All News Releases

Northern Michigan University's Temaki and Tea and Smoothie King restaurant will offer only call-ahead and drive-thru service from April 12-23. Indoor seating will not be offered during that period to conform with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recommendation that indoor dining pause for two weeks to reduce COVID-19 community spread.  

Northern Michigan University's Health Center has confirmed that it will receive an allocation of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week. Because it is administered with a single shot, students will have an opportunity to get vaccinated before leaving campus at the end of the semester. The clinics will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, April 13 and 14.

Northern Michigan University students have delivered cookies and brownies to various Marquette locations to express appreciation on behalf of NMU for the above-and-beyond efforts demonstrated by teachers, first responders and nursing home staff members during the pandemic.

Northern Michigan University's Theatre and Dance Department will present a live-stream production of its Spotlight Variety Show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 15-Saturday, April 17.

Northern Michigan University's Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center will present "I Go on Singing: Paul Robeson's Life in Word & Song,” a multi-media musical documentary. Held in conjunction with the center's current exhibition, "Conflict and Resolve: Labor in the Upper Peninsula," the documentary is available from Friday, April 9-Sunday, May 30.

Northern Michigan University's annual New Business Venture Competition will culminate with a virtual “The Big Pitch” event from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 8. The competition is an opportunity for NMU students, either individually or in teams of up to five, to submit their plan for a new business and compete for cash prizes and business counseling services.

Northern Michigan University's 25th Annual Celebration of Student Scholarship is being reimagined as a virtual event this year on Wednesday, April 7, and Thursday, April 8. Undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines will share their work through oral and poster presentations, visual art installations and essay submissions.

Northern Michigan University's Department of Music is presenting its virtual Jazz Festival Opening Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 8, and Closing Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 9. 

Northern Michigan University will host a virtual panel discussion titled “Understanding the Jan. 6 Assault on the U.S. Capitol” from 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, April 9. NMU professors representing four disciplines will share their perspectives.

Northern Michigan University will host a virtual panel discussion titled “Understanding the Jan. 6 Assault on the U.S. Capitol” from 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, April 9. NMU professors representing four disciplines will share their perspectives.

Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson is seeking campus-wide input on proposed updates to NMU's strategic plan that reflect new priorities for the “post-pandemic phase.” The revised Investing in Innovation plan includes the additional focus areas of equity in systems and processes, along with mind/body wellness. It also includes two new strategic outcomes: advancing the rural agenda and moving NMU toward carbon neutrality.

Jesse Porter, a 2020 Northern Michigan University entrepreneurship alumnus and current graduate student, earned the title United States Olympic Trials Champion for the 77kg weight class this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. The victory also gives him the No. 1 rank on USA Wrestling's National Team.

Marquette County Prosecutor and NMU alumnus Matthew Wiese (BS '84) has been appointed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's new Task Force on Forensic Science. The task force will submit a final report of recommendations on strengthening the use of forensic science in the criminal justice system to the governor and Col. Joseph Gasper, Michigan State Police Director and 1997 NMU alumnus.

The Two Books, Two Communities program, a partnership between Northern Michigan University and the Marquette and Alger County communities, has selected its 2021 community reads. The titles are Fried Walleye and Cherry Pie, edited by Peggy Wolff, and 2021 Michigan Notable Book Award Winner Teacher/Pizza Guy, a collection of poems by Jeff Kass.   

IncredibleBank recently presented a $5,000 check to the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center as title sponsor of the Hope Starts Here Challenge. This year's event will be held virtually May 8-16. It raises funds and awareness for the UMBTC, whose mission is to empower patients and families dealing with brain tumors through advocacy, research, education and treatment.

NMU alumna Lucy Johnson (‘10 BS, ‘13 MA) presented her research on emoji to more than 300 Sony Interactive Entertainment employees, mostly from PlayStation, with others representing Sony Music and Sony Productions. Her remote talk took place Tuesday, March 30, as part of an invited speaker series for Women's History Month. She is an assistant professor of digital literacies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Northern Michigan University alumna Margaret Vainio ('76 BA) recalls a life-changing trip to Finland with the NMU Arts Chorale when she was a student. As the group was preparing to leave, she asked the bus driver to drop her off at the train station because she felt inspired to stay there longer. A year later, she moved to Finland permanently and eventually was exposed to Asahi, a Finnish exercise program. Now she has started a second career as an Asahi instructor and will soon bring it to NMU.

Northern Michigan University's most decorated head coach, Sten Fjeldheim, has announced his retirement after 34 years as leader of the Wildcat Nordic ski team. The NMU alumnus also served stints as the head cross country running coach during his 35 years at the university. 

Northern Michigan University's Lydia M. Olson Library is celebrating heritage and history months by inviting relevant student organizations to select books for its collection. The library team purchases the titles and creates virtual and physical displays about the selections. 

Tarra Nieman, a 2020 NMU outdoor recreation leadership and management graduate, is the 2021 Community Volunteer Ambassador at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Colorado. CVAs spend a year in national park units across the country building relationships with communities and increasing the number of volunteers who serve at the parks.