All News Releases

NMU Seeks Alma Mater Submissions

Jan. 23, 2024
Northern Michigan University invites students, faculty, staff, alumni and Upper Peninsula residents to submit original alma mater compositions in recognition of its 125th anniversary celebration in 2024. An alma mater is traditionally a short-form musical piece with lyrics pertaining to the university's distinctive elements, and is used at official events such as commencement. Selected creations will be eligible for monetary awards of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second and $500 for third.
NMU academic logo

Parkhurst Promoted at SRCTec

Jan. 19, 2024
Northern Michigan University alumnus Geoff Parkhurst, who earned a master's in administrative service in 1995, was promoted to director of life cycle management at SRCTec. The not-for-profit research and development company “combines information, science, technology and ingenuity to solve ‘impossible' problems in the areas of defense, environment and intelligence."
Geoff Parkhurst

NMU Carbon Neutrality Plan Finalized

Jan. 18, 2024
Northern Michigan University's “Path to Carbon Neutrality by 2050” plan is now finalized, outlining the strategies for achieving that goal and targeted reductions in carbon emissions for each decade along the way. The completed plan aligns with NMU's core values and strategic priorities, which include a focus on building a culture of sustainability. 
Jes Thompson (right) and a student by the solar array installed on campus.

Innovation Week Feb. 21-23 at NMU

Jan. 15, 2024
Innovate Marquette SmartZone (Innovate Marquette) and SISU: The Innovation Institute at Northern Michigan University (NMU) have announced dates and programming for the second annual Innovation Week. The professional development conference brings together thought leaders, creatives and entrepreneurs to inspire, enlighten and spark curiosity.
Innovation Week promo graphic

Alumnus Directs Advancing Macomb

Jan. 12, 2024
Northern Michigan University alumnus Phil Gilchrist is the new executive director of Advancing Macomb, a nonprofit organization that convenes resources to solve community challenges and enrich the lives of Macomb County residents. His role involves program oversight, financial administration, strategic planning and execution, marketing and public relations.
Phil Gilchrist

Alumna Teacher of the Year Honored at College Football Championship

Jan. 11, 2024
NMU alumna Nanette Hanson, the 2023 Michigan State Teacher of the Year, was honored on the field before the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 8, and stayed to watch the Michigan Wolverines win the trophy. She is a first-grade teacher at Lemmer Elementary School in Escanaba. The recognition was part of the College Football Playoff Foundation's Extra Yard for Teachers program.
Nanette Hanson cheering on Michigan at the game (Facebook photo)

UP Focus Art Exhibit Opens Jan. 18 at NMU

Jan. 10, 2024
Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum will soon unveil the 2024 installment of its UP Focus exhibition, which highlights artists living and working in, or inspired by, the Upper Peninsula. This year's featured artists are connected to the Copper Country: Catherine Benda and Carrie Flaspohler VanderVeen. An opening reception with artist talks is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. The event is free and open to the public.
(From left): Catherine Benda, "Interior Concepts," 2023, acrylic; and Carrie Flaspohler VanderVeen, "Profusion," 2023, gouache on paper

Contois Assistant Coach for Chipotle All-American Game

Jan. 9, 2024
Andy Contois, a 2006 NMU financial management alumnus and former Wildcat hockey player, will serve as an assistant coach for Team White when it faces Team Blue in the 2024 Chipotle All-American Game on Jan. 15 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. The game features 45 top prospects from the United States Hockey League (USHL)—the nation's only Tier 1 junior hockey league—who are eligible for the 2024 NHL draft.
Andy Contois (Indy Fuel photo)

NMU Appointments Advance Core Values, Strategic Vision

Jan. 8, 2024
Three new leadership appointees at Northern Michigan University will advance NMU's core values and strategic priorities related to inclusion and belonging, sustainability and academic excellence. Shawnrece Campbell, previously at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, is assistant vice president for Diversity and Inclusion. NMU professor and alumna Jessica Thompson is assistant vice president for Sustainability. Anne Dahlman, most recently at Minnesota State University Mankato, will begin as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs on April 1.
From left: Campbell, Thompson and Dahlman

Dahlman Named NMU's New Provost and VP

Jan. 5, 2024
Anne Dahlman, whose higher education experience spans 27 years as a teacher, faculty scholar and administrator, will become Northern Michigan University's next provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, effective April 1. The Finland native most recently served as interim associate provost at Minnesota State University Mankato, where she advanced through the faculty ranks and various leadership positions over the past 17 years.
Anne Dahlman

Virtual Community Health Worker Training Offered

Dec. 21, 2023
The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health, in partnership with Everyday Life Consulting, will offer a Community Health Worker (CHW) certification training program for Upper Peninsula residents in a virtual format starting Tuesday, Jan. 9. The training consists of 12 days of instruction on the nationally recognized CHW core competencies, plus Mental Health First Aid and Adverse Childhood Event training.

Governor Approves Northern Enterprise Center

Dec. 18, 2023
Northern Michigan University will receive $13.4 million in state funding toward construction of a $19.1 million Northern Enterprise Center to house the College of Business and serve as a catalyst for workforce, economic and community development across the Upper Peninsula and beyond. The university's top strategic facilities priority was included in the supplemental appropriations bill signed today by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Conceptual rendering of the Northern Enterprise Center