Tag: NAU

The NAU Review — Non-traditional grad finds passion in special ed, exploring the icy surface of Europa and Santa rides the bus

Lorie Lee never imagined she’d make it to university; she is now graduating with two degrees, having won the prestigious President’s Prize. A mother of three and non-traditional student, her inspiring tale begins earlier than her first day at NAU. As a child, Lee experienced poverty, a mother with substance abuse issues and a father unwilling to care for her. Through the support of her friends and teachers, Lee found a love and passion for education and excelled academically. Married and raising three children with special needs, Lee enrolled at NAU’s North Valley campus and is earning a bachelor’s degree in both elementary education and special education.

The NAU Review — Engineering an escape, soil microbes—friend or foe?, how alumni are helping current Lumberjacks thrive

Figuring out how to get out of an escape room can be stressful. Now imagine your challenge isn’t to get out of the escape room—it’s to build one, troubleshoot it and then make fixes on the fly when things break as people move through them. That’s what mechanical engineering student Valentin Gamez did alongside his compatriots in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It was a great opportunity to put their engineering skills to good use as well as let the community have a good time. It also provided a rare opportunity for Gamez’s family to come from California and experience the work he did. Gamez graduates next week and starts his new job at Gore in 2023.

NAU to present ‘Human Rights Across the Americas!’ in-person, Zoom presentation on Dec. 5

On Monday Dec 5 from 11am-12:15pm in the Blome Conference Room (and on Zoom) we are hosting a roundtable discussion with a Human Rights Across the Americas group through the State Department’s international visitor leadership program.  This is a unique opportunity, especially in Flagstaff, to hear from a diverse group of Latin American Human Rights activists! All students, staff, and faculty are welcome and translation will be provided.

The NAU Review — NAU Flagstaff receives its first Hispanic Serving Institution grant: Meet the two women who made it happen

NAU’s School of Forestry recently received the first HSI grant for the Flagstaff campus. Yeon-Su Kim, executive director and professor, and Anita Antoninka, assistant research professor in the School of Forestry, won an award of more than a quarter-million dollars for support in the professional development and training of the next generation of Hispanic leaders to manage resilient forests under a changing climate. The community is mourning the unexpected death of Yeon-Su, who leaves behind a legacy of scholarship, numerous grants, professional firsts and faculty and students supported and mentored by her.

The NAU Review — A grad says no to the familiar, the effect of grazing on drylands and the anthropology of Star Trek

Valerie Pietrczak, who graduates in December, has kept busy during her time at NAU. She’s had three internships, including a six-month stint at Audi HQ in Germany; she is in the NAU Wind Symphony, which went to the national championship this year; and she’s a member of the Honors College. As for what’s next, well, figuring that out is part of the fun.

The NAU Review — XC champions, tips for hosting Thanksgiving and the importance of shopping small this holiday season

After stellar performances by runners Nico Young and Drew Bosley (who placed second and third, respectively), the men’s cross country team defended their title as national champions, winning for the third consecutive year. The women placed sixth—the team’s best finish since 2007. This is only the fourth time in program history that both teams have placed in the top 10 and the first time that both teams have placed in the top six.

The NAU Review — Planetary space exploration, honoring Gold Axe winners and other graduating seniors and the politics around the World Cup

Space exploration goes underground

For millennia, caves have served as shelters for prehistoric humans. Caves have also intrigued scholars from early Chinese naturalists to Charles Darwin. Cave ecologist Jut Wynne has been in and out of these subterranean ecosystems, examining the unique life forms—and unique living conditions—that exist in Earth’s many caves. But what does that suggest about caves on other planetary bodies? In two connected studies, Wynne, along with dozens of co-authors including engineers, astrophysicists, astrobiologists and astronauts, lay out the research that needs to be done to get us closer to answering the age-old question about life beyond Earth.

