Northern Michigan University

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New NMU Professional Staff

Academic and Career Advisement Center

Lena Throlson joins the Academic and Career Advisement Center here at NMU as an Academic Advisor and Proficiency Officer in training. Lena comes to NMU from North Dakota where she recieved her B.S. and in Education at Valley City State University. She majored in math and minored in physical education and coaching. In 2001 Lena recieved her M.S. in education at Norther STate University in Aberdeen, SD. She emphasised in guidance and counseling, health, and physical education. Outside of work Lena is interested in playing and watching sports and when the wildcats are not playing she enjoys music, plays, movies and discovering anything new.

Michael Turino is an Academic and Career Counselor / Freshman Seminar Instructor who joined the VSS staff in January of 2002. He is a native of Ishpeming who currently resides in Negaunee with his wife Ann and two of her three children. Michael has four adult children of his own who live in Texas, New York, Champion and Redford Michigan, respectively. He is also a grandfather to seven granddaughters and a grandson. He has earned a BS Degree and two Masters Degrees (education and counseling) from NMU and is a retired high school vocational welding teacher and counselor. In his spare time he enjoys building and household projects as well as anything to do with family activities. In the past 5 years, in fact, he has built 8 houses! Michael looks forward to the opportunity of working with students at this advanced level.

Lenette Pynnonen

AdIT

Stephen Brisson

Admissions

Kellie Barber is a Senior Admissions Counselor working with students in central lower Michigan. She graduated from Central Michigan University in 1997, with a bachelors degree in Interpersonal and Public Communications and a minor in Journalism. She has worked in the field of admissions for almost four years, starting her career at CMU in their admissions office as a student intern. She has also worked at Lake Superior State University and Oakland University in their admissions offices. Kellie enjoys the great outdoors with her Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Athletics

Ivan Ivanov, hailing from Bulgaria is a USA-Wrestling gold level coach and was the head Greco-Roman Wrestling Coach at USOEC. In the 1996 Olympics Ivan took 5th place and he is also a world silver medalist. For three years he was the head coach of the wre-program at the Treehouse Athletic Club in Utah. In Colorado Springs Ivan served as the assistant coach at OTC. Ivan holds a technical college degree and received his gold level coach status at the USAW National coaches’ education program. He also spent time with the Bulgarian Army Elite sport school. When not wrestling, Ivan enjoys taking part in outdoor activities with his wife.

Michael Keller came to NMU with new football coach Doug Sams and serves as offensive coordinator. Following graduation from Lincoln High School in 1989 he started his football career at Glenville State College before transferring to Fairmont State in 1992. That season he was the starting quarterback in Doug Sams first year at Fairmont. He threw for 1,945 yards, the fourth-highest single-season passing yardage in Falcon football history. After completing his collegiate career he joined the coaching staff and spent eight years with the Falcons. During that tenure, as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, Fairmont State won the 1996 and 2000 conference championships. Kellar received his undergraduate degree from Fairmont State in 1996. One year later, he received his master’s degree from West Virginia University. He and his wife, Missy, have one daughter, Diedra, and three sons, Jarrod, Anthony and Jacob.

Walter Kyle, an NMU alumnus, is returning to Northern Michigan University as head hockey coach. For the past two years he has been an assistant coach with the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers under coach Ron Lowe. At NMU, Kyle was a two-time NMU letterman after transferring from Boston College. He captained the 1980 and ‘81 Wildcat squads that advanced to the NCAA Final Four. Following graduation, he became a graduate assistant coach under Comley and was promoted to assistant coach in 1982, a position he held for 10 years. Kyle was the program’s top assistant in 1991 when Northern won the NCAA Division I national title. The Waterloo, Iowa native holds a bachelor’s degree in education. He and his wife, Ann, have two children: a daughter, Quinn, 10; and a son, Evan, 7.

Doug Sams has been the head football coach at Fairmont State College in West Virginia for the past 10 years. His record at Fairmont State was 53-47-0 and his overall collegiate coaching record stands at 58-52-0. Sams won two West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Football Championships during his tenure at Fairmont State in 1996 and 2000. For his effort in 1996, Sams was named the WVIAC Coach of the Year. A native of Oregon, Sams went to Fairmont State from the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he was the offensive coordinator from 1989-91. His other head coaching experience came at Urbana University in Ohio where he went 5-5 during the 1988 season in his only season at the school. Sams holds a bachelor of science degree from Oregon State University (1978) and a master's degree in physical education from Idaho State University (1984).

Michael Snyder follows Doug Sams and Mike Kellar from Fairmont State College to the Northern Michigan coaching staff where he serves as defensive coordinator. Prior to joining the staff at Fairmont State, he was the running back coach for two years at Glenville State College in West Virginia. Before that, he coached running backs at his alma mater, Clairon University of Pennsylvania. He also coached wide receivers and defensive backs at Grove City High School in Pennsylvania. At Clarion, he earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and his master’s degree in 2000 from West Virginia University. He was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania and enjoys golf, skiing, hunting and fishing. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association. His wife, Aimee, is a teacher.

Continuing Education

Paul McKelvey is the new director of continuing education and sponsored programs at Northern Michigan University. He previously served as executive director of Greater Michigan Programs in the college of extended learning at Central Michigan University.
His responsibilities at NMU include developing continuing education programs and academic outreach services; supervising and administering sponsored program activities; investigating and implementing technological improvements in continuing education; preparing a marketing plan relating to summer, off-campus programs and non-degree instructional programs; and coordinating the academic advisement for off-campus centers in Escanaba and Kingsford. McKelvey holds an educational doctorate in higher education administration from Indiana University at Bloomington, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Ball State University.

