The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved 2026-2027 tuition and fee rates that maintain NMU's competitive rank as second-most affordable among the state's public universities, allow for investments that align with the university's strategic plan, and preserve long-term financial stability.

Northern alumnus Steve Hughes first became aware of the maritime industry as a curious, casual observer growing up in Marquette, where freighter traffic is firmly entrenched in local history and identity. His 97-year-old dad, John, a former NMU geography professor, used to take him to watch ships navigate to the imposing docks to be loaded with iron ore pellets that fuel the steelmaking process. Hughes could not have imagined then that he would embark on a three-decade career in the industry, rising to the rank of captain. He will retire in December from a rare perch as pilot of the longest vessel operating on the Great Lakes: the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha.

Northern Michigan University is a state leader in cybersecurity education, according to rankings released by Programs.com. NMU offers the top-ranked associate degree program among Michigan universities or colleges, and the fifth-best bachelor's degree.

NMU alumna Amber Kinonen is one of three faculty members to receive Bay College's 2026 Outstanding Educator Award for excellence in teaching, student support and service to the campus community. She joined the college in 2008 as a transitional reading instructor and now teaches a variety of English courses. Her numerous leadership roles include division chair, college readiness coordinator and faculty union president.

Northern Michigan University biology alumni William Bowerman and Michael Wierda returned to the Upper Peninsula last week as part of their continuing efforts to research the bald eagle population in the state, which they say has declined due to factors ranging from trauma to bird flu. They discovered that this nesting season has been particularly difficult. In the process of banding eaglets, the duo encountered severely malnourished and dead chicks, and nests that were empty and damaged by storms.

Northern Michigan University 2022 alumnus Dylan Bilicki found that Army ROTC offered a path to achieve his dual goal of continuing his family's legacy of military service while pursuing a career in neuroscience and medicine, an interest sparked by the team of healthcare professionals who helped him recover from a severe concussion in high school. After graduating from Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine last month, he began a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Former Northern Michigan University business marketing and management student Katarzyna (Kasia) Lech of Wrocław, Poland, is among 69 women who contributed essays to a new international anthology that chronicles the evolution of technical communication through first-hand accounts from professionals who helped shape the field.

An interdisciplinary team of Northern faculty and student researchers is developing a new test that shows promise in diagnosing certain brain cancers quickly, affordably and non-invasively. Their work revolves around a novel biosensor called D2HGlo. When mixed with bodily fluids such as urine, plasma and serum, the tool lights up like a fluorescent beacon when it detects the presence of an abnormal molecule that plays a key role in tumor development. This “liquid biopsy” method could improve outcomes and reduce the physical and emotional toll on brain cancer patients.

Despite its relatively small population of about 22,000, Marquette is home to three medical device manufacturers that have created a globally competitive industry cluster in the upper Midwest. NMU's Engineering Technology Department has partnered with Able Medical Devices, EXALTA Group and Mount Mfg to develop innovative approaches to training and retaining a pipeline of qualified employees who will fuel the companies' growth. A recent example of this collaboration is the Work Scholars program. This story is one of several innovaton-related features in the summer issue of Northern Magazine. 

Teaching had been Anne Marie Palazzolo's (‘2010 BS) calling since kindergarten. But the bold path she ultimately carved by establishing an innovative school in Farmington Hills took shape through years of related hands-on experience and a persistent belief that education could be approached differently. Her story is one of several innovaton-related features in the summer issue of Northern Magazine. 

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU will open a new exhibition July 9 that features the work of one of the U.P.'s most prolific photographers. It is titled "Munising in Black & White: The Photographs of Mary Jayne Hallifax." She was an in-demand commercial photographer who also captured numerous candid images of her hometown over seven decades.

A Northern Michigan University alumna conducted research that may help scientists achieve an elusive goal in medicine: stopping Alzheimer's disease before it irreversibly damages the brain. Rebecca (Dangremond) Mueller helped to develop an innovative laboratory model that could enable researchers to observe some of the earliest cellular changes linked to Alzheimer's. Those changes, which occur long before widespread brain cell death, are increasingly viewed as the most promising targets for future treatments. Her story is one of several innovaton-related features in the summer issue of Northern Magazine. 

Ellen (Narotsky) Kennedy, a Northern Michigan University alumna and 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, has brought human rights concerns to the attention of global decision-makers. As coauthor of two Shadow Reports submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council, she documents U.S. violations of the human rights to bodily autonomy and to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Northern Michigan University 2022 cosmetology graduate Mikaela Bannon will make her fourth appearance in the Miss Michigan scholarship competition, scheduled June 15-20 in Muskegon. She will be among 30 candidates vying for the state title and a chance to advance to the national stage. Bannon resides in Canton and works as a cosmetologist and aesthetician in Ann Arbor. Her service initiative through the Miss America Organization revolves around skin cancer education, awareness and support.

Northern Michigan University's Technical and Office Professionals union, UAW Local 1950, has ratified a new contract effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The unit has 87 employees. Of those who voted, 59% were in favor of the agreement.

The Northern Michigan University Department of Music will present a second season of Its series, Summer Concerts at Reynolds (SCR). This year's events will all take place at 5 p.m. in Reynolds Recital Hall on Tuesdays in July and August. Admission is free, though donations will be gratefully accepted, with all proceeds benefiting the department to enhance the experience for students.

Two Negaunee High School students were among the national winners of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognized at a June 10 ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Miles Spaulding won the American Visions Award in art for his painting, “Photographic Memory” and Reese Collins won an American Voices Award for her poem, “The Blooming of Difficult Times.” They had advanced from a regional competition sponsored by the U.P. affiliate of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a partnership between the Northern Shores Storywork Writing Project at Northern Michigan University and NMU's DeVos Art Museum.  

Nearly $73,000 in Green Fund-supported, student-led sustainability proposals have been approved for implementation this year. The six projects include enhanced access to public transportation; native plant signage; “feather-friendly” window dots to reduce bird collisions; an outdoor air quality monitoring sensor; bike station repair at the Wildcat Trailhead; and a nontraditional lawn test plot.

Northern Michigan University's 2026 North Coast Dance Festival will include two public performances featuring Giordano Dance Chicago, professional ballet dancers Julia Feldman and Mate Szentes, and NMU's CO/LAB Dance Company. The shows will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 25-26. They will be preceded by a jazz master class with Nan Giordano Wednesday evening—pre-registration is required—and followed by a free showcase presented by high school students participating in the Wildcat Performing Arts Academy summer intensives Saturday night.