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The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved Presidential Search Advisory Committee appointments and the committee's charge during a special meeting held virtually Wednesday night.

Northern Michigan University will implement mass random COVID-19 testing when the winter semester begins next week. It will also expand vaccination and booster shot availability at the NMU Health Center. Interim President Kerri Schuiling made the announcements in a campus-wide email on Tuesday.

Upper Peninsula healthcare workers are encouraged to complete a general, anonymous survey regarding issues that impact recruitment and retention efforts. The U.P. Healthcare Careers Alliance Steering Committee is conducting the brief, 10-question survey.

Jen Nelson, a 1999 speech communication graduate of Northern Michigan University, has been appointed chief operating officer for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. She returns to MEDC after serving four years as vice president of public policy and economic development for Business Leaders for Michigan.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Al Salmi of Rapid River recently delivered the "Eagle Charge" to two of his grandsons, as they became the eighth and ninth Eagle Scouts in the family during a double awards ceremony in Minnesota. Salmi earned his award from Marquette Troop 359 in 1963, while attending NMU. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1965 and a master's in 1967.

Northern Michigan University alumna Connie Koutouzos recently began a new role as president and CEO of both McLaren Thumb Region and McLaren Caro Region. 

The Northern Michigan University Alumni Association will host a "Callback" panel of theater and dance alumni for its next Northern Now digital series event on Wednesday, Jan. 12. The following panelists will provide insights on how their education at NMU prepared them for their careers in various areas of the industry, reminisce about projects they worked on during their time as students and share their plans for the future:

Christopher Friel, a 1987 graduate of Northern Michigan University's land use planning and management program, is the new director of client success for DATAMARK, the public safety geographic information systems (GIS) team of Michael Baker International.

Steve Young of Lansing is the new chair of the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees, effective Jan. 1. Alexis Hart of Royal Oak will serve as vice chair. The board held elections for the leadership positions at its Dec. 10 meeting. 

Northern Michigan University music education major Caitlin Palomaki of Marquette is serving as guest conductor for the Friday and Saturday performances of NMU Theatre and Dance's “Elf: The Musical.” She will lead the pit orchestra, subbing for music professor Erin Colwitz, who has a conflict directing the Marquette Choral Society concerts this weekend. 

As director of Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum, Emily Lanctot is used to showcasing the work of other artists. But now her own paintings are being featured in a solo exhibition at the Deo Gallery in the lower level of Peter White Public Library. Marquette's Office of Arts and Culture presents “People, Secrets and Snacks” through the month of December, with a public reception from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9.

Darren Ing of Haslett, who attended Northern Michigan University from 1993-96, has been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Travel Commission. He is the director of the Michigan Manufactured Housing, Recreation Vehicle & Campground Association and the president of the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan. 

Jessie Selissen was in 10th grade when a service member from her hometown of Boyne City was killed during an insurgent attack overseas. She vividly recalls residents lining the streets in silent tribute during the funeral procession. Now Selissen is an Air Force veteran who will graduate Saturday with a degree in multimedia production. She recently put her military background and academic experience to work producing a podcast highlighting veterans and reputable nonprofits that assist them. 

Northern Michigan University graduating senior Lynda “Lyndie” Unterkircher of Sturgis finds herself in a position she never could have predicted when she first arrived on campus. The first-generation college student and self-described “quiet person” is the newly selected student speaker for NMU's Dec. 11 commencement. 

Northern Michigan University's Safety Department received two chairs made from recycled nitrile gloves, a thank-you gift for participating in RightCycle's personal protection equipment (PPE) recycling program. NMU diverted more than 500 pounds of single-use glove waste from the landfill last year and is preparing to ship another box weighing about 300 pounds. 

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today agreed to retain the services of Parker Executive Search to identify prospective candidates for Northern's next president. The board also approved an amended employment agreement with Interim President Kerri Schuiling.

Rebecca Ulland, professor and head of the Department of Languages, Literatures and International Studies, will be the faculty keynote speaker for Northern Michigan University's Dec. 11 commencement. She was selected through a nomination process overseen by ASNMU, the student government organization.