Around NMU

Brock Tessman, who grew up in Plymouth, Mich., will become the 17th president of Northern Michigan University, effective Feb. 1. He has served as deputy commissioner of higher education for the Montana University System since 2018, and has previous experience as a faculty member and campus leader. The NMU Board of Trustees unanimously approved his selection at a special meeting this morning.

In a continuing effort to advance conversations surrounding mental health, WNMU-TV will host a “Facing Suicide: Town Hall” at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday, Sept. 27, in NMU's Northern Center. A panel of Upper Peninsula mental health professionals will discuss suicide awareness and prevention. The public is invited to attend in person or virtually at no charge. 

Northern Michigan University's fall convocation featured several speakers who addressed new wellbeing initiatives for students and employees, the budget outlook, updates on facilities projects, the strategic planning process and the presidential search.

The preferred submission date for applications from prospective candidates for Northern Michigan University's next president was Aug. 1. The Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) will gain access to their curriculum vitae and other materials beginning Aug. 10, and meet about two weeks later to select candidates for initial interviews.

Northern Michigan University has started a comprehensive review of its mental health services. Former NMU Trustee Jim Haveman is leading the effort. He holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in social work, and previously served as director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. Haveman was also executive director of the Department of Mental Health, the Kent County Community Mental Health Program, and Project Rehab, a substance abuse program that was located in Grand Rapids. 

The $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package that passed the U.S. House and Senate and was signed by President Joe Biden last week includes $1.2 million in congressionally directed spending that will enable Northern Michigan University to expand LTE broadband service to rural communities in the Upper Peninsula and northeastern Lower Peninsula through its Educational Access Network (EAN).

Efforts to improve child care availability and affordability in the region received a major boost this week when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the MI Tri-Share Child Care pilot program would expand to seven new facilitator hubs across the state, including the Marquette-Alger Educational Regional Service Agency. It was MARESA's partnership with Northern Michigan University—the first local employer to sign up for the program—that helped to secure $300,000 from the state for the hub's pilot year.

Northern Michigan University's world-premiere production of Above the Timberline has been selected as a finalist for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The play will be performed virtually in January as part of the Region 3 festival in Madison, Wis.

Northern Michigan University Associate Professor Madison Ngafeeson recently completed a one-year professional development sabbatical, during which he enrolled as a full-time student in Harvard University's business analytics program. Now he is applying the knowledge gleaned from his experience to collaborate with NMU College of Business colleagues on shifting the computer information systems (CIS) program to data analytics.

Northern Michigan University will hold a virtual commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 1. Nearly 900 graduates will be honored at the ceremony, which will be broadcast via the internet and on WNMU-TV13. Bryan Terrell Clark, the Broadway star who played George Washington in Hamilton, will be the commencement speaker.