All News Releases

NMU alumna Greta Betti of Kingsford has been honored for 50 years of dedicated membership in the Beta Sigma Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. DKGSI promotes the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. 

Northern Michigan University's week-long Homecoming celebration for alumni, community members and students will be modified because of the COVID-19 virus.

Northern Michigan University Education Professors Christi Edge, Abby Cameron-Standerford and Bethney Bergh co-edited and digitally published 'Textiles and Tapestries: Self-Study for Envisioning New Ways of Knowing.' They also planned and led an international conference in self-study research in a virtual format because of COVID-19.  

The Northern Michigan University Political Science Department will mark Constitution Day with a virtual presentation at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17. Chair Carter Wilson and Professor Ruth Watry will discuss the U.S. Constitution and the republic it created, along with the types of actions that weaken or strengthen democratic republics.

The Northern Michigan University Alumni Association announces four new members of its Board of Directors effective on Sept. 25, 2020: Jeri Hosang (BS '92, BSN '99) of Marquette, Mich.; Amalea Karavias Vega (BS '02) of Denver, Colo.; Kurt VanWormer (BS '77) of Houston, Texas; and Morgan Waller (BS '16, MPA '18) of Burnham, Ill.

Northern Michigan University appears in multiple categories in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Among Midwest regional universities, NMU tied for 76th best overall. It is also the 16th top public school in the region, tied for 50th among best colleges for veterans, and is the 67th best value school. NMU also tied for 122nd for advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded Pell Grants. See the full rankings here.

NMU alumna Karen Kasper ('79 BA) of Ishpeming will receive the 2020 Distinguished Volunteer of the Year award from the Historical Society of Michigan. She regularly volunteers for her alma mater at the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU and at the Central U.P. and NMU Archives. 

Northern Michigan University's Regional Police Academy held its graduation ceremony Thursday, Sept. 10. Thirty-one recruits received certificates of completion.

Northern Michigan University students and regional community members are eligible to take a free course in either digital marketing, business analytics or front-end web development through The Future is Digital Challenge. The national Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) and the online learning platform Udacity are sponsoring the two-part initiative, designed to train rural Americans in new skills that will help them participate in the growing tech economy.

The NMU Pride of the North Marching Band will perform the first of three fall Superior Dome shows, absent a football game because of COVID-19, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. A "studio audience" of 120 who request passes in advance will be able to watch the performance live in the Superior Dome. The show will also be streamed for viewing later in the day on the band's Facebook page. 

Jacob Daar, psychology professor and program director for the Behavior Education, Assessment and Research (BEAR) Center at Northern Michigan University, has been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to represent state universities on the Michigan Autism Council. The BEAR Center provides critical therapy services to individuals with autism and other behavioral disorders in underrepresented rural areas, and serves as a clinical and research site for students pursuing careers in the field. 

The Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute (UPCI) at Northern Michigan University is helping the Michigan Economic Development Corporation promote the growth of the state's cyber community by hosting certification and workshop offerings designed to develop local talent in the field. The UPCI, a hub of the Michigan Cyber Range in Ann Arbor, is referenced in an SC Media report titled "The cyber digital divide: How to level the playing field." 

Marquette, home to Northern Michigan University, is among 25 small towns that are about to become more popular, according to a listing in Reader's Digest. The magazine identified "up-and-coming" towns offering unique amenities and attractions. 

In celebration of its 10th year, Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) awarded a $10,000 grant to Northern Michigan University in support of college access and postsecondary attainment. This grant is one of 10 grants MCAN is awarding in a 10-day period in connection with its 10th year as part of its “10-10-10 Birthday Tour.”

Two NMU alumni athletes have signed new professional contracts to advance their playing careers. Former Wildcat point guard Naba Echols (BA '19) will showcase his basketball talents in Croatia, playing for Košarkaški Klub Alkar (also known as KK Alkar). Veteran hockey forward and Marquette native Justin Florek (BS '14) has signed with the South Carolina Stingrays, the minor league affiliate of the NHL's Washington Capitals and AHL's Hershey Bears.  

Northern Michigan University's 10th day enrollment report shows continued positive strides related to retention, as well as enrollment in graduate and online Global Campus programs. NMU has also increased the total population served through its many learning options and its Educational Access Network.

The COVID-19 virus may have canceled the football season, but it hasn't stopped NMU's Pride of the North Marching Band from sharing its music with others. Monday night, the band delivered a special outdoor performance to students in quarantine and isolation in Spalding Hall. The group will also perform three Superior Dome shows this fall that will be streamed for online viewing.

The NMU Board of Trustees approved faculty tenure, promotions and new appointments, which took effect with the start of the fall semester. Trustees also authorized contract extensions for several school and department heads.

The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) recently honored two women with Northern Michigan University connections during its annual awards ceremony, held virtually this year because of COVID-19. May graduate Lynnae Branham received the 2020 Rising Star Award and Professor Emeritus Lorana Jinkerson received the Thomas L. Gilbert Lifetime Achievement Award.