All News Releases

Northern Michigan University Alumnus Travis Smith ('16 EDS) has been appointed to represent local school leaders on a Michigan student recovery council aimed at addressing student and teacher struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic response. He serves as principal of Cherry Creek Elementary School.

Northern Michigan University graduate student Olivia Wendorf was recently featured as the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children's (MIAEYC) student member of the month. She is pursuing a master's degree in early childhood education and is one of eight members representing NMU in Michigan's student chapter, which is the first student chapter in the United States.

The COVID-19 pandemic and a new puppy combined to inspire Northern Michigan University alumna Candi Werenka ('90 BS) to achieve a longtime goal: writing a children's book. She has published Coliola, Courageous COVID Canine: Courage is contagious....in a good way!

The Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives invites the public to visit a virtual Black History Month exhibit. It is also hosting a virtual presentation titled “Critical Information Literacy: Consciousness Raising and Social Justice in the Archives” from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Northern Michigan University's Health Center is preparing to administer COVID-19 vaccine doses when they become available. Northern does not know when doses will arrive, but will follow the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and CDC Guidelines when they do. Staff members and representatives of the university's COVID-19 response team met last week to coordinate efforts to communicate future availability, prioritize and schedule eligible groups, and plot the logistics of holding vaccine clinics in the Northern Center.

An NMU student from China is “studying abroad” in her home country this semester. Yaqing Li had rejoined her family last spring as concerns about COVID-19 intensified, and she has not been able to return to Marquette because of lingering travel bans. Through creative intervention by Northern and one of its study abroad partners, Li is able to maintain her immigration status and continue as an NMU student while enrolled at a prestigious university that most Chinese students would not typically have an opportunity to attend.

Northern Michigan University alumna Jennifer Whittet (BS '98) has become the first woman to hold the rank of deputy chief in the Daytona Beach Police Department. She is also only the second woman to reach that rank in the Seventh Judicial Circuit that includes four counties.

Northern Michigan University has successfully completed its mid-cycle assurance review by its institutional accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission. NMU met all 18 core components with no required follow-up monitoring. The next steps are to begin work on a quality initiative project, and to prepare for the comprehensive evaluation required to reaffirm accreditation at the end of the current cycle in 2026-27.

Northern Michigan University is hosting a Grief Education Speaker Series. The free event is open to the public and will feature virtual presentations from three nationally recognized experts on the topic. 

Northern Michigan University's independent, student-produced newspaper, The North Wind, has launched a weekly podcast series. New episodes are released on Fridays. Each podcast features a news story, a feature and a sports story, which are also covered in The North Wind's digital paper.

Northern Michigan University alumna and Escanaba teacher Gina Pepin ('01 BS) has coauthored a book with Eric Litwin, New York Times best-selling author of "Pete the Cat." Their research- and theory-based publication is titled "The Power of Joyful Reading: Help Your Young Readers Soar to Success."

February is Career Technical Education (CTE) month, and the annual publication that details related opportunities in Marquette and Alger counties has transitioned from a print to a digital format in its seventh year. The online magazine includes descriptions and videos related to programs that prepare individuals for many of the country's most in-demand occupations.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Capt. Rudy Dambeck ('10 BS) became the first commissioned Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) officer to receive the U.S. Army's prestigious Expert Soldier Badge.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved an external auditing report regarding the WNMU-TV and WNMU-FM financial statements at a brief special meeting today. It also approved Chair Tami Seavoy's appointment of new Trustee Greg Seppanen to the following committees: Academic Affairs; and Ad Hoc Recruitment and Retention.

Northern Michigan University's WNMU-TV is among the state's six PBS stations launching the Michigan Learning Channel (MLC). Developed in partnership with leading educators and community leaders, the MLC delivers no-cost supplemental instructional programming to students, parents and teachers 24 hours each day, seven days a week.

Northern Michigan University Professor James McCommons will discuss his book, "Camera Hunter: George Shiras III and the Birth of Wildlife Photography," during a free webinar presented by The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. The virtual event is scheduled at noon on Friday, Feb. 19.

Northern Michigan University alumna Britta Carlson was one of eight finalists selected to pitch her visionary business concept in the Michigan Women Forward virtual WomenUP pitch competition held Feb. 4. Carlson is an Innovate Marquette SmartZone client. Her concept is Med Pros Share, an online marketplace for occupational, physical and speech therapists, as well as other licensed medical professionals.

Three women who have achieved success in Hollywood and beyond will participate in a free February virtual speaker series hosted by the Northern Michigan University chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theater honor society. They are: Tony Award-winning actress and renowned Disney singing voice Lea Salonga; Academy Award-winning Black Panther costume designer Ruth E. Carter; and Pixar Animation Studios' Danielle Feinberg.

Northern Michigan University Graduate Studies and Research will present its fourth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition virtually at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15.

Thirteen Northern Michigan University faculty members, including a team of five, were selected to receive 2020-21 awards for teaching, scholarship, leadership and technology innovation. The annual celebration was canceled by COVID-19, but here are the recipients and their awards (more detailed feature stories on each can be viewed by clicking on their names).