Department News

Students and faculty members from NMU's Department of Communication and Media Studies (CAMS) attended the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Great Lakes Broadcast and Sports Media Academy at Ford Field in Detroit earlier this month. They also promoted NMU's multimedia production and journalism programs to high school students. The weekend culminated in a tour of Bally Sports' behind-the-scenes operations and a chat with show host John Keating at Little Caesars Arena prior to attending NMU alumni night at the Red Wings hockey game.

Northern Michigan University education professors Abby Cameron-Standerford, Bethney Bergh and Christi Edge wrote and co-edited an open-source textbook titled “Pausing at the Threshold: Opportunity Through, With, and For Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices.” The book was published by Equity Press.  

Northern Michigan University's School of Health and Human Performance is now offering a master's degree program in applied sport psychology. The interdisciplinary degree is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and ability to earn certifications/licensures that will facilitate meaningful employment as coaches, mental performance consultants, and clinical sport psychologists.

Northern Michigan University's English Department will host a visiting scholar presentation titled "Brave New World and the Rise of the Factory Farm" by University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Professor Stewart Cole. It is scheduled at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in Peninsula I in the Northern Center.

Northern Michigan University's College of Business will host NMU alumnus John Baltes as the 2022 Executive in Residence Sept. 27-29. He is the retired CEO of SVA, a multi-entity professional services company. Baltes will share insights from his 30 years of leadership and business strategy experience, as well as a strong data systems background, with the NMU and Marquette communities.

Northern Michigan University graduate assistant Benjamin Fidler won first place in the most recent international 3-Day Novel Contest. Elijah Sparkman, an MFA graduate of NMU, also participated and advanced to the final selection. Instead of relaxing during Labor Day weekend 2021, both wrote tirelessly to create a novel or novella in 72 hours, competing against other writers worldwide. The judges take nearly a year to read hundreds of submissions and recently released the results. 

Four student finalists recently presented their entrepreneurial ideas at the NMU College of Business' Big Pitch event, the culminating activity in the annual new business venture competition. Donald McKaba earned $3,000 for winning the Big Pitch with Wasteless, his plan for an “innovative shopping experience” that aims to reduce one-use containers that end up in landfills. Grace DeNoya won $5,000 for best business plan for You'd Never Know, a 100% gluten-free bakery, and $1,500 each for best trade fair display and crowd favorite.

Northern Michigan University will host the first-of-its-kind Great Lakes Cannabis Education Conference on Tuesday, April 19. The conference will showcase best practices in cannabis teaching and research, summarize the industry's current state and developing trends, and provide insights from employers and experts.

Northern Michigan University professor Scott Jordan spent NMU spring break week leading a Wilderness First Responder certification course for nine students and a faculty member from Montreat College in North Carolina.