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Northern Michigan University will honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy by hosting events on Monday, Jan. 17, beginning with a march for equality. These events are free and open to the public. Masks are required.

The family of Ben Lauren, a Northern Michigan University alumnus who was tragically killed in the line of duty as a volunteer firefighter at age 23, has established an endowed scholarship in his memory to support NMU mechanical engineering technology students. Lauren graduated from the program in 2018.

Because of a rising number of COVID cases in the region, Northern Michigan University has canceled on-campus classes for Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 10-11, and will shift to remote learning for the remainder of the week. Web and lab/clinical courses will be held as originally scheduled.

Bob and Meredith Kulisheck retired from Northern Michigan University in 2008, after serving more than 30 years as professors in the Departments of Political Science/Public Administration and Mathematics/Computer Science. The Kulishecks recently established a number of full-tuition scholarships for juniors and seniors in both of their former departments.

Northern Michigan University alumna Skye Patrick (‘96 BFA), director of the Los Angeles County Library, will moderate a conversation featuring An Abolitionist's Handbook author Patrisse Cullors and political activist and scholar Angela Davis. The virtual event, hosted by the California African American Museum, is scheduled for 10 p.m. EST Thursday, Jan. 27.

Many digital collections documenting the history of the Upper Peninsula are now freely accessible and searchable on the U.P. Digital Network (UPLINK) website hosted by the Central U.P. and Northern Michigan University Archives.

Northern Michigan University Grounds Supervisor Andy Smith has had a passion for landscaping ever since he was a 9-year-old boy mowing lawns in hopes of raising enough money to buy a brand new bike. Now he leads NMU's efforts to transform its campus into the aesthetically pleasing space that it is. 

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved Presidential Search Advisory Committee appointments and the committee's charge during a special meeting held virtually Wednesday night.

Northern Michigan University will implement mass random COVID-19 testing when the winter semester begins next week. It will also expand vaccination and booster shot availability at the NMU Health Center. Interim President Kerri Schuiling made the announcements in a campus-wide email on Tuesday.

Upper Peninsula healthcare workers are encouraged to complete a general, anonymous survey regarding issues that impact recruitment and retention efforts. The U.P. Healthcare Careers Alliance Steering Committee is conducting the brief, 10-question survey.

Jen Nelson, a 1999 speech communication graduate of Northern Michigan University, has been appointed chief operating officer for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. She returns to MEDC after serving four years as vice president of public policy and economic development for Business Leaders for Michigan.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Al Salmi of Rapid River recently delivered the "Eagle Charge" to two of his grandsons, as they became the eighth and ninth Eagle Scouts in the family during a double awards ceremony in Minnesota. Salmi earned his award from Marquette Troop 359 in 1963, while attending NMU. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1965 and a master's in 1967.

Northern Michigan University alumna Connie Koutouzos recently began a new role as president and CEO of both McLaren Thumb Region and McLaren Caro Region. 

The Northern Michigan University Alumni Association will host a "Callback" panel of theater and dance alumni for its next Northern Now digital series event on Wednesday, Jan. 12. The following panelists will provide insights on how their education at NMU prepared them for their careers in various areas of the industry, reminisce about projects they worked on during their time as students and share their plans for the future:

Christopher Friel, a 1987 graduate of Northern Michigan University's land use planning and management program, is the new director of client success for DATAMARK, the public safety geographic information systems (GIS) team of Michael Baker International.

Steve Young of Lansing is the new chair of the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees, effective Jan. 1. Alexis Hart of Royal Oak will serve as vice chair. The board held elections for the leadership positions at its Dec. 10 meeting. 

Northern Michigan University music education major Caitlin Palomaki of Marquette is serving as guest conductor for the Friday and Saturday performances of NMU Theatre and Dance's “Elf: The Musical.” She will lead the pit orchestra, subbing for music professor Erin Colwitz, who has a conflict directing the Marquette Choral Society concerts this weekend. 

As director of Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum, Emily Lanctot is used to showcasing the work of other artists. But now her own paintings are being featured in a solo exhibition at the Deo Gallery in the lower level of Peter White Public Library. Marquette's Office of Arts and Culture presents “People, Secrets and Snacks” through the month of December, with a public reception from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9.