Alumni | Northern Today

NMU Grad Helps to Shape Governor's Vision

Feb. 8, 2019

As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepares to deliver her first State of the State address, Northern Michigan University alumnus Mark A. Burton (’99 BS) is helping to formulate the vision for her administration and assembling the teams that will work toward achieving it. The Champion native was appointed the governor’s chief strategist in January.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Whitmer Appoints NMU Alumni to Posts

Jan. 11, 2019

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently appointed two NMU alumni to posts in her administration. Mark Burton (’99 BS) is her chief strategist. Capt. Joe Gasper (‘97 BA) is the new director of the Michigan State Police.

Cambensy is Assistant House Democratic Floor Leader

Jan. 9, 2019

NMU alumna and State Rep. Sara Cambensy ('02 BS '09 CER '11 MPA) was named assistant House Democratic floor leader for the 2019-2020 legislative term. Cambensy is serving her second term representing the 109th House District and previously served on the agriculture, local government and natural resources committees.

Biologists with NMU Ties Find Wolves Eat Fish, Berries

Dec. 20, 2018

A team of biologists, including NMU alumnus Tom Gable ('16 MS) and master's student Austin Homkes, has documented a pack of wolves in Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park that hunts fish as a seasonal food source. They even captured some night-vision video of the activity (link provided below). This discovery, along with earlier studies through the Voyageurs Wolf Project, suggests the animals' diets are more varied than previously thought.

Austin Homkes, left, draws blood from a wolf's leg while Tom Gable assists

Two Decades Between Two Degrees

Dec. 13, 2018

While some college students seek the fastest track to graduation, Kerry Hytinen of Ishpeming opted for the slow, deliberate route. She earned a bachelor’s degree in writing from Northern 20 years ago and soon re-enrolled to begin work on a master’s. After detours and delays—some intentional and others not—Hytinen will receive her degree on Saturday. She said it was rewarding to complete her requirements the same semester that her daughter first enrolled at Northern, but this is not the end of Hytinen’s education.

Alumnus Coauthors Paper on Permafrost Thaw Risks

Dec. 13, 2018

NMU alumnus Frederick “Fritz” Nelson (BS ’73) is coauthor of a paper published by Nature Communications that suggests permafrost thaw due to global warming may damage critical infrastructure by 2050, even if the Paris Agreement targets are met. This could pose a serious threat to the utilization of natural resources and the sustainable development of Arctic communities.

Massive ground ice in the Yamal Peninsula (northwestern Siberia), exposed when a large section of the active layer became detached and moved downhill.