Northern Michigan University academic departments have announced their outstanding graduating seniors and graduate students. Most will receive their degrees at NMU's spring commencement on Saturday, May 6, in the Superior Dome.

Northern Michigan University is committed to embedding wellbeing into the culture at Northern, and to do that to the fullest extent, they announced today in a press conference that they have adopt the Okanagan Charter, an international charter for health promoting colleges and universities. The Charter is designed to be a public commitment and accountability measure for taking transformative action under a principled framework, urging institutions to step up, take action on their societal responsibility and lead by example.

Northern Michigan University senior Alexandra Johnson might be described as a serial commencement speaker. She earned the honor in 8th and 12th grades in her hometown of Antioch, Ill. For her high school graduation, which shifted online because of the pandemic, Johnson had to record the speech in her basement—dressed in cap and gown—for a YouTube video. She recently auditioned successfully for what she considers a “do-over,” as student speaker for NMU's May 6 ceremony.

Former Northern Michigan University Trustee James K. Haveman of Grand Rapids will deliver the keynote address and receive an honorary doctorate in public health at NMU's commencement, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Superior Dome.

Mary Lincoln Campbell of Ann Arbor will be awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Northern Michigan University, which she served as a member of the NMU Board of Trustees from 1997-2004. She retired in 2017 from a nearly three-decade career as managing director and co-founder of EDF Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage health care and technology companies. Lincoln Campbell will be honored at NMU's May 6 commencement.