Alumni

The Northern Michigan University Alumni Association announces new leaders and four new members of its Board of Directors. Brendan Franklin (BSN '13) of Traverse City is the new president and Chris Charboneau (BME '93) of Madison Heights is the new vice president. New board members include: Nikk Glazier (BS '08) of Germantown, Md.; Anita Mattson (BS '02) of Worcester, Mass.; Kim Monteaux De Freitas (BFA '02) of Columbus, Ohio; and Andre Stringer (BS '16) of Atlanta, Ga.

NMU alumna Katherine “Kay” Mattson of Kingsford, who graduated with an elementary education degree in 1962, recently received the Delta Kappa Gamma Society Michigan State Organization's Lifetime Service Award. DKG is an honorary international organization that supports the role of women in education through scholarships and fellowship programs.

Northern Michigan University alumna Alice Lyn Jasper is committed to diversifying outdoor recreation and environmental advocacy by identifying barriers and opportunities for people of color to develop positive relationships with nature. The Grand Rapids resident produced a related documentary titled "Color Out Here" for WGVU Public Media's "Shaping Narratives" program. She screened it at the Fresh Coast Film Festival in Marquette Oct. 16 and17.

NMU Alumni Relations will continue Northern Now, its monthly digital event series for alumni and friends, at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday, Oct. 13, with a panel of alumni entrepreneurs in partnership with Invent@NMU. Panelists include Joe Thiel ‘03, CEO at Innovate Marquette SmartZone and executive director of Invent@NMU; Ian Altobello ‘19, founder of The Boreal Collective; and Britta Carlson ‘12, CEO and founder of Med Pros Share.

Northern Michigan University alumni and twin brothers Bill and Pat Digneit received a 2021 Catalyst Award from the Community Foundation of Marquette County as co-owners of the local business, Double Trouble Entertainment. Four Catalyst Awards were presented to individuals, organizations and businesses for helping to "build community through volunteerism or philanthropy and inspiring others to do the same."

“All I really needed to know about teaching kindergarten I learned at Northern.” Northern Michigan University Alumni Achievement Award recipient Susan (Hlavaty) Meier uses that twist on the title of Robert Fulgham's best-selling book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, to summarize how NMU prepared her for a 32-year career in the classroom. The 1987 graduate retired last year from South Elementary School in Ithaca, Michigan. 

Northern Michigan University 2021 Alumni Service Award recipient Lina Blair is dedicated to advocating for students and removing barriers to their academic success. She has implemented services related to mental health, COVID-19 relief, housing and food insecurity as director of Student Life and Conduct at Grand Rapids Community College. 

T.J. Weber, Northern Michigan University's 2021 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient, is known in the fields of marketing and public policy for his research on the role political values and online misinformation have on decision-making related to vaccines, global warming and consumption. The 2011 marketing graduate was recently named the Richard & Julie Hood Endowed Professor of Marketing in the Orfalea College of Business at Cal Poly University. He is among the youngest chaired professors in the United States. 

Northern Michigan University alumnus Kyle Bladow ('07 BA, '09 MA) will present "Environmental Justice in Louise Erdrich's Speculative Fiction" as the inaugural speaker for the Department of English's new Visiting Scholar Series. His talk is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in room Peninsula I of the Northern Center. It is open to the public.

Northern Michigan University's 2021 Homecoming will feature a full slate of activities for alumni, faculty, staff, students and community members Oct. 1-3. NMU is offering a schedule of ways for Wildcats—both near and far—to get involved and share their green and gold pride. This year's celebration is sponsored by Innovate Marquette SmartZone's Make it Marquette campaign.