Controller's Office

Dawson Lacasse is the new Assistant Controller. He previously worked at Cleveland-Cliffs for five years, and in public accounting for five years. Dawson holds a bachelor's in business administration, major in accounting, from Michigan Tech University. A native of Lake Linden, he enjoys spending time with his family—his wife Wendy and son Austin—and friends.

Public Broadcasting

Evelyn Massaro joins WNMU-FM, Public Radio 90 as the new Station Manager. Evelyn comes to NMU from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She is a 1982 graduate of Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Communications. Evelyn spent almost 10 years employed at both WNMU-FM and TV before moving to Tampa, Florida. After 10 years in Florida she got tired of sunshine everyday and returned to NMU in January 2002 with her husband Dave and daughter Anna just in time for the record-breaking snowfall. Evelyn enjoys baking with Anna as well as reading, bicycling, camping and Brookie fishing.

William Martin

Financial Aid

Stacy Sommers joins the financial services department as an account representative. Stacy comes to NMU from Wells Fargo in Marquette. Outside of work Stacy enjoys hockey, spending time with her family, and traveling.

Housing and Residence Life

Lisa Alto is a senior secretary II in Housing and Residence Life. She's a native of Ishpeming, and holds an associate's degree in Office Systems from NMU. Her interests outside the office are gardening and camping.

Samantha Bell joins the Department of Housing and Residence Life as the resident director of Grant Hall. Samantha holds as B.A. in sociology and Spanish from Central Michigan University. Samantha is originally from Chicago and she loves to travel and make arts & crafts.

Christina Carr Christina Carr joins the Housing & Residence Life department as the new resident director of Hunt Hall. Christina comes to NMU from Kendallville, IN and she holds a B.A. in psychology from Manchester College. Some of her duties will be to co-advise Primetime and bring exciting free acts to campus. Outside of work Christina enjoys meeting and talking to interesting people06/22/2005 />

Linda Freeman, previously the resident director of West Hall for two years now joins NMU as the Housing & Residence Life coordinator of apartment services. Linda received her B.S. in public relations from NMU and she is now beginning the high school guidance counselor masters program. Outside of work Linda enjoys running and lifting weights.

Rebecca Griffith Rebecca Griffith comes to NMU from Minnetonka, MN and joins the Housing & Residence Life department as the new resident director of Spalding Hall. Rebecca has a B.S. in scientific and technical communication from the University of Minnesota, twin cities. Rebecca enjoys arts & crafts, reading and scrap booking.

Brandon Hakes comes to NMU from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Recently he worked as the assistant director of residence life at Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, IA. Brandon joins NMU as residence director for the Housing and Residence Life department. Outside of work Brandon enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, any outdoor activities. Throughout the fall Brandon can be found watching Iowa Hawkeye football games.

Edward Hopper comes to NMU from Negaunee and will be working at Meyland Hall with the building and grounds crew. Edward, along with his wife Judy and two sons, Bradley and Barry enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, and just about every sport.

Kelly Lawson

Dining Services

Elizabeth Bartanen

Renee Burns

Sandra Dagenais

Steven Laurich

Chris Matthews

Library

Kay Schwartz is a senior library assistant at Olson Library. Kay raised her family here in Marquette, then retired from Ameritech/SBC and moved to Denver, Colorado. After four years in Denver working as a substitute teacher, she returned to Marquette. Kay has a B.S. in teaching from NMU, and her interests outside of work include downhill skiing, weight training, swimming, decorating and reading.

Bradley Scott

Recreational Services

Tricia Sheldon is right at home in Marquette having graduated from Marquette Senior High School and then receiving her B.S. in management from NMU. Tricia now joins the NMU team as the Assistant Program Manager for recreational services. Outside of work Tricia enjoys kayaking, golfing and working out.

Jeffery Skoog

Christine Lake joins NMU as the assistant concessions manager for the recreational facilities & services. Originally from Battle Creek, Christine received her B.S. from NMU. Christine and her husband are awaiting the arrival of their first child at the end of August 2002.

Student Services

William Bernard has joined Northern Michigan University as associate provost for student services and enrollment. He comes to Marquette from Waterloo, Iowa, where he spent about seven years as vice president of student services at Hawkeye Community College. At NMU, Bernard will oversee all student service functions. These include admissions, financial aid, student activities and housing and residence life. He assumes the duties of Karen Reese, who retired last year.Bernard holds a master's degree in education administration and a bachelor's degree in industrial education from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville. He is joined in Marquette by his wife, Mary, an RN, and his 16-year-old daughter Erin. The couple's 19-year-old daughter Tera is continuing her studies at Iowa State University.

Pamela Clark is a senior secretary in the Dean of Students disability services office. She has earned an associate's degree in business and is a senior in the technical communications program at NMU. Currently, she manages the department's website. Her interests outside of work include music, reading, motorcycles, and bicycling. Pam started college at 40 and is now reached senior status. She says it definitely helped her appreciate what her kids were going through at college!

Christine Greer, the Assistant Dean of Students, is a graduate of Georgetown University with a bachelor of arts degree in history and Michigan State University with a master of arts degree in higher education administration. She worked in the residence halls at Georgetown and Michigan State, was coordinator of student activities and counseling services at West Shore Community College in Scottville, Michigan, director of student services at Woodbury University in Los Angeles, assistant dean of student affairs at Georgetown, and counselor in learning support services at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland. Chris is a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She is married with four children.

Are you a new member of the NMU faculty or staff and don't see your picture or bio on this page? Send the NMU Web Team an e-mail and let us know all about you. Send your e-mail to ericjohn@nmu.edu