The NAU Review — Expanding A2E to Arizona’s tribes, what to know about NaNoWriMo and a National Recycling Day quiz

President José Luis Cruz Rivera and Vice President for Native American Initiatives Ann Marie Chischilly announced Monday that NAU’s popular Access2Excellence program, which provides a tuition-free education for Arizona students from households with an annual income of $65,000/year or less, will now be expanded to first-time undergraduate students who are members of Arizona’s federally recognized Native American tribes. The program, which goes into effect in Fall 2023, reflects the university’s longstanding commitment to Native American and Indigenous students.

The NAU Review — A veteran’s journey to NAU, Fit it in a Minute with Pete Yanka and NAU Theatre’s Orlando

Former Marine finds a new calling

Tyler Derzay had a plan for his life. It didn’t involve math classes and final exams, and it definitely never included a graduate degree in engineering. Yet, this former Marine, who will graduate next month as the standard-bearer for the College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences before beginning grad school, found a journey worth taking. As a Lumberjack, he made connections with professors and at the Veterans Success Center, met his wife and found a new life path that honored his family history as much as his military career did.

The NAU Review — Homecoming photos, making STEM inclusive and women’s soccer champions!

View this email as a webpage. Nov. 8, 2022 LumberSNAPS: Homecoming 2022 From the student carnival and dedicatee banquet to the Saturday morning parade and a hard-fought football game, Lumberjacks from near and far celebrated a week of Homecoming at…

The NAU Review Welcome to the space cam! + real-life CSI and an award for service to humanity

It’s a tight fit in the cleanroom, but the students wearing “bunny suits,” who move around each other and all the equipment, are too focused on the work to worry about personal space. They’re part of a new project called VISIONS—a mission to design, build and test a new dual wavelength camera system that could go into space. Planetary sciences professor Christopher Edwards is leading a team of 27 students on the project, which is being done to NASA’s exacting standards, with the dual goals of getting it onto a spacecraft in upcoming years and giving students unparalleled hands-on experience that will prepare them for graduate school or industry careers.

The NAU Review — Celebrate Native American Heritage Month, World Vegan Day and a Big Sky win!

Participate in different events, including speakers, panels, Stew Fest, Rock Your Mocs and a variety of other interactive and educational activities. The month recognizes the significance of Native American history, culture and issues and what this means to our students, faculty, staff and the Flagstaff community. “Most importantly,” Ora Marek-Martinez said, “we would like to take the time this month to educate our communities about the important sacrifices and contributions that Native Americans have made to our country and communities.” NAU sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans throughout the region. We honor their past, present and future generations who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.

The NAU Review — Celebrating World OT and International Religious Freedom Day, scary movies and RaMPing up research

Opportunity + Choice = Justice
Arantxa Amaya always knew she wanted a career that allowed her to help underserved communities become healthier. This goal led her to NAU’s occupational therapy program at the Phoenix Bioscience Core, where she is working on her doctorate. For World Occupational Therapy Day, learn more about one of the NAU students preparing for a career in this critical field of health care: “In the future, I would like to continue my OT journey in the field of pediatrics. I know I want to serve my community, working with underrepresented populations and advocating for diversity within the profession.” 

The NAU Review — Tackling health disparities through big data, meet the ASNAU President and saving the monarch butterfly

How can big data help eliminate health disparities?

Amit Kumar grew up in one of the poorest areas of the world. He’s seen firsthand how systemic inequalities, often attributed to race and poverty, affect people’s health. The assistant professor’s research has looked at these disparities in various communities, particularly focused on stroke care, and his work is going to a new level with a $3.8 million grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The project won’t just identify disparities in treatment and health outcomes among stroke patients; Kumar’s goal with this work is to help health care providers, policymakers and patients make more informed decisions and provide better care.

