All News Releases

Northern Michigan University is participating in the national COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge. The White House and U.S. Department of Education have invited colleges and universities to join efforts to end the pandemic by getting their campus communities vaccinated. There is a particular emphasis on young Americans represented in the traditional-age student population, who lag behind older generations in getting their shots, stated the challenge website.

Northern Michigan University Executive Chef and alumna Alden Griffus ('10) will share her favorite summer recipes during a virtual cooking segment for the next Northern Now event hosted by NMU Alumni Relations. She will be joined by Scott Bousson ('11), operations manager of Dining Services, at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday, June 9.

NMU alumnus Mike Angeli ('87) has retired after 45 years of service to the City of Marquette, most recently as city manager since 2015. He began his career as a police officer, applying his bachelor's degree in criminal justice. After a brief stint as detective captain, he was promoted to police chief in 2008.

Northern Michigan University's Olson Library is offering community residents free laminated copies of their COVID-19 vaccination cards through Aug. 20. The service has been available to students and employees since April, but is being extended to the community with support from a fund through the NMU Foundation.

Northern Michigan University honored several individuals and teams during its virtual 2021 Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration. The individual and team award winners above will be featured in more detailed individual stories on this Northern Today news site over the summer.

Northern Michigan University students and employees who upload their proof of vaccination to The Bridge app by July 1 will receive a $100 credit for on-campus eateries. Those who upload the documentation between July 2 and Aug. 1 will receive a $50 credit.

Ismail Msuya, web designer/developer for Northern Michigan University's Lydia M. Olson Library, has been awarded an Institute of Museum and Library Services fellowship to attend the 2021 IDEA Institute on Artificial Intelligence (AI).   

Local historians and Northern Michigan University alumni Barry James ('92) and Troy Henderson ('99) will give a virtual presentation on Upper Peninsula history for the next Northern Now event for NMU alumni and friends. Their presentation begins at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday, May 26.

The Northern Michigan University Department of Theatre and Dance has selected its 2021 Panowski Playwriting Award winner: John Mabey of Atlanta for A Complicated Hope. Tickets are available online for virtual workshop readings June 4 and 5.

Reliable internet access is critical in today's world. This has been verified during the pandemic, with at least temporary shifts to virtual education and medical appointments. For two U.P. Community Action Agencies, Alger-Marquette and Gogebic-Ontonagon, the pandemic also revealed some community members they serve confronted barriers to securing internet access when it was needed most. They were able to address the issue with assistance from Northern Michigan University's Center for Rural Health and the NMU Educational Access Network through the Digital Divide program.

NMU management alumnus Brent Madalinski ('91 BS) was recently named a recipient of the Outstanding Educator Award from Bay College in Escanaba, where he serves as a full-time business instructor. The award recognizes commitment to education and excellence in service to others. Recipients are nominated by colleagues, students or community members.

Northern Michigan University Alumni Relations is hosting Fireside with Fritz: A Conversation with President Erickson at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday, May 12. Alumni are invited to join President Erickson for a fireside chat as he shares campus updates, answers questions, and virtually connects with the Wildcat community.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees presented its annual Student Achievement Awards in advance of the May 1 commencement. Recipients were: Sarah Kendall of Faribault, Minn., Outstanding Graduating Senior; Elizabeth Mansfield of Boyne Falls, Mich., Outstanding Graduating Senior; Lauren Rotundo of Marquette, Outstanding Student of Any Class; Logan Hartz of Rochester, Ind., Outstanding Non-Traditional Student; and Andrea Fox of Euclid, Ohio, Outstanding Global Campus Student.

Two Northern Michigan University entities are holding a virtual Walk for Justice throughout the month of May to raise awareness of what has been called “the silent epidemic” of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).

Northern Michigan University alumni are invited to participate in the fifth annual Return North Professional Careers Fair from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, May 20. The three Upper Peninsula-based SmartZones are collaborating on the virtual event, designed to connect jobseekers with local companies to network and explore career opportunities in the region.

Northern Michigan University will host the 14th Biennial Lake Superior Youth Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 14. Students in grades 8-12 are invited to attend the virtual event with a teacher from their school who is registered by the May 6 deadline. Activities will include watershed research, investigations, artistic expression, team/leadership building skills and recreational opportunities. 

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved a recommendation that there be no increase in the standard room and board rate for a traditional residence hall for the 2021-22 academic year.

Northern Michigan University English Professor Kia Jane Richmond is the first recipient of the newly endowed Stephen Young & Tricia Kinley Distinguished Faculty Award, NMU's top honor for significant professional contributions to teaching, scholarship and service. Richmond will be recognized during the May 1 virtual commencement. She was previously the student-selected faculty speaker for December 2020 graduates.

To increase inclusivity, Northern Michigan University introduced a new tool for its existing EduCat learning management system this past semester. More than 600 courses used Ally software to automatically check for accessibility issues and generate alternative formats for common course content, and students downloaded more than 5,000 related materials. Ally increases usability for all students, particularly those with learning disabilities such as visual impairments and dyslexia. It also gives faculty feedback and training on how to improve accessibility.

Northern Michigan University's May 1 virtual commencement will feature 24 graduates who have earned an Honors Program designation, the most since the program's inception in fall 1998. This follows another achievement last fall, when the Honors Program recorded its largest incoming cohort ever, with 88 new students.