Around NMU

Audio/visual services at Northern Michigan University has a secret rock star in its ranks. Matt Herbig, operations supervisor, played bass guitar in his high school/college heavy metal band, Indecision, as well as the band Pseudocell. They had a few shows around the U.P., with Herbig recalling the shows they put on at an old church in Iron River and at Corner Zone (now The Dance Zone) on Lincoln Avenue.

Northern Michigan University will hold a series of events during Black History Month in February. The annual celebration, officially recognized in 1976 during the U.S. bicentennial, honors the achievements and sacrifices of African Americans who have helped shape the nation.

Detroit native and Pulitzer Prize-winning poetry book author Tyehimba Jess will be the featured guest at the next Northern Michigan University Visiting Writers Series event at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, in Peninsula II of the Northern Center.

EcoReps, Northern's peer-to-peer sustainability education student organization, embodies one of the university's core values and emboldens students to strive toward equitable sustainability on campus. EcoReps is made up of more than 200 registered members, and hosts activities such as the on-campus Zero Waste event planned for the upcoming hockey game against Michigan Tech on Friday, Feb. 2.

Ann Goodman James, former Wildcats swimming and diving coach (1986-1996) and NMU Sports Hall of Fame inductee, will retire this year at the end of her 48th season in the sport, according to a release from Colorado College Athletics. She has coached across all three NCAA divisions and was named one of the 100 Greatest College Swimming and Diving Coaches of the past century by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America.

Eisenhower Dance Detroit, considered one of the finest contemporary dance companies in the Midwest, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, and Friday, Feb. 9, at Northern Michigan University's Forest Roberts Theatre. The troupe will also offer a master class for NMU students with at least four years of previous dance training to the intermediate or advanced level from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 9.

Northern Michigan University English Professor Emeritus John Smolens' latest novel, A Cold, Hard Prayer was selected by the Library of Michigan for the 2024 Michigan Notable Books list. This work of historical fiction is his 12th novel. Smolens previously made the list for Wolf's Mouth in 2017 and Day of Days in 2022.

Wilbert Alik, a 2021 Northern Michigan University anthropology alumnus from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, recently donated a flag from the island nation in the northwest Pacific to the collection of world flags hanging in the Whitman Hall Commons on campus. After earning his NMU degree, Alik returned to his home country and became director of its Historic Preservation Office and the national historic preservation officer.

Three Northern Michigan University musical theater majors scored major achievements at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival's (KCACTF) Region 3 conference in Flint. Junior Maya Moreau of Dearborn made history as the first NMU student to win the $500 Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship and advance to the national KCACTF festival competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Liam Fisher of Grand Rapids and John Thomson of Marquette were among 18 finalists selected for the regional Musical Theater Intensive, out of nearly 70 who auditioned.

Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota artists who reside north of the 45th parallel are invited to submit works for the annual “North of the 45th” juried exhibition at Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum. Artists 18 and older may enter up to five images of their work across all media created within the past three years to be considered for the summer 2024 show. The submission deadline is Wednesday, March 13.