All News Releases

Comedian Sal Vulcano of "Impractical Jokers" fame will make a stop at Northern Michigan University on his "Everything's Fine" tour Thursday, April 23. Doors to Vandament Arena open at 6:15 p.m. and the show begins at 7.

Northern Michigan University Professors Matt Van Grinsven and James DeDecker will present the next Climate @ Noon presentation, titled “Soil Samples and Sustainable Agriculture.” The event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, March 20, in 1300 Jamrich Hall.

Northern Michigan University's longstanding UNITED Conference has been transformed for 2026 into a three-day event March 25-27. It weaves together NMU initiatives— Campus Sustainability Summit, Common Reader Program, Poetry Without Borders and Wildcat WellBeing Fair—and a partnership with the PEAK26 professional development conference into one cohesive experience. 

The Northern Michigan University community, including alumni and friends, will come together Thursday, March 19, for NMU Giving Day. The theme of this year's fundraising event is “Give to what you love, and rally your fellow Wildcats to do the same.” Participants are encouraged to support the causes that shaped their time at NMU, from academic departments and athletic teams to student organizations and campus programs.

Northern Michigan University's Music Department has announced that the scheduled 3 p.m. Sunday, March 15 concert featuring the NMU Choirs and the NMU Wind Ensemble is canceled because of the major winter storm predicted for the region. This concert has been rescheduled for 3 p.m. next Sunday, March 22, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free. 

The NMU Center for Native American Studies (CNAS) is hosting its Fire Site Storytelling Series on select Thursdays in March and April. These events are free and open to the public.

Northern Michigan University Police Det./Lt. Jon Kovar has been selected as the 2025 Officer of the Year by the Marquette County Law Enforcement Administrators Association (MCLEAA). The award presentation took place March 12 at the organization's monthly meeting. Kovar is also an NMU alumnus. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2010 and an MPA in 2021.

As part of its America 250 speaker series, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will host a presentation titled  “Armed and Disguised: The Revolutionary Life of Deborah Sampson.” NMU History Associate Professor Emily Romeo will share the intriguing story of Sampson, who fought for the U.S. Continental Army under the male alias of Robert Shurtliff. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Lydia Olson Library Atrium in Harden Hall. It is free and open to the public.

Upper Peninsula winners of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for grades 7-12 will be honored at a reception and awards presentation from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in room 165 of the Art & Design Building. The event coincides with the final day of an exhibition of students' works at NMU's DeVos Art Museum. 

Northern Michigan University Women's Club Hockey is among 16 teams that will compete at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 2 National Championships March 15-19 in Missouri.

Northern Michigan University grounds crews have confronted their most challenging winter in years, as they've had to clear higher snowfall amounts generated by bigger storms, including the three forecasted this week. With no more room to pile it in some areas, they have also had to take the rare step of transporting it to other campus locations. This is also a record-setting winter for university closures due to inclement weather.

NMU 1993 alumna and professional actress Porter Kelly appears in the second-season premiere of “The Pitt" on HBO Max. The show has won numerous awards, including both a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy for best drama series. It explores the daily lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they juggle personal crises, workplace politics and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients. Kelly's character is patient Margaret “Hail Mary” Walker.

While many college students pursue internships close to home, Northern Michigan University accounting majors Kamryn Webb and Molly Lindow chose a path that carried them thousands of miles away, to Anchorage, Alaska. Their placement with BDO, the world's fifth-largest public accounting firm, highlights both the strength of NMU's AACSB-accredited accounting program and the national opportunities available to its students.

Northern Michigan University master's candidate Noah Andexler is one of 20 graduate students nationwide selected to receive the Ecological Society of America's (ESA) 2026 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award for their demonstrated commitment to science advocacy. This prestigious program is designed to bridge the gap between rigorous ecological research and impactful environmental policy.

Northern Michigan University's My Way Friday program is growing in popularity. It provides students with opportunities to explore the local area, try engaging activities and make new friends. My Way Friday is part of My Way North, NMU's initiative to help students find their place and thrive. 

Northern Michigan University's College of Business will host alumnus and Marquette native Todd Gustafson, who serves as president and CEO of Kinexus Group, as its Executive in Residence March 16-17. In addition to visiting classrooms, he will participate in an evening community reception and talk at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Northern Center. The event will feature appetizers and a cash bar.

Northern Michigan University 1967 alumnus and Marquette native Robert Finkbeiner was recently featured in an article on the United States War Dog Association website that highlights his experience as a scout dog handler during the Vietnam War, and his unit's work to save military K-9s.

Carter Rahn, a 2025 NMU information assurance/cyber defense grad with a concentration in computer science, secured a position as a virtualization systems engineer with Fortune 500 company Ally in Detroit. In his position, he oversees extensive virtual environments, designs and maintains systems that support critical business functions, and ensures that systems run smoothly.

Northern Michigan University alumna Randi Schmeltzer '11 MA, '14 MPA was recently promoted to vice president of sales enablement at Marksman Titan Security Group. She joined the company in 2019 and has earned multiple employee awards, including Rookie of the Year, Rising Star and MVP.

The fifth annual YooperCON event at Northern Michigan University will be held on Wednesday, March 11, at the Northern Center. Hundreds of high school students from across the Upper Peninsula will converge on NMU's campus for a day of cybersecurity education and career exploration.