The NAU Review — Removing greenhouse gases from the air, a professor makes history and an innovation hub

We know the Earth is warming, and society is struggling to slow emissions quickly enough to make a real difference. So scientists are looking at other options, including removing greenhouse gases from the air. Easy, right? According to mechanical engineer Jennifer Wade, it’s a difficult task, but not an insurmountable one. She is leading two federally funded projects that are addressing the critical question of how to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, thus slowing the devastating effects of global climate change. It’s part of a national effort called the Carbon Negative Earthshot: Being able to remove carbon at $100 a ton at a scale of a million tons per year. Learn how her lab is working toward that goal.

The NAU Review — The dangers of a thawing Arctic, putting Homecoming 🎡 on your calendar and National Transfer Student Week

Mark your calendars! It’s time to celebrate the Lumberjack family.

This year, NAU is celebrating 123 years as an institution, and Lumberjacks from near and far are returning to their alma mater to help celebrate during Homecoming week. With a variety of activities scheduled for Nov. 1-5, Lumberjacks of all ages are encouraged to participate. VP of Alumni Engagement Stephanie Smith said, “We sure do have a lot to celebrate this year! If this is your first year at NAU or your 20th year in Flagstaff, Homecoming is a fun time for all. And don’t forget to bring your roommate, friends, neighbors and family to the parade before cheering on the Jacks against Montana State!”

The NAU Review — One student’s story of war and survival, calling for donations and testing air quality at the Cocopah Head Start

Surviving refugee camps, abuse and losing loved ones to suicide
Personalized Learning student Aida Sibic grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There, she experienced firsthand the horrors of war, genocide and the trauma that followed. She recently sat down with The NAU Review to discuss her childhood, how she and her family escaped war, what brought her to NAU and her recently published memoir, Luck Follows the Brave.

The NAU Review — NAU’s campuswide family reunion, how to celebrate Disability Pride and Heritage Month and a local movie premiere

This weekend, NAU played host to thousands of VIPs—the families of our Lumberjacks. This year’s Family Weekend included a barbecue, casino night and football and volleyball victories. NAU Social captured it all, snapping pictures and interviewing a few Lumberjack families about why they love Flagstaff and NAU. Check out the photos, listen to the podcast and watch the video now. 

The NAU Review — Our Homecoming dedicatee, a beetle’s gut and how to get your NAUPD pink patch

Alicia Voytek named Homecoming dedicatee!
Voytek was presenting to a group of campus living staff when the team’s meeting was interrupted by a crowd of people who marched in the room, waving pompoms and cheering loudly. “Um, what’s happening?” she asked. The intruders circled around her, and Voytek’s eyes began to well as she realized the cause for the unannounced parade: she was this year’s Homecoming dedicatee.

The NAU Review — A++, World Teachers’ Day and the installation recap of President Cruz Rivera

In a new, first-of-its-kind partnership, Northern Arizona University will partner with all ten community college districts across the state and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to launch the Arizona Attainment Alliance (A++). This collaboration aims to harness the collective impact of distinct institutions based on a shared desire to dramatically boost Arizona’s postsecondary attainment rate. A++ represents a new kind of student-centered postsecondary ecosystem, one based on collaboration across shared interests and priorities and the optimization of complementary assets in service to Arizonans.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — NAU Holds Master Plan Open House on Oct. 6

Northern Arizona University will hold a Community Open House on Thursday, October 6 to discuss the development of its Smart, Sustainable, Comprehensive Campus Master Plan, which will provide a framework for land use, open space and facility development at NAU.

NAU is asking that you register for the session, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the High Country Conference Center.

The master plan will emphasize “smart campus” capabilities to drive new efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions, and effectively manage resources. NAU is working with DLR Group, a nationally recognized design firm, in developing the master plan.

The NAU Review — DART watch party, the Community Expo and a podcast about podcasts

On Monday, at 4:13 p.m. (Arizona time), more than 7 million miles away, NASA’s DART mission successfully slammed into the asteroid Dimorphos, making history as the first step toward a possible future planetary defense strategy that includes redirecting asteroids on a collision course with Earth. Cristina Thomas, assistant professor in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science and team lead on the DART mission, along with Jason Wilder, vice president for research, were at mission control in Laurel, Maryland, to witness the historic moment unfold.

