All News Releases

Alumna's Book Inspired by Spread Goodness Day

Feb. 26, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University alumna Anna Dravland's efforts to develop and expand Spread Goodness Day, an annual event that celebrates the “explosive and empowering” impacts of simple acts of goodness, inspired fellow NMU alumna and retired elementary teacher Sue Meier to coauthor a related children's book, The Goodness Garden. With support from generous donors, hundreds of free copies have been distributed to pre-kindergarten through second-grade classrooms in Michigan, Illinois and beyond in advance of this year's Spread Goodness Day celebration on March 14.

NMU Automotive Technology Program Receives Ford Donation

Feb. 26, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University's automotive technology program has received a brand new 2023 Ford Escape to further assist students in gaining hands-on experience with modern vehicle systems and technology they are likely to encounter in their careers. The vehicle was donated by Fox Marquette and Ford Motor Company, which also stand to benefit from the career preparation NMU provides for their potential future workforce of automotive technicians.

NMU Accepts Applicants for First-Generation Empowerment Scholarship

Feb. 26, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University invites incoming fall 2025 first-year students to apply for The Schultz Family Foundation First-Generation Empowerment Scholarship. The award, worth up to $15,000 per year for up to four years, is geared toward students whose parents or legal guardians have not completed a bachelor's degree. Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman emeritus and former CEO, was a first-generation NMU student who graduated with a degree in communications in 1975. He and his wife, Sheri Kersch-Schultz, established the scholarship as part of a $1 million gift to NMU through their foundation.

NMU Hosts UNITED Conference March 17-18

Feb. 26, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University's 18th annual UNITED Conference will be held Monday and Tuesday, March 17-18, in the Northern Center. It revolves around the theme “Voices of the Earth: Learning, Leading and Advancing Equity Together.” Keynote speakers/presentations are: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, author of this year's NMU Diversity Common Reader Program selection, “As We Have Always Done”; RJ Smith of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, who will address the traditional Anishinaabe game Bagodowe, or lacrosse; and an Anishinaabe theatrical performance.

Student Scholarship Summit Winners Announced

Feb. 26, 2025 —
The Student Scholarship Summit held Feb. 20 as part of the Peak25 professional development conference at Northern Michigan University offered a new opportunity for NMU students to showcase their research, scholarly activity and creative inquiry through poster presentations. A pool of judges representing academia, community and industry awarded financial prizes to these top three presenters:

NMU Choral Concert March 11

Feb. 25, 2025 —
The Northern Michigan University Department of Music will present a choral concert, "Soundscapes and Supernovas," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, in Reynolds Recital Hall. The concert will feature the NMU Arts Chorale, the University Choir, and multiple student conductors under the direction of Associate Professor Erin Colwitz. Admission is free.

NMU Art Museum Opens New Exhibitions

Feb. 24, 2025 —
The DeVos Art Museum at Northern Michigan University has opened two new exhibitions: one showcasing the creative talents of Upper Peninsula student winners of the U.P. regional competition of the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, on display for a limited time through March 15; and a collection of works from the museum's permanent collection that highlights depictions of animals in art, which will be featured through January 2026.

Beijing Guitar Duo to Perform at NMU

Feb. 21, 2025 —
The Beijing Guitar duo, composed of Meng Su and Yameng Wang, will follow a 12-city U.S. tour with a performance at Northern Michigan University as part of the Siril Concert Series. The event is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 14. The guitarists will also deliver two free events the same day: a music appreciation presentation at 11 a.m., and a masterclass at 1 p.m. All will be held in Reynolds Recital Hall.

NMU Announces 3MT Winners

Feb. 21, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University has announced the winners of its 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. NMU graduate students and McNair scholars presented their original research in only three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience, and with only one static PowerPoint slide. 

Tessman to Attend Alumni Events in Three U.S. Cities

Feb. 20, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University alumni and friends are invited to join President Brock Tessman for three upcoming NMU Alumni Night events: Wednesday, March 12, in Lansing; Monday, March 24, in Fort Myers, Fla.; and Wednesday, April 2, in downtown Chicago. All events are free to attend and will include campus updates from Tessman, complimentary food and beverages, and an opportunity to connect with fellow alumni.

NMU Bands Launch Okanagan Charter Concert Series

Feb. 19, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University's Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will launch a new Okanagan Charter Concert Series, which highlights musical themes that support NMU's strategic commitment to well-being, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Both groups will perform pieces that advance the dialogue of mental health awareness. New Director of Bands Steven Riley will also mark his first NMU concert by incorporating a multi-movement suite by a Michigan composer that features the melodies of numerous folk tunes to honor the agricultural, maritime and lumbering history of the state.

'Soul Food Sunday' Feast Offered at NMU

Feb. 13, 2025 —
One of the remaining Black History Month activities planned at NMU this month is a “Soul Food Sunday” buffet-style feast prepared by Yusuf Bin-Rella. The celebrated chef, farmer and advocate for cultural foodways has worked alongside Michael Twitty, culinary historian and author of The Cooking Gene. Bin-Rella is a chef at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Dejope Residence Hall, and at the TradeRoots Culinary Collective he co-founded, which is a group of Afro-culinary genealogists exploring lineage through food.

Alumni Worked on Oscar-Nominated Films

Feb. 13, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University alumni played important roles in two of the 2025 Academy Award nominees for Best Animated Feature Film. Three were involved in Disney and Pixar's "Inside Out 2," the highest-grossing animated film in history: Kelsey Mann ('98), director; Dan Scanlon ('87), executive producer; and Neil Helm ('05), lead supervising crowds animator. Northern graduate Joshua Brock ('09) served as modeling lead for "The Wild Robot," DreamWorks Animation's nominee in the same category. The Oscars will be presented Sunday, March 2.

NMU Well-Represented in U.P. Moose Study

Feb. 13, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University faculty, graduate students and alumni are represented on a collaborative research project with the DNR and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community titled “Factors limiting moose population growth in the western Upper Peninsula.” Expanding upon traditional DNR winter aerial surveys used to estimate the moose population, this collaborative initiative will begin by fitting 20 moose with GPS collars this winter, with additional moose being collared next year. The precise location data will help researchers better understand challenges the animals confront that impact their survival.

NMU Dining Launches New Concept

Feb. 13, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University Dining has launched Noba, a new concept on campus that revolves around a variety of bubble tea drink options including milk teas, refreshers and freezes. They come in a variety of flavors and can be infused with traditional boba—tapioca pearls—or popping boba, which are juice-filled pearls. Noba is located in Temaki on Presque Isle Avenue.

Grad Makes U.S. Team for Nordic World Championships

Feb. 12, 2025 —
Northern Michigan University 2020 economics alumnus and former Wildcat skier Zak Ketterson is one of eight members of the men's team that will represent the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway from Feb. 27-March 9. Athletes from more than 60 countries will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals across six events: four individual races—20k skiathlon, 10k classic, 50k skate and a skate sprint; and two team events—the the team sprint and 4x7.5k relay.