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Northern Michigan University History Professor Gabe Logan continues to generate international academic attention for his book, "The Early Years of Chicago Soccer, 1887-1939 (Sport, Identity, and Culture)." He recently presented an excerpt at the Politics and Sport Conference, held June 16-17 at Universidade de Aveiro in Portugal.

The Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives will host a book signing for Dissecting “Anatomy of a Murder”: The Author, The Crime, The Novel, and The Film. The event with author Eugene R. Milhizer will be held at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the archives in 126 Harden Hall at NMU. 

Northern Michigan University has established a new partnership with Eastpointe Community Schools that will provide an online pathway for eligible ECS staff to obtain teacher certification in exchange for a three-year commitment to teach in the district upon completion of the program.

Northern Michigan University will continue to rank as second-most affordable among the state's 15 public universities after the NMU Board of Trustees approved new tuition and fee rates for the 2022-23 academic year. NMU will also invest an additional $900,000 in financial aid for students.

An outdoors enthusiast who enjoys running, hiking and kayaking, NMU assistant professor of education Kristen White said that her first four years residing in Marquette have been nothing short of wonderful. 

Northern Michigan University's College of Business has received a five-year accreditation extension from AACSB International. The distinction demonstrates an ongoing commitment to excellence in teaching, research, curriculum development and learner success.

Northern Michigan University's Center for Native American Studies assisted in the development of “Maawndoonganan,” an Anishinaabe resource manual created and vetted by Indigenous peoples to support educators in implementing Michigan social studies standards. A webinar on using this first-of-its-kind educational resource guide was presented by the Confederation of Michigan Tribal Education Departments (CMTED) on June 29.

Northern Michigan University has embarked on the second phase of developing an interim strategic plan that will provide an onramp for Northern's next president. Following NMU Board of Trustees' approval of the initial proposal presented in late April, steering committees representing faculty, staff and alumni are working over the summer to build action plans for five focus areas identified in the plan.

Northern Michigan University alumnus DJ Hoffman was appointed chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians during a special board of directors meeting on June 27. He served as vice chair from 2016-22 and also two years as secretary. Hoffman earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from NMU. 

William Bausano, a 1973 music education alumnus, has embarked on a well-earned retirement after 41 years with Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The Upper Peninsula native conducted two choirs—the Chamber Singers and Choraliers—and taught choral conducting and techniques courses. One of his colleagues called him “an institution” and “the cornerstone” of the voice department.

Two Books Two Communities of Marquette and Alger Counties has named this year's book selections:The Lightkeeper's Daughters, an adult novel, and Me and You and the Red Canoe, a children's book, both by award-winning Canadian author Jean E. Pendziwol. 

NMU alumna Liz Conway recently assumed the role of president and CEO of the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce. She holds two degrees from Northern: a bachelor's in management earned in 2002; and an MBA earned in 2005.

NMU alumnus Russell Kassin has been named the 10th president in the 135-year history of Iron Mountain-based First National Bank & Trust. He graduated in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in financial management.

In his newly published book, “Classic Food and Restaurants of the Upper Peninsula,” Northern Michigan University History Professor Emeritus Russell Magnaghi explores the origins of the iconic U.P. trio: the pasty, cudighi and fudge. He also delves into the evolution of the regional diet, which was rooted in the indigenous foods consumed by Native Americans and influenced by immigrant settlers representing numerous nationalities who introduced additional fare from their home countries.

The history of Indian boarding schools was formally investigated and documented for the first time in a sobering report released in May by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Thousands of Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in residential schools—including five in Michigan—with the goal of assimilating them into white culture and, consequently, taking their territories. Northern Michigan University, which offers the state's only bachelor's degree program in Native American studies, has offered a course on the subject for more than 15 years.

Two Northern Michigan University alumni have been appointed to the State of Michigan's advisory board that will help to plan America250, a nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary and founding of the United States. Dan Truckey, a 1990 grad, is director of the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU. Steve Brisson, a 1989 alumnus, is director of Mackinac State Historic Parks. Both recently participated in the advisory board's first meeting.

NMU alumna Caitlin Sternberg, who earned her environmental science degree in 2021, is the new director of outreach and communication for Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior, a Marquette County nonprofit. She previously worked as a Great Lakes Climate Corp crew leader with the Superior Watershed Partnership, partnering with diverse groups like the National Forest Service or the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community on environmental projects.

NMU alumnus Mike Garland ('78 BS), who has served as an assistant coach for his former Wildcat basketball teammate and longtime friend Tom Izzo, is retiring after 22 seasons with the Michigan State Spartans.

Steve Young has seen Northern Michigan University from two distinct perspectives: as a political science student and resident of Bedside Manor house on the first floor of the former Payne Hall in the mid-1970s; and as a 2019 governor's appointee to the NMU Board of Trustees, which he currently leads as chair.

A Northern Michigan University alumna and her NMU faculty mentor contributed to a published paper on a recent study of Alaskan brown bears that found significant variations in their gut microbiomes, depending on where they live. The finding advances scientific understanding of the relationship between wildlife habitat, diet and gut microbiome diversity, and facilitates more informed decisions to support the health of wildlife species.