The NAU Review — The search for a Valley Fever vaccine, being a tourist in your own town and reducing gastric cancer rates on the Navajo Nation

Is Valley Fever the next epidemic? In Arizona, where the fungal disease thrives, it’s a major health concern—one that’s increasing as climate change leads to hotter, drier regions nationwide. It’s critical enough that congressional leaders gave the National Institutes of Health a mandate to develop a Valley Fever vaccine in the next decade. Paul Keim, executive director of the Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, is leading a $7.5 million collaborative effort with the University of Washington School of Medicine to develop that vaccine, with PMI professors Bridget Barker and Erik Settles playing key roles in the research.

The NAU Review — How to get involved, NAU’s secret garden and Notes from the President

When Michelle Gardner arrived at NAU as a freshman, she didn’t know a single person. She wanted to make friends but had no idea how to meet people. Then, she attended the Welcome Week Club Fair and learned about New Student Government. She didn’t have a particular interest in government, but the people at the booth were nice, so she decided to get involved. The rest is history. She went on to join the Honors program, work for The Lumberjack newspaper, serve as an orientation leader, teach HON/NAU 100 and even host a radio show on KJACK—making countless friends and even more memories that shaped her entire college experience. Nearly two decades later, she now serves as the director of the Office of Leadership & Engagement and helps ensure all Lumberjacks have access to finding their own “home” or community. She has simple advice for students: GET INVOLVED—it will change your life.

The NAU Review — Photos that capture eternity, presidential installation events and the annual Festival of Science

Landscape photographer David Muench spent more than six decades using his camera lens to bring the wonders of the American Southwest to the world. Muench spent much of those years in northern Arizona, photographing the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, the red rocks of Sedona and the San Francisco Peaks, capturing fleeting moments that became eternal through his photography. He recently donated his entire collection to Cline Library’s Special Collections and Archives, where it joins the collection of his father, Josef Muench, a longtime Arizona Highways photographer.

The NAU Review — How mentoring shapes students’ lives, ITEP’s 30th anniversary and the American Songster at NAU

Assistant chemistry professor Naomi Lee had a number of mentors through her undergraduate and graduate work, each encouraging her to try something new, take a risk, set high goals and keep working toward them. When she was looking for jobs after completing postdoctoral fellowships, she was drawn to NAU not only for the scientific opportunities but for the chance to be that mentor to other Native students in the sciences and to help her own community.

“I want to be the first Native researcher who designs a vaccine specifically for Native communities,” Lee said. “While my work may be beneficial to the general population, I strive to look at research questions through an Indigenous lens. I want to use my skills to make healthier, happier communities.”

The NAU Review — You are not alone

For World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10, Flagstaff community member Megan McCarthy shares the story of her son, Lane, who lost his life to suicide at the age of 23. McCarthy has a message for everyone dealing with depression, pain, sadness, anxiety or mental illness: You are not alone. Join the conversation and help break the stigma surrounding mental health. “We can be the voice that changes the future,” she said. 

The NAU Review — Big data bootcamp, finding one’s roots and researching the stigma of drug addiction

How do you find a needle in a haystack? You write an algorithm that can scan the haystack and identify the tiny needle amid all the hay. That’s what seven undergraduate students did during an inaugural astroinformatics bootcamp, only the haystack is the entire universe, and the needle is some outlier event that may not even be identified yet. The bootcamp, a collaboration between the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science and the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, was geared toward students from underrepresented groups and aimed to give them experience that will jumpstart their career or journey to grad school.

The NAU Review — Celebrating Indigenous excellence, Notes from the President and all things Title IX

Olivia Konig is full of successes. She is an Honors Indigenous peer mentor with two majors—international affairs and Japanese. She’s heading to Japan in the fall for a year of work and study. She’ll come back to play piano in Carnegie Hall. She wants to be a lawyer after she finishes her degrees at NAU. And to top it all off, she won a Cobell Scholarship—an award that honors a pioneering Native American woman.

