Around NMU

Northern Michigan University art and design student Alayna Storey was awarded a $500 scholarship from the Ukrainian American Veterans as part of their annual essay competition.

The national defense bill awaiting the president's signature includes funding to protect a federal program that helps American broadband operators remove and replace any telecommunications equipment that was produced by the Chinese-owned Huawei Technologies Company and ZTE Corporation. According to a release from Sen. Gary Peters, the equipment poses a threat to national security. Of the $35 million allotted for Michigan under the “Rip and Replace” program, NMU would receive $27 million for equipment upgrades and broadband network expansion.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced two appointments to the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees, effective Jan. 1. Venus Joy Brown of Detroit serves as vice president of human resources, organizational effectiveness and employee experience for Assembly Global. Lisa Fittante of Kingsford, whose term as an NMU trustee was set to expire at the end of the year, will continue to serve on the board. The NMU alumna is owner of Fittante and Colenso, CPA, P.C. Both appointments expire Dec. 31, 2032.

Northern Michigan University is planning a week of service activities around the theme, “Empowering Community through Action,” beginning with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 20. The overarching goal will be to assemble and donate winter care kits to Room at the Inn to support those in need during the cold-weather months, but additional daily programming is scheduled as well.

Northern Michigan University Assistant Professor Jongeun You has been awarded one of nine Future Shocks Challenge Grants for his case study on the integration of land use and water planning in Colorado. The Future Shocks initiative, led by the IBM Center for The Business of Government and the National Academy of Public Administration, is designed to help governments identify and develop core capabilities critical to building resilience.

The Northern Michigan University women's lacrosse team, led by head coach Lindsey (LeMay) Majkrzak, volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Marquette at 9 a.m. on a recent snowy Saturday to help sort and package can-a-thon donations. 

With Northern Michigan University housing at full capacity and continued enrollment growth increasing student demand to live on campus, the NMU Board of Trustees today agreed to invest $3.5 million in design, development and construction management services for two new apartment complexes, capable of accommodating 384 students. The two buildings will be located on university property along both sides of Presque Isle Avenue—one between Fair Avenue and Subway on the east, and the other from Cohodas Hall to Waldo Street on the west.

Through gifts from private donors, Northern Michigan University's School of Nursing has acquired more advanced equipment that enhances student learning and safety while providing better career preparation for the equipment they will work with after graduation. The $50,000 in purchases include new long-term beds similar to those used in extended care facilities, new medical/surgical beds seen in hospital settings, tables that allow more flexible classroom configurations, and IV and urinary catheter models to practice on before dealing with actual patients in a clinical setting. 

Northern Michigan University successfully applied to host a member of the MI Healthy Climate Corps, a service program dedicated to developing an enduring, capable network of climate professionals committed to serving communities and building a more sustainable future for the state. NMU 2015 alumna and Negaunee native Anna Solberg has returned to campus to serve as MHC Corps climate action coordinator through October 2025. She will work with Assistant Vice President for Sustainability Jes Thompson to keep NMU aligned with its “Our Compass” strategic plan and carbon neutrality plan action items, as well as broader Michigan climate targets.

Northern Michigan University and InvestUP will launch a new program in January that will empower participating students through professional internships and mentoring, while also focusing on their leadership development and academic success. By creating a clear pipeline from education to employment, “The Wildcat Collective: Leaders of Honor and Ambition” program is designed to address critical, shared goals such as local talent retention and population growth to benefit NMU and Upper Peninsula communities.