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Jim Paquette of Negaunee developed an interest in history and archaeology at a young age, in large part because his paternal grandfather instilled pride in the family's French Canadian-First Nation Métis ancestry and traditional lifestyle. As he grew older, Paquette wanted to learn more about his family's history in the region. He read and copied volumes of material from the library at Northern Michigan University, his alma mater, and began searching for and locating early cultural sites where various ancient stone and copper artifacts helped to reveal the story. This led to an avid passion for more discoveries and a partnership with NMU faculty, both of which continue today.

Stephanie Lay, who received her bachelor's degree in sociology from Northern Michigan in 2011, is this year's recipient of NMU's Outstanding Young Alumni Award. She provides crisis care to suicidal adolescents as a member of the behavior emergency response team at Children's Hospital Oakland in California. She also has a private therapy practice in nearby San Francisco, where she specializes in gender identity, depression, suicidal ideation and self-harm.

Northern Michigan University's newly appointed President Brock Tessman said that his selection from among four finalists to lead the institution is exciting, but made even more meaningful because it followed a rigorous and transparent search process. The Michigan native addressed several topics during a virtual press conference after NMU trustees unanimously voted for him to become the 17th president, effective Feb. 1. He said serving as deputy commissioner of higher education for the Montana University System since 2018 will be an asset as he narrows his focus to a single entity.

The Native American Student Association (NASA) at Northern Michigan University will participate in Orange Shirt Day on Friday, Sept. 30, to recognize the thousands of Indigenous children who were forced into the Indian Boarding/Residential School System in the United States and Canada. 

Dr. Archie DeFillo, the chief medical officer for Medibio LTD, will present "Sleep and Mental Disorders: a Bidirectional Relationship" on Friday, Sept. 30, at Northern Michigan University. His talk begins at 3 p.m. in room 2906 of The Science Building (formerly West Science). It is also available via Zoom.

Northern Michigan University's English Department will host a visiting scholar presentation titled "Brave New World and the Rise of the Factory Farm" by University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Professor Stewart Cole. It is scheduled at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in Peninsula I in the Northern Center.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved a 2022-23 general fund operating budget of $118.7 million, a 0.4% increase over last year.

Northern Michigan University's 10th day enrollment report shows increases in transfer students, retention and total learners reached, along with six-year graduation rates, which universities report regularly at the federal level.

Northern Michigan University's 2022 Homecoming features several events for alumni and community members. This year's celebration is Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24.

As a past president of ASNMU, Northern's student government organization, Jason Morgan recalls feeling “somewhat terrified at the prospect of talking to people I thought were so important” when he had to present updates on student issues and activities at each NMU Board of Trustees meeting. Now that the 2011 political science alumnus is a trustee himself, it is the ASNMU report that he looks forward to hearing the most.

Northern Michigan University's Lydia M. Olson Library is one of 50 U.S. libraries selected from more than 250 applicants to host the “Americans and the Holocaust” traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The exhibition examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans' responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.

Jimmy Ludwig's 30-year acting career in New York City—from Broadway productions and performance art to film and television—taught him a valuable lesson: “Grit and a willingness to outwork everybody else” are far more important for sustained success than either talent, which is pervasive in such entertainment epicenters, or connections. He plans to share that sage advice with students in the new Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in acting program he is heading for Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance.

Northern Michigan University's College of Business will host NMU alumnus John Baltes as the 2022 Executive in Residence Sept. 27-29. He is the retired CEO of SVA, a multi-entity professional services company. Baltes will share insights from his 30 years of leadership and business strategy experience, as well as a strong data systems background, with the NMU and Marquette communities.

“Mending the Stress Fence,” a presentation on managing the stressors faced by farmers and agricultural professionals, will be held at Northern Michigan University on Friday, Sept. 9. The presentation begins at 3 p.m. in the Northern Center Peninsula II room. It will be about 30 minutes in length with an open discussion at the end. 

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present its third annual Spotlight Variety Show to kick off the fall semester at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 8-9, in Forest Roberts Theatre. The show features 24 acts, including singers, monologue performances and magic.

Pendziwol will give a presentation on October 11 at 7 pm at the Northern Center, on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette and on October 12 at 6 pm at Munising School Public Library. In conjunction with the lighthouse theme, there is also a special presentation by Dianna Stampfler on Death and Lighthouses on the Great Lakes on September 8 at 6 pm at Munising School Public Library.