The NAU Review — What’s up, Lumberjacks? Find out inside!

Students moved into their residence halls, attended their first concert, showed up for the annual NAU Letters tradition and yesterday attend their first classes of the academic year—and first college classes ever for the Class of 2026. Relive the excitement of NAU move-in (while dodging monsoons), the welcome back concert and the Letters in this slide show.

The NAU Review — The year ahead, National Aviation Day and helping children see

At the inaugural University Convocation Monday, President Cruz Rivera discussed with faculty and staff the highlights of Academic Year 2021-2022 and shared NAU’s three overarching goals for the next academic year: defining the New NAU System, differentiating NAU Online and developing a strategic enrollment management plan that will expand the number of people to whom an NAU education is available.

The NAU Review — A winning Welcome Week, empowering students and illustrating the invisible war of chronic pain

Calling all students: Kick off your Lumberjack experience at Welcome Week!

Whether you’re new to NAU or returning after a summer away, start the year off right with a host of fun Welcome Week activities, including concerts, ice cream socials, club fairs, the NAU Letters photo for the Class of 2026 and more. Get involved. Get connected. Get ready for a great year!

The NAU Review — The footsteps of Holocaust survivors, favorite books of book lovers and a Lumberjack on ‘American Ninja Warrior’

The Holocaust means something different when you stand in the gas chamber at Auschwitz or the tunnels underneath Langenstein. For 20 Arizona public school teachers, how they teach the Holocaust will be changed forever after spending 17 days in Germany and Poland, learning about the Holocaust where the atrocities happened and how those nations and their people grapple with this difficult history in the present. NAU’s Martin-Springer Institute, with the help of several generous donations, led the once-in-a-lifetime educational journey.

The NAU Review — Sustainability, coloring and a record fundraising year!

Championing sustainability

Northern Arizona University’s commitment to sustainability largely manifests itself in the work and dedication of its environmental student groups and sustainability staff. Their efforts have lately culminated in the proposed Climate Action Plan, facilitated by Abraham (Avi) Henn, NAU’s manager of sustainability.

The NAU Review — How adaptive skis provide freedom, new parking options, a world champion and more

Despite a rare condition affecting her joints and muscles, Kim Kolstad was determined to participate in outdoor sports. Through her research, she discovered the Adaptive Ski and Snowboard Program, a collaboration between NAU’s Institute for Human Development and the Northern Arizona Adaptive Sports Association and one of only six programs in the world that provides its participants with TetraSkis, state-of-the-art adaptive ski equipment featuring a joystick and a breath-controlled system for turning and controlling speed, allowing individuals with complex disabilities to ski independently.

The NAU Review — What a martian meteorite means, meet HSI advisor Claudia Rodas and why we should all care about snake fungal disease

Astronomy postdoctoral scholar Valerie Payré is on an international team that discovered the origin of the martian meteorite known as Black Beauty, one of the most-studied meteorites in the world. It may hold clues to the development of Earth and other terrestrial planets and help explain why Earth sustains life when its closest neighbor does not. The results of this study are shared in the latest Nature Communications.

The NAU Review — Preparing for the next pandemic, SAC President Erin Kruse and why digital equity matters

Is a universal coronavirus vaccine in our future? Possibly, according to a recent study from TGen and NAU. The research team, which includes assistant professor Jason Ladner, found that COVID-19 vaccination activates antibodies targeting parts of virus spike protein shared between coronaviruses. This technology could help fine-tune future vaccines.

The NAU Review — SOS: How to help your neighbors protect against flood damage, when forests reburn and the 2022 Dorrance Scholars cohort

Our community is in desperate need of help as the monsoon season brings floods to neighborhoods below the burn scar. Homeowners in the affected areas, including some in our NAU community, need millions of sandbags to protect their property. Lumberjacks are encouraged to use their volunteer hours to fill sandbags—various filling stations are set up throughout the city and county. Consider taking a few hours over the coming days to fill sandbags with friends, coworkers, family and fellow community members. Check in with those who may be affected to see what you can do to help.

