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Northern Michigan University Education Professor Mitchell Klett is one of five faculty from Great Lakes region universities who led a recent professional development workshop to help K-12 teachers effectively engage their students in researching the water quality of the Great Lakes as it relates to harmful algae blooms.

The Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, a collaborative effort between NMU, UP Health System-Marquette and the Superior Health Foundation, received a $5,000 check from IncredibleBank as the title sponsor of the Hope Starts Here Challenge. The annual challenge 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.

Carter Nielsen, a December 2019 graduate and Greco-Roman wrestler with the NMU National Training Site, had qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials. But with his athletic dreams deferred by COVID-19, Nielsen needed to quickly pivot from full-time training to full-time employment. His Plan B came in the form of a real estate school scholarship, which led to a job in the Twin Cities market.

NMU psychology alumna Kelsey Segerstrom ('16 BS) is the new foster care case manager for Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula. 

NMU's School of Health and Human Performance continues to have a major influence on the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports as it marks 20 years of involvement in the organization. At the 2020 ISBS conference, held virtually because of COVID-19, NMU faculty, students and alumni contributed papers and video presentations, coordinated events, and were elected to serve in leadership roles.

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU is hosting a new exhibition in its Gries Hall gallery titled “Through the Years: Mount Mesnard to Mount Marquette.” Students in an anthropology course taught by Scott Demel created and installed the exhibit. It features dozens of artifacts collected during many years of archeological digs at the site, photographs of the excavation and other artifacts, and interpretive panels.

Northern Michigan University will open its Superior Dome to students when classes begin Monday, Aug. 17. Free community access to walk and jog in that facility, as well as the Berry Events Center, will be postponed until Oct. 1.

NMU's fall convocation, an annual gathering of faculty, staff and students that features a keynote address by the president, is typically held the Wednesday before classes begin. The kickoff to Northern's 121st academic year occurred a week earlier than usual and was presented for the first time in a virtual format. Both changes were prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum has launched the first virtual edition of its annual "North of the 45th" exhibition because of COVID-19. The juried show features diverse works from artists living in the geographical area north of the 45th parallel in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. 

Caregiver Incentive Project (CIP), a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of the cared for by supporting caregivers, has launched its scholarship program and is now accepting applications from Northern Michigan University students. 

Attorney General Dana Nessel appointed NMU alumnus Brian Monton (BS '03) of Pentwater as the Oceana County public administrator. HIs swearing-in ceremony was conducted virtually on Aug. 7.  

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees on Thursday received updates on the extensive planning invested in COVID-19 safety protocols that are being implemented across campus before face-to-face instruction resumes for the fall semester.

Northern Michigan University is reconfiguring most classrooms to align with six-foot social distancing guidelines and installing plexiglass barriers in others to enhance student safety in advance of the fall semester.

In preparation for the fall semester, NMU facilities staff members are applying a unique antimicrobial coating with hospital-grade disinfectant to high-touch areas on campus. The product creates an impenetrable barrier that permanently bonds to any surface and retains its full strength in providing reactive protection against microorganisms, including COVID-19.

Northern Michigan University has implemented a centralized ordering and distribution system for personal protective equipment (PPE) to obtain bulk quantities of critical COVID-19-related items at a significant cost reduction.

Northern Michigan University has relied heavily on internal Information Technology (IT) support to streamline several procedures associated with returning to campus in the context of COVID-19.

NMU Native American Studies Professor Martin Reinhardt and his Decolonizing Diet Project are referenced in an article by Civil Eats, a daily news source for critical thought about the American food system. The article asserts that recent recommendations from an advisory committee that will help shape the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans don't reflect the nation's growing diversity, or the particular health and dietary risks faced by communities of color.

Upper Peninsula inventor Brenden Jacques partnered with the Invent@NMU program for 18 months to launch his product, The Lime Key. The dual-purpose bar tool is made of stainless steel, with a bottle opener on one end and a lime extractor on the other.

Six Northern Michigan University students and recent graduates are completing summer internships at Partridge Creek Farm in Ishpeming. They are helping to advance the farm's tri-fold mission: improving access to locally grown, affordable fresh produce; building a healthy community; and promoting education on sustainable food systems to area students and community members. 

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees will receive an update from the COVID-19 campus task force on preparations for the return to face-to-face instruction next month. The update will follow a brief formal/business meeting of the board at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 30. Both will be live-streamed on YouTube for public viewing at https://bit.ly/2UeD5Ex.