Around NMU

Northern Michigan University's Theatre and Dance program will host its Alumni Awards from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Forest Roberts Theatre. The event will honor exceptional achievements in theatre, dance and entertainment arts. 

NMU principal secretary Grace Albert is on the verge of retirement, after 45 years of service at the university, all in the Department of Psychological Science. She will be honored by colleagues for the milestone later this month, but she has also received public recognition for her community service milestone as a blood donor. Inspired by photos of past donors on a wall at the U.P. Regional Blood Center (UPRBC), Albert set a personal goal to join the legacy and just reached 100 donations. Albert received a special cake to mark the achievement and social media praise on April 7 from both the UPRBC and UP Health System – Marquette.

Brock Tessman is stepping down as president of Northern Michigan University, effective July 1, to become president at Montana State University, it was announced today.

Northern Michigan University's 11th annual Anderton's Earth Week April 20-27 will be the biggest yet, with a variety of activities scheduled for the campus and Marquette-area communities and free parking during Earth Week events.

Northern Michigan University theater professor Paul Truckey is the recipient of the 2025 Stephen Young and Tricia Kinley Distinguished Faculty Award. He joined the faculty in 2003, and has been instrumental developing and implementing the Bachelors of Fine Arts programs in musical theater and acting, as well as the Bachelor of Arts degree in theater performance.

Associate Professor of Biology Diana Lafferty joined the NMU faculty in 2017 and established the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science Lab (WECOS Lab). In collaboration with myriad state, federal and international partners, she has led diverse research initiatives across the United States and around the world to advance wildlife ecology and conservation. 

Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice Greg Warchol began his field research on the illegal trade in endangered and protected species—with a focus on wildlife trafficking—in 2001. His other past and current research interests include: the impact of The Troubles in Northern Ireland on its legal system; civil forfeiture law; and urban crime in the United States.  

English Professor Zhuang-Zhong “Z.Z.” Lehmberg was born and raised in Guangzhou, China, but says she “grew up” in the United States. She came to this country as a transfer student when she was 20 years old. Lehmberg received a B.A. in business and an M.A. in English from NMU before completing her graduate studies at Wayne State University, where she received her Ph.D. in English. She then returned to Marquette to teach at NMU and to raise a family with her husband, Paul.

Michael Crum is a professor in the College of Business at Northern Michigan University, where he has taught since 2010. He has a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville. He also holds an MBA, a master's in strategic finance, and a bachelor's degree with majors in accounting and finance from Indiana University Southeast. He primarily teaches courses in strategic management, entrepreneurial finance and operations management.