The ECoNA Q&A: NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera

José Luis Cruz Rivera recently completed his first year as the 17th President of Northern Arizona University (NAU). To mark this anniversary, we asked him about key initiatives during his first year, NAU’s niche in the higher ed marketplace, what local restaurants he’s discovered, and his upcoming formal installation in September. You can see the full interview here.

Q: What do you feel your biggest success has been this first year?
A: Well, that’s an easy answer. The fact that I survived the Running of the Freshman at the first home football game!

In all seriousness, while there have been many success stories, I think my biggest success has been learning about and connecting with the people and organizations who live and work at NAU, in Flagstaff and throughout northern Arizona. It has been important to me from day one to understand the values here. Time will be the judge of my success leading and supporting the efforts of our awesome university community, but I have truly enjoyed listening and learning and still feel it is a privilege to serve as the President of NAU and live is this amazing and beautiful community.

The NAU Review — Meet NAU’s Udall Scholar, explore archaeological research in the Grand Canyon and celebrate International Women in Engineering Day

Senior wins Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

Beyoncé Bahe took advantage of every opportunity she could when she got to NAU—undergraduate research, studying abroad, being a peer mentor, the Honors College. She’s picked up a couple of prestigious national honors along the way, including her latest accomplishment—the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, which recognizes students preparing for careers in the environment, tribal public policy or Native health care.

The NAU Review — Meet NAU’s 2022 Flinn Scholars, celebrate Juneteenth and learn about astronomical diversity

NAU welcoming two new Flinn Scholars

Emily Delabarra and Kaya Dickson will join the other Flinn Scholars on campus, giving NAU a record six scholars. This prestigious scholarship, which has an acceptance rate of less than 2 percent, offers funding for four years of school as well as mentoring and study abroad opportunities.

The NAU Review — Learn about the force, take a survey and see how NAU is increasing diversity in STEM

pplied physics doctoral student Jorge Muñoz came to NAU almost a decade ago for a master’s degree. After life took him in different directions, he found his way back to Flagstaff, in a new department, working on a Ph.D. and researching the potential uses of force microscopy for investigating advanced functional materials. This work led him to be selected for the Department of Defense’s SMART Scholarship, which pays for the rest of his education and ensures him a job continuing his research after graduation.
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The NAU Review — Celebrating Pride Month, studying blood sugar and new conservation scholars

What does Pride Month really mean?

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ didn’t always mean rainbows and parades. Prior to the 1969 Stonewall Riots, where this community took a stand and fought back against prolonged harassment and oppressive laws, there wasn’t much celebrating at all. Even now, despite June being declared Pride Month, people in this community suffer—2021 was the worst year on record for transgender deaths. So, Assistant Director for LGBTQIA+ Student Services M. Lee Griffin poses the question: How can we make pride a reality for the LGBTQIA+ community? Read more in this Views from NAU.

The NAU Review — One of the greatest in NAU history

NAU’s track & field teams swept the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship for the second consecutive season, claiming their all-time 24th men’s title and 13th women’s title. The Lumberjacks have now swept the Big Sky cross country, indoor and outdoor team team championship titles in the same calendar year for the third time in program history. Coach Mike Smith called the weekend one that he will not forget.

NAU News — Developing future Diné public health leaders starts with early, culturally significant exposure

Successfully guiding Diné youth toward health and public health professions begins with two important ideas––start students in a program in high school and cultivate in them a love and understanding of their own cultural, strength-based assets.

Researchers from Diné College and Northern Arizona University explored these findings and other lessons in their recently released publication, “Engaging Native American High School Students in Public Health Career Preparation Through the Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program.”

The publication examines the Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program (ISEP), a one-week summer training program that exposes Native American high school students to public health careers and mentorship in Tsaile, Arizona.

