Alumni

Chief Strategist Discusses State Policy Issues

Feb. 8, 2019
Mark Burton, Northern Michigan University alumnus and chief strategist for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, will discuss the rural, suburban and urban dynamics of several policy issues addressed in the State of the State during a presentation at NMU. The event begins at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, in Mead Auditorium in the West Science Building and will be followed by a reception in the atrium. The public is invited.

Marquette Inspires Alumna's Romance Novel

Feb. 8, 2019

NMU alumna Elizabeth Mowers’ first published book, A Promise Remembered, will be released March 1. The novel details the story of a man who returns to his hometown in Michigan for a brief visit. He runs into his old high school sweetheart and is reminded of everyone and everything he left behind years ago. When selecting a beautiful, romantic setting for her novel, she was inspired by Marquette and the Lake Superior shoreline.

Mowers

Alumnus Reflects n AD Tenure at Vanderbilt

Feb. 1, 2019
NMU alumnus David Williams II (’69 BS, ‘70 MA) stepped down as Vanderbilt’s vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs Jan. 31. He will maintain the law professor role he has held since 2000 and plants to establish a new Sports, Law and Society program. Williams' distinguished 27-year career in higher education administration also included serving as vice president for student and urban/community affairs and law professor at The Ohio State University. He is a past NMU Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Read a recent Vanderbilt Hustler interview reflecting on Williams’ tenure as athletic director here, or a previous feature story announcing his intent to step down from his administrative role here.
Image of Williams (Vanderbilt Hustler)

Students Inspire Alumnus to Seek Office

Jan. 22, 2019
NMU alumnus Brad Paquette (BA 2009) stated that he accepted a challenge from students in his high school civics course to take his “active citizenship” to the next level. So he decided to run for office and was elected to serve the 78th District in the Michigan House of Representatives. His committee appointments include vice chair of the House Education Committee for the 2019-20 legislative term. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science and pre-law from NMU, Paquette earned a master’s in teaching from Andrews University and served as an educator at Niles High School in the New Tech program. The 78th District he represents encompasses portions of Berrien and Cass counties.
Image of Paquette

Alumna's Typeface Design Wins Silver

Jan. 21, 2019
Fayette, a typeface created by NMU Art and Design alumna Mia Cinelli (BA '11) and inspired by her 2012 visit to the U.P. ghost town, recently received a Graphis Silver Award for Typeface Design and was published in Graphis Typography 4. Fayette was a typical 'boom town,’ smelting iron ore from the Marquette Iron Range from 1867-1891. When it was no longer profitable, the town was abandoned. While in a small museum at the historic site, Cinelli saw sheets of paper with diligent notes on the town’s finances and supplies, penned by an unnamed bank teller/accountant.
Image of Fayette Typeface

NMU Alumnus Named Chief Public Defender

Jan. 15, 2019

NMU alumnus Patrick Crowley ('97 BS) will serve as the chief public defender for the new Marquette County Public Defender's Office, which was developed to meet standards recently put in place by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. His official start date is Feb. 4. Crowley attended the University of Dayton Law School and has practiced law since 2003, most recently at a Lansing-area firm. He has experience defending charges ranging from misdemeanors to high-level felonies and capital offenses.

Patrick Crowley