Articles

Center for U.P. Studies Receives Award

The NMU Center for Upper Peninsula received the 2018 Superior Award from the Historical Society of Michigan. The award recognizes historical societies, museums and other organizations that preserve and advance U.P. history. Professor Emeritus Russ Magnaghi, who was the first director when the center was established in 1994, accepted the honor on behalf of NMU at the HSM's 69th annual U.P. History Conference.
Image of Magnaghi accepting the award

Duling Named President of BWXT Subsidiary

Joel W. Duling (’85 BS) is the new president of BWX Technologies' Nuclear Operations Group subsidiary in Lynchburg, Va. According to a news release, BWXTis a leading supplier of nuclear components and fuel to the U.S. government. Duling has nearly 30 years of leadership and management experience in the manufacturing and nuclear industries, including reactor operations, nuclear facility operations, armor and steel manufacturing, safety, environmental compliance and remediation.
Image of Joel W. Duling

NMU Student Intern Featured by Miron

Tyler Crisp, an NMU sophomore construction management major, is a featured summer intern on the Miron Construction website. He is working with the company on a Mills Fleet Farm store and gas station project. “My favorite part of the internship so far is having the ability to walk around the project site and look at all the different parts of the building that are being constructed,” Crisp said. “Also, being able to listen-in on how the superintendent and project manager run the project site and work with all of the subcontractors and activities that are happening on site.” To see the full feature, click here.
Image of Tyler Crisp

NMU Student Intern Featured by Miron

Tyler Crisp, an NMU sophomore construction management major, is a featured summer intern on the Miron Construction website. He is working with the company on a Mills Fleet Farm store and gas station project. “My favorite part of the internship so far is having the ability to walk around the project site and look at all the different parts of the building that are being constructed,” Crisp said.

Tyler Crisp

Grad Recognized for Public Housing Development

Zac Fosler (BS 2006) was recognized by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell on Capitol Hill, where he accepted honorable mention in the public housing category of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition's annual Edson Awards. The AHTCC is a national trade organization of housing professionals who advocate for affordable rental housing financed using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Fosler is executive director/CEO of the Ypsilanti Housing Commission, which opened its New Parkridge affordable housing redevelopment project in January. Located at a former segregated housing site, New Parkridge was one of only three public housing projects nationwide honored through the awards program.
Image of Zac Fosler accepting his honorable mention

Alumna Named East Grand Rapids Superintendent

Heidi Kattula ('98 MA) was a unanimous choice to become the new superintendent of East Grand Rapids Public Schools, effective Aug. 1. The board announced that it selected Kattula for "her strength in collaboration, her ability to increase student achievement through inclusion and accountability, and her experience in instructional leadership across all grade levels." She has 26 years of experience in public education, according to an EGRPS news release.
Image of Heidi Kattula

NMU-NASA Granite Island Project Underway

A collaboration between NMU and NASA began this week. Contractors are transporting instruments to Granite Island to set up an offshore solar radiation-monitoring site for NASA’s Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) experiment. CERES has been measuring Earth’s radiation via satellite for more than 30 years. In an effort to validate that data through ground measures—ideally over water, far from land contamination—NASA selected a Lake Superior location after decommissioning a previous Chesapeake Bay site because of safety issues. The goal is that analyses of  CERES data will lead to a better understanding of the role of clouds and the energy cycle in global climate change.
Image of members unloading batteries from a boat

Alumna's Nursing Experience Informs Role as Judge

NMU alumna Kathryn Davis Messerich (BS ‘79) made a successful transition from nursing to a legal career. As chief judge of Minnesota's first judicial district, she has used her dual training presiding in juvenile court and previously in two drug courts. “The nursing background was incredibly helpful in understanding the scientific and medical issues associated with addiction and mental health,” said Messerich in a "Minnesota Lawyer" feature.

Image of Judge Kathryn Davis Messerich

Grad Appointed to School Safety Task Force

NMU alumnus Paul Lauria ('95 BS) is among Gov. Rick Snyder's initial appointees to the School Safety Task Force. Lauria will represent law enforcement. He is chief of police for the Mt. Pleasant Department of Public Safety. The task force will identify structural and policy recommendations for collaboration, planning and assessment of school infrastructure and safety policies. It also will analyze top-performing states to determine best practices for law enforcement and preventative policies before submitting a final report to the governor no later than Nov. 30.
Image of Paul Lauria