All News Releases

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, drawing attention to potential threats and the importance of having adequate safeguards in place to thwart hackers. Critical infrastructure components can be primary targets because any disruptions in their operation can have a widespread impact. Northern Michigan University assistant professor of political science Jongeun You recently wrote an article for the IBM Center for the Business of Government that contends the U.S. water sector is particularly vulnerable.

Andrew Port, a leading scholar of modern Germany and professor at Wayne State University, will present “Never Again: Germans and Genocide after the Holocaust” at Northern Michigan University on Thursday, Oct. 19. He will discuss how the Holocaust shaped German responses to modern-day genocides in other countries after 1945, and how these foreign atrocities recast Germany's understanding of its horrific history. NMU professors will also be present to contribute their expertise on the topic.

High school seniors who reside in the Upper Peninsula and plan to pursue studies in a healthcare-related field at a college or university next fall are invited to participate in the fourth annual National Rural Health Day Essay Contest. The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health is coordinating the contest with the Michigan Center for Rural Health and the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan. The essay submission deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Northern Michigan University is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and the task force dedicated to realizing that goal is seeking campus input on the draft plan for how to get there. While NMU has already reduced its carbon footprint by more than 30% since 2010 and has one of the smallest footprints among the state's public universities, it is striving for further reductions. Remaining information sessions on the plan are scheduled at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16 (via Zoom), and 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Jamrich 1322. A flipbook and feedback survey are also available online.

As a Northern Michigan University trustee, Greg Toutant recently attended the dedication of the new WellBeing Center on campus, which provides comprehensive physical and mental health services in one easily accessible location. A few weeks earlier, in his full-time role as CEO of Great Lakes Recovery Centers Inc., he had participated in a ribbon-cutting and open house for the John Kivela Center, a new behavioral health campus in Negaunee that also offers integrated care and services under one roof.

“Perhaps We Wrong Them,” a choreographed dance film that visually explores powerful themes relating to childhood trauma and its lingering effects on a survivor's everyday adult life, won Screendance Short of the Year at the 2023 Independent Shorts Awards International Film Festival in Los Angeles. The film was conceived and produced by 2015 NMU theater alumnus John Scheibe of Yonder Studio in Marquette and stars Karina Johnson, NMU director of dance and assistant professor. Alumna Kasey Scheibe served as production manager and Riley Owen was choreographer. All four walked the red carpet at the September awards ceremony.

Northern Michigan University has welcomed 40 new international students this fall, including exchange program participants and new freshmen, transfers and graduate students. Combined with returning students, the total international enrollment is 88 from 40 countries—the most NMU has had in recent years. While all of these students help to enhance diversity on campus and contribute their unique global perspectives, seven are employed as graduate assistants who actively support NMU faculty in various departments.

Northern Michigan University's School of Clinical Sciences is hosting its second annual Open Lab Day. The event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, and takes place in rooms and labs around The Science Building.

Northern Michigan University's Visiting Writers Series will host poets Christina Olson and Matthew Minicucci from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Northern Center Peninsula II. The event will showcase Olson's “The Anxiety Workbook: Poems” and Minicucci's scheduled October release, “Dual.” It is free and open to the public.

Northern Michigan University's Carbon Neutrality Task Force is gathering input on its draft plan outlining NMU's path to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner. A flipbook of the plan and feedback survey are available online at nmu.edu/president/carbon-neutrality-task-force. Also, information sessions are scheduled as follows this month:

North Carolina-based artist, curator and author Endia Beal will visit Northern Michigan University, where she will give a keynote presentation at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in Art & Design room 165. Those who register to attend can also sign up to participate in a two-hour workshop with Beal at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the Peninsula V room at the Northern Center.

College football coaching legend and NMU alumnus Lloyd Carr will be the 2024 American Heart Association's Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The honor is given to college football's finest coaches, recognizing their outstanding achievements and extraordinary contributions on and off the field. Carr was a star quarterback at NMU, leading the Wildcats to an undefeated season in 1967. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master of arts in education in 1970, and was inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame. His 13-year coaching stint at the University of Michigan included the 1997 National Championship, five Big Ten titles and four consecutive Bowl game wins.

Northern Michigan University will offer a new faculty-led special topics course next semester that includes travel to the San Francisco Bay area to compare its urban food systems and partners with those in the rural Marquette area. Information sessions are scheduled at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Jacobetti room 200 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in the Northern Center room 2214.

Emily Lanctot, director and curator of Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum, recently participated in a two-week residency that brings an international consortium of artists to Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy. The gathering culminates in an exhibition of artworks and corresponding catalog.  

Northern Michigan University's Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is featuring a landmark exhibition titled “Claiming Michigan: The 1820 Expedition of Lewis Cass.” The governor of the Michigan territory and 35 companions traveled from Detroit to what would become Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The exhibit includes a 30-foot replica voyageur canoe on loan from La Compagnie Historical Society of Minnesota, dozens of images, journal excerpts, detailed narrative information and large-format maps.

Northern Michigan University environmental studies and sustainability major Elizabeth Williams completed a three-month internship at BLOXHUB, the Nordic hub for sustainable urbanization in Copenhagen, Denmark. She pursued the opportunity as a recipient of the prestigious Voyager Scholarship created by the Obama Foundation and Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. She states her dream is to redesign cities in ways that are equitable and financially, socially and environmentally sustainable.

Northern Michigan University's vocal ensembles, under the direction of Erin Colwitz, will present two free performances this month in Reynolds Recital Hall. The NMU Arts Chorale will join participating U.P. high school groups for the NMU Choral Festival evening concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9. It will also perform with the NMU Choir in a fall concert titled "Women in Music" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. 

Minneapolis-based string duo The OK Factor and award-winning Swedish quintet Jaerv will perform together as part of the Siril Concert Series at Northern Michigan University. They will present their program Traditions at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m., in Reynolds Recital Hall.

Northern Michigan University education professors Abby Cameron-Standerford, Bethney Bergh and Christi Edge wrote and co-edited an open-source textbook titled “Pausing at the Threshold: Opportunity Through, With, and For Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices.” The book was published by Equity Press.  

Northern Michigan University's Native American Student Association will host four events on Indigenous Peoples Day Monday, Oct. 9. Activities include morning and evening celebrations, a healing march and a reception.