Alumni

Syncurrent, a Marquette-based artificial intelligence-driven startup whose CEO is Northern Michigan University alumnus Dhruv Patel, has been named an inaugural AI 50 Award winner by the Center for Public Sector AI for advancing artificial intelligence in public service. Syncurrent has built a platform that significantly shortens the time it takes for local and tribal governments to identify and qualify for grant funding.

Northern Michigan University 1972 alumnus Richard P. Smith was one of two 2025 Outdoor Hall of Fame inductees honored by the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association (MOWA), and the first Upper Peninsula resident to earn the distinction. He also received the organization's Harold "Opie" Titus Award for Best Book for "Nickel & Dime Your Way To Extra Dollars While Saving The Planet" at the same meeting. 

Northern Michigan University 2011 alumnus Derek Mohr has left a creative impression on the City of Grand Rapids. The founder of OneMohrTime Design Co. collaborated with city leaders to design the official logo for Grand Rapids' 175th anniversary, celebrated throughout 2025.

Detroit may be home to Lions and Tigers, but Wildcats received a warm welcome there earlier this month at two events hosted by the Northern Michigan University Alumni Association. A delegation of 340 Northern graduates and friends watched the Tigers pull out a 6-5 victory over the Angels during NMU Alumni Night at Comerica Park, with two-time graduate Adam Hamari ('05 BS, '13 MAE) serving as third-base umpire. Proceeds from a portion of ticket sales generated $1,700 for NMU's Alumni Legacy Scholarship.

The partnership between Northern Michigan University and alumni-owned Blackrocks Brewery began last year with the launch of a new beer, Wildcat Gold, to celebrate NMU's 125th anniversary. It has since morphed into much more, supporting student access to the area's world-class recreational trails. Blackrocks has contributed $7,500 from the sales of Wildcat Gold to NMU's Outdoor Recreation Center for the purchase of mountain bikes and Nordic ski equipment made available to students for free.

Providing a coordinated response to child abuse that involves professionals from diverse fields has the potential to improve outcomes for children and advance justice. This multidisciplinary team model is implemented through child advocacy centers, and has been widely adopted to facilitate such collaboration.

A Northern Michigan University master's student in athletic training and a graduate of the program recently connected in the Dominican Republic, where both are applying their skills on behalf of different Major League Baseball franchises. Dillon Makela is completing a summer internship with the Chicago Cubs Academy before his final academic year, and 2005 alumnus Alex Mena is working full time with the Pittsburgh Pirates Academy next door. 

Dieter Kochan, a former Wildcat hockey goalie (1993-1997) who went on to play in the NHL, is the handler of a new K9 named Roy at the Michigan State Police Calumet Post. Kochan joined the MSP in 2008. 

Northern Michigan University alumna Mollie Trewartha has been appointed the new principal of Hancock Middle and High Schools, effective July 21. She earned two degrees in educational administration/supervision from NMU: a master's in 2006 and an education specialist in 2012.

Alexa Christensen, a Marquette native who holds two degrees from Northern, has returned to her alma mater to serve as the new director of Dining Services. She previously worked as the dietary manager at Houghton County Medical Care Facility. Christensen arrived on campus in early June and hit the ground running to help ensure that students and families in town for orientation had a positive experience sampling food from NMU Dining locations.