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Three women who have achieved success in Hollywood and beyond will participate in a free February virtual speaker series hosted by the Northern Michigan University chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theater honor society. They are: Tony Award-winning actress and renowned Disney singing voice Lea Salonga; Academy Award-winning Black Panther costume designer Ruth E. Carter; and Pixar Animation Studios' Danielle Feinberg.

Northern Michigan University Graduate Studies and Research will present its fourth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition virtually at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15.

Thirteen Northern Michigan University faculty members, including a team of five, were selected to receive 2020-21 awards for teaching, scholarship, leadership and technology innovation. The annual celebration was canceled by COVID-19, but here are the recipients and their awards (more detailed feature stories on each can be viewed by clicking on their names).

NMU President Fritz Erickson held a virtual forum Wednesday to update the campus community on topics including the university's COVID-19 statistics and response, enrollment and retention, the state budget process and plans for the fall semester. He also responded to questions. The most common inquiry related to the chance of NMU's Health Center obtaining COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Sarah Mittlefehldt, as associate professor in the Earth, Environmental & Geographical Sciences (EEGS) Department, is Northern Michigan University's 2020-21 Excellence in Scholarship Award recipient. She is working on two National Science Foundation-funded projects related to wood energy in Michigan and sustainable coastal development on Lake Superior's South Shore.

Northern Michigan University alumnus and assistant professor Evan Lucas was selected for NMU's 2020-21 Faculty Emerging Leadership Award. The Marquette native has taught in the construction management program since 2017. He also helped to develop the new indoor agriculture associate degree program that launched this past fall.

Weronika Kusek, an associate professor of human geography at Northern Michigan University, is one of two recipients of NMU's 2020-21 Excellence in Teaching Award. She is a faculty member in the Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (EEGS) Department.

Tracy Wascom, an associate professor of foundations and art history at Northern Michigan University, is one of two recipients of the 2020-21 NMU Excellence in Teaching Award. She also serves as foundations coordinator for the School of Art & Design.

Brian Zinser, associate professor of marketing in Northern Michigan University's College of Business, is the 2020-21 recipient of NMU's Faculty Leadership Award. He also serves as an assistant department head responsible for management, marketing, entrepreneurship, ski area business management and the bachelor of applied science (BAS) programs.

Cameron Contois, a Northern Michigan University alumnus and contingent assistant professor in the English Department, has earned NMU's 2020-21 Excellence in Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award.

Counseling & Consultation Services' pivot to remote service delivery in the context of COVID-19 earned the team a 2020-21 NMU Technology Innovation Award. The multidisciplinary team of licensed counselors, social workers and psychologists includes (pictured clockwise from top left): Shelley Brandow, Christina Hartline, Jennifer Gorton, Jean Kupper and Mary Etchison.

Gordon Xu, assistant professor and head of library systems at Northern Michigan University, received a 2020-21 Technology Innovation Award.

Sara Potter, a continuing instructor in the Communication and Media Studies Department, is the recipient of Northern Michigan University's 2020-21 Excellence in Online Teaching Award.

Northern Michigan University's Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute and criminal justice department are partnering to offer an on-campus digital forensics class this semester. Students enrolled in the course are learning a detailed, methodological approach to forensics and evidence analysis related to computers and other devices.

The Northern Michigan University Alumni Association is presenting a panel discussion at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, titled “Lifelong Learning: Exploring the right education at the right time” as part of its Northern Now digital event series for alumni and friends. The discussion will feature Extended Learning staff and Global Campus students and alumni.

A new partnership agreement between Grand Valley State University and Northern Michigan University creates a pipeline for NMU undergraduates to GVSU's public health graduate program.

Northern Michigan University's Summer Employment Fair will be held from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. This year's fair will be held virtually on Handshake. The fair is free for students and alumni to attend.

Northern Michigan University's Office of Graduate Studies and Research awarded nine NMU Faculty Research Grants worth $7,000 each. The purpose of the internal grant program is to assist faculty in seeking advancement in their respective fields through significant scholarly achievements such as publications, artistic works, research projects and manuscripts, with the ultimate goal of capitalizing on project potential to gain future external funding.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University and the Hiawatha Music Co-op are collaborating to present a special “Live from the Fold” concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. The virtual “Songs of Labor” concert featuring Robert Jones and Matt Watroba will be accessible via either the Beaumier Center or Hiawatha Facebook sites. It is free, but donations are appreciated. 

Northern Michigan University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kerri Schuiling will step down from her current position next January. She will become special assistant to the president for a year, supporting the initiatives of the NMU Center for Rural Health and also SISU: The Innovation Institute at NMU before she retires in January 2023.