The NAU Review — Special commencement, Notes from the President, and NAU Review news

NAU is welcoming back 900 alumni this weekend to get their long-awaited, long-delayed opportunity to put on their cap and gown and walk across the stage. The spring and fall classes of 2020 and the spring class of 2021, who had virtual commencement ceremonies during the pandemic, are returning to NAU this weekend for a special celebration.

The NAU Review — A record-breaking run, a new view of CO2, Flagstaff 🚲 Month and an NAU Online grad heads to law school

Nur sets NCAA record in 5,000-meter run
 

Competing with some of the world’s fastest 5,000-meter runners, the stage was set for Abdihamid Nur and Nico Young to make history at Friday night’s Sound Running Track Meet in San Juan Capistrano, California. And make history they did—the pair of Lumberjacks quickly moved into the top five and held their spaces, eventually finishing in first and second. Nur finished with an NCAA record-breaking time of 13:06.32, and Young finished at 13:11.30, the third-fastest collegiate time in history. 

NAU — Convenient and unique summer courses for students and community members

Explore a topic that interests you and learn something new this summer. Northern Arizona University offers summer courses for the whole family—in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and online.

Summer is a great time for NAU students to catch up or get ahead on degree requirements, or supplement their studies with courses that interest them. There’s still time to register for summer sessions that begin May 30 and July 4.

Community members can explore non-credit courses on topics for personal enrichment or professional development. Start dates vary from May through July. From the Young Author’s Day Camp to Developing a Dynamic Strategic Plan for Your Small Business and Intro to Brewing Science, it’s easy to learn something new at NAU this summer.

The NAU Review — Celebrating the Class of 2022, a DOE fellowship and President Cruz Rivera’s top 10(ish) moments of the semester

Almost 5,600 students are graduating this weekend, and four leaders, including an NAU alum and the National Teacher of the Year, will speak at the ceremonies and receive honorary doctorates.

The NAU Review — ‘A transformative public health leader’, understanding asteroids, a third straight for women’s tennis and so much more

When you’re undocumented, you don’t always feel like you have a voice. Alexandra Samarron Longorio wanted to make sure undocumented students did. The first-generation college student took on an undergraduate project that shared stories of Arizona’s undocumented students, and as a master’s of public health student and a senior research coordinator for CHER, she studied how hotel practices and policies affect the health of Latina immigrant housekeepers. She also helped establish Aqui Entre Nos—Just Between Us, a CHER initiative focused on wellness and health for hospitality workers, in collaboration with hotel housekeepers, CHER researchers and other MPH students.

The NAU Review — Introducing Access2Excellence, a new cybersecurity partnership and a career in wildlife ecology for Nicaraguan grad

President José Luis Cruz Rivera announced today that, starting in Fall 2023, NAU will provide tuition-free college education for Arizona residents with household incomes at or below $65,000. This new Access2Excellence initiative reflects the urgent need to broaden participation and increase educational attainment in Arizona, helping students gain the knowledge and skills needed to participate in the state’s booming economy.

The NAU Review — Another for NAU Golf, what to know about inflation and a future Yuma social worker

It’s been seven years since NAU Golf’s last Big Sky Conference championship, but the team put that history behind them last week at Talking Stick Golf Club with a decisive win against Sacramento State, taking the championship and advancing to the NCAA Regionals. The Lumberjacks captured their conference-leading ninth all-time Big Sky title after what coach Brad Bedortha called “a very good year and good semester.” The NCAA Regional will be held May 9-11, and the Lumberjacks will learn their fate at 1 p.m. April 27 on the NCAA Women’s Golf Selection Show on the Golf Channel.

The NAU Review — Who wants to be a park ranger? What’s weird about quantum computing? Who appreciates bats?

NAU’s soon-to-be Ranger James 

James Jensen received a bachelor’s in political science, then quickly got a sales job that left him feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled. After spending a week last summer backpacking through Glacier National Park, he decided it was time for a change; he wanted to pursue something he truly enjoyed—the outdoