All News Releases

Northern Michigan University's Diversity Common Reader Program will kick off this semester's activities with a virtual discussion of the featured book, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, and how it relates to current events at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. 

Northern Michigan University diverted 287 pounds of glove waste from landfills during the fall semester, further demonstrating its commitments to sustainability and social responsibility. The NMU Safety Department began participating in the RightCycle personal protection equipment recycling program because it anticipated increased reliance on single-use gloves as a Covid-19 precaution this academic year.

Northern Michigan University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host two events to close out its celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. A virtual tour of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, and guest speaker Khayree Williams will discuss truth, racial healing and transformation in higher education at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29.

Evan Lucas, an associate professor for NMU's new multidisciplinary indoor agriculture associate degree program, contributed to an Associated Press story on the burgeoning indoor farming industry. Lucas said the industry is getting a boost from high-tech growing methods developed for cannabis and declining costs of LED lighting.

A car accident motivated U.P. native and alumnus Mike Sherman (BFA '83, MA '89) to refocus on his art, which he had honed as an illustration major at NMU. The self-described “artist naturalist” creates vibrant watercolors and detailed drawings that often combine his love of nature with nostalgic structures such as an old building or barn.

Northern Michigan University's new esports team has not been impacted by COVID-19 to the same level as other sports because it can be adapted to an alternative format. The team opened its first season with a 3-1 record before the semester break. Though they weren't able to attend any local area network (LAN) party events in person, the Wildcats were able to engage in competitions and scrimmages with other schools and amateur organizations.

Northern Michigan University has received a $100,000 grant to launch UPLINK, a collaborative, regional digital network that will enable U.P. heritage organizations to preserve historical manuscript collections and offer online public access. The two-year project is being supported by a National Archives' National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) implementation grant.

Northern Michigan alumnus and native Michigander Robert Saleh is the new head coach of the New York Jets. He spent the past four seasons as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator and has coached in the NFL since 2005.

Northern Michigan University MFA alumnus Krys Malcolm Belc was interviewed by Publishers Weekly about his forthcoming book, The Natural Mother of the Child. The title comes from the legal designation assigned to Belc—a nonbinary, transmasculine parent—after he gave birth to his son, Samson. 

Northern Michigan University ranks 39th nationwide in a recent listing of the "Top 50 Outdoor Colleges" compiled by Best Value Schools. 

Former Wildcat hockey player Darien Craighead, a first-year forward with the South Carolina Stingrays, is featured in a team story titled "A Rookie's Life Inside the ECHL Bubble." Craighead became the fourth NMU alumnus to sign with the Stingrays for 2020-21, joining team captain Andrew Cherniwchan, forward Justin Florek and defender Jordan Klimek.

Northern Michigan University will honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a virtual gathering based on the theme of “Civil Rights Movements Past and Present: Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation.” The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon Monday, Jan. 18.

NMU alumna Susan (Gilbert) Lockhart, a junior/senior high school math and physical education teacher, was the subject of a recent newsletter spotlight for effectively channeling her passion for fitness to benefit students academically. She has taught in the Stockbridge (Mich.) Community School District for 16 years. 

NMU criminal justice alumnus Thomas Nolan (AS '05) was recently promoted to first lieutenant and commander of the Michigan State Police-Negaunee post. 

Alumni and the NMU community are invited to join the NMU Alumni Association for Northern Now on Jan. 13.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed two Northern Michigan University alumni to the NMU Board of Trustees. Jason Morgan of Ann Arbor serves as 8th district commissioner and chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. Retired teacher Gregory Seppanen of Marquette is a former Marquette County Commissioner and Chocolay Township Supervisor.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Julian Victor LaMarr Gaines ('15 BA) created cover art for a New York Magazine story titled “The Karen Next Door.” The story addresses the fallout from a viral video of a white woman calling the police on her black neighbors in Montclair, N.J. Gaines previously collaborated with the magazine for its “I Voted” cover project.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved 2021 committee assignments and charges at a special meeting this afternoon. The board also supported a resolution authorizing a loan of up to $10 million to the NMU Foundation, on an as-needed basis, so that it is better positioned to support capital projects that benefit NMU and are consistent with previously approved master plans.

The Dec. 22 "For the Win" column in USA Today asked readers how many wolves they could spot in three images captured by motion-sensor cameras placed in the U.P. wilderness and monitored by NMU. The photos show members of the Echo Lake wolf pack, which inhabits a territory that spans about 30 square miles and preys on white-tailed deer and smaller mammals.

Being an educator for K-5 students in the midst of a pandemic comes with many challenges that require patience and the ability to adapt quickly. Northern Michigan University alumna Suzanna Schroeder (‘95 BS, ‘99 MA) is the library media specialist for Brown Deer Elementary School in Wisconsin. She has been coming up with new initiatives to keep her students informed and engaged.