice to become the new superintendent of East Grand Rapids Public Schools, effective Aug. 1. The board announced that it selected Kattula for "her strength in collaboration, her ability to increase student achievement through inclusion and accountability, and her experience in instructional leadership across all grade levels." She has 26 years of experience in public education, according to an EGRPS news release.