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Northern Michigan University's School of Health and Human Performance is now offering a master's degree program in applied sport psychology. The interdisciplinary degree is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and ability to earn certifications/licensures that will facilitate meaningful employment as coaches, mental performance consultants, and clinical sport psychologists.

Northern Michigan University Professor Sarah Mittlefehldt has been awarded the Grace Magnaghi Upper Peninsula Research Grant for her project, “Distilling the Forest: A History of Liquid Biofuels in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.” The project focuses on the production of methanol out of wood, the unintended consequences of doing so, and what can be learned from what was once the largest wood distillery in the world—the Cliffs Dow Chemical Company in Marquette, Mich.

NMU Trustee and alumnus Steve Lindberg may be familiar for serving as Michigan's 109th District state representative for the maximum three terms, from 2007-2012. He also gained international media attention more recently for his retirement hobby of wildlife photography, by capturing a rare image of a three-antlered deer that was widely circulated. But Lindberg's previous and primary vocation was in education. He taught briefly in Wisconsin and at the former women's Job Corps Center at NMU before embarking on a 28-year career as a teacher and guidance counselor with Marquette Area Public Schools.

Northern Michigan University students, a faculty member and an alumna recently completed a 10-day immersive experience in Puerto Rico. The trip complements a course that explores community resilience in the face of adversity and the intricate interplay of human needs, services and communications systems.

NMU resumed its faculty-led study abroad program to Spain this summer after a four-year interruption due to the pandemic. Twenty students participated in the four-week session, studying at the prestigious University of Salamanca, founded in 1218. 

Ryan Stock, assistant professor in NMU's Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Department, was nominated to serve as the Vice Chair of the American Association of Geographers' Energy & Environment Specialty Group. In this capacity, he has led several initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion and is currently planning the annual Energy Geography Conference.

Northern Michigan University 1996 alumna Karen Saari, whose work as a playwright is inspired by her Upper Peninsula roots, will watch the world premiere of Rain on Fire at the FIM Flint Repertory Theatre on Friday, Sept. 15. The show runs through Oct. 1. The play with music explores how the opioid crisis affects one U.P. family. While addiction and grief are themes, so are redemption and finding peace. Saari also injected humor into the script. 

Northern Michigan University 1992 psychology alumnus John Driscoll has been appointed new president and CEO of Caron Treatment Centers, effective the first week of October. He has more than 30 years of experience in the addiction treatment field. He started as an alcohol and drug counselor in Chicago and most recently worked as senior vice president at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, an addiction and mental health treatment organization.

Fueled by increases in nearly every student segment, Northern Michigan University's total enrollment is higher this fall despite the challenging demographic climate facing many regional comprehensive institutions nationwide.  

Northern Michigan University 1992 alumnus Rob Peterson was hired as the senior associate athletic director and chief financial officer at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. He brings more than 20 years of collegiate athletic administration experience at five different higher education institutions to the role, and most recently served as a consultant with CarrSports Consulting.

Northern Michigan University alumna Kathryn Flagstadt of Marquette has been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services. The retired site manager at Michigan Rehabilitation Services is a member of the State Employee Retirees Association and the Marquette County Aging Services Advisory Committee.

Northern Michigan University will close out its Homecoming celebration with a weekend of activities for alumni and community members Sept. 15-17. The schedule includes the traditional parade, tailgate party and sporting events, along with family activities, arts and culture exhibits and a historical tour of campus.

Northern Michigan University's Department of Psychological Science has received a $413,000 National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation award to facilitate a new frontier in human neuroscience research that could transform the field. NMU will use the funds to acquire an integrated system that assesses the cause-and-effect brain-behavior relationships underlying social interactions and other aspects of human behavior, which could have implications for those with depression, anxiety or addiction disorders. 

Northern Michigan University's School of Cosmetology is debuting a new natural hair cultivation certificate program this fall so that students will be prepared to provide services for all hair types when they start working in professional salons. The program aligns with NMU's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Northern Michigan University's MoveUP program is returning for the Fall 2023 semester. The service is provided by the School of Health and Human Performance and allows for NMU students and community members to engage in a variety of exercises at multiple intensities led by graduate students.

The investiture ceremony for Northern Michigan University President Brock Tessman, which celebrates a new era for NMU under new leadership, will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at Forest Roberts Theatre. The public is invited. A reception will follow from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballrooms of the Northern Center.

Michael Sauer, director of the Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute at Northern Michigan University, has been nominated to the State of Michigan's Cybersecurity Planning Committee for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP). 

Northern Michigan University's Admissions Office is hosting the Marquette/Alger Counties College Fair from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, in the Northern Center Ballrooms. Representatives from colleges and universities across the Midwest, along with the Armed Forces and ROTC programs, will participate. High school juniors and seniors and their parents are welcome to attend.

Northern Michigan University will host an Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Symposium and Incident Response Workshops Monday, Sept. 25, through Wednesday, Sept. 27. The event is free and open to the public, but there are limited spaces. It covers cybersecurity topics pertaining to K-12 technology, healthcare, small business, local government and critical infrastructure.