All News Releases

One of Germany's most successful vocal groups, Calmus, will showcase its wide range of tonal colors and sound culture in a performance at Northern Michigan University on Friday, April 21. This Siril Concert Series event begins at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Recital Hall. 

Northern Michigan University honored several individuals and teams during its 2023 Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration. The individual and team award winners, along with their respective descriptions and photos, are featured at the highlighted links below. Years of service milestones and retirees were also honored.

Northern Michigan University undergraduate and graduate students will share their academic contributions, ranging from research posters and oral presentations to creative writing and artwork, during the 27th annual Celebration of Student Scholarship on Thursday, April 20, in Jamrich Hall. The event is returning to an in-person format and is open to the public.

Northern Michigan University has earned a STARS Silver Rating—only 4.8 points shy of Gold—from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) program measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. 

The Center for Forensic Anthropology (CFA) at Northern Michigan University, which includes the Forensic Research Outdoor Station (FROST), recently received a $30,000 National Institute of Justice subaward from Colorado State University to help validate a novel method for estimating human time since death, or postmortem interval. NMU students will be involved in the research.

When the spring thaw begins at Marquette's Presque Isle Park and there are a couple of rainy nights with temperatures in the 30s and 40s, blue-spotted salamanders suddenly emerge from their underground winter burrows. They migrate across remaining snow and the park's road to lay their eggs in a wetlands area behind the Moosewood Nature Center, then return to the other side. 

Two members of Northern Michigan University's mail services and warehouse department have won a Distinguished Team Award. Eric Marcott and Michelle Lane work to move “Public Surplus” items out of NMU's warehouse. With several renovations campus-wide, they have safely stored many items and posted them to the Public Surplus website.

Northern Michigan University's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) has won a Distinguished Team Award for its commitment as the backbone of animal research at NMU. The IACUC reviews research protocols that involve animals to ensure the study's correct animal treatment, scientific merit and proper ethical perspective.

The members of Northern Michigan University's Berry Events Center conversion team and their student employees earned a Distinguished Team Award for ensuring NMU's hockey and basketball games are played on schedule.

Northern Michigan University's Blizzard Response Team of 2022-2023 is awarded a Distinguished Team Award. The response team displayed effort and dedication to keep the campus open and safe during one of the worst winter storms in recent history.

The Educational Success Platform (ESP) development team at Northern Michigan University won a Team Innovation Award. Their efforts were designed to pull together services from across campus into a platform that would allow multi-unit communication and support strategies for NMU students.

Sean Penglase, equipment and stockroom manager for Northern Michigan University's Physics Department, received an Innovation Award. He uses practical knowledge and a deep understanding of electrical, mechanical, acoustic and other apparati to bring improvements to many labs.

Kylie Bunting, director of Alumni and Foundation communications, received an Innovation Award. She joined NMU prior to the pandemic in a new position focused on creating a strategic approach to digital engagement and communication with more than 70,000 alumni nationwide. Bunting identified the opportunity to showcase NMU faculty, staff, students and alumni by utilizing Zoom.

Janet Koski, Northern Michigan University's executive director for Equal Opportunity and Title IX and Equal Opportunity officer, is an Excellence in Service Award recipient. Her long title is indicative of the critical role she plays on campus. She has led this function for the last several years and was a department of one for much of that time.

Northern Michigan University Director of Institutional Accreditation and Assessment Dan Cullen received an Excellence in Service Award. When former President Kerri Schuiling contacted the Institutional Effectiveness Office to guide the development of an interim strategic plan, Cullen was called to see the plan to a successful conclusion.

An Excellence in Service Award was presented to WNMU-FM News Director Nicole Walton. She has had multiple news stories in print and audio formats shared and aired through the Michigan Public Radio Network. The network includes 10 stations serving over 900,000 people throughout the state. Because her work is featured statewide, it has been an important resource and promotional tool for NMU.

Theresa "T" Hamari, manager of employment operations and training for NMU Dining Servies, received an Excellence in Service Award. She is described as a knowledgeable individual students can turn to for employment-related questions. She also expands or improves programs while creating strong connections and communities.

Jeff Roo, customer service representative in Northern Michigan University's Printing Services, is an Excellence in Service Award recipient. He works to meet the immediate needs of NMU's faculty and the departments that rely on Printing Services. His high level of detailed proofing and printing work ensures customer receives exactly what they ordered.

Northern Michigan University's School of Clinical Sciences executive secretary Sherida Riipi received an Excellence in Services Award. She is credited for being organized and volunteering to assist with initiatives while maintaining a cheery attitude in the department. She works closely with three programs, the speech clinic and with students attending practicums.

Northern Michigan University Dining Services member Jean Shaw received an Excellence in Service Award for her attendance, punctuality and dedication to NMU. She proves these qualities through her willingness to come in early or stay late, covering extra shifts and overtime hours. Shaw maintains a consistently helpful and positive attitude and cares about her coworkers, student team members, supervisors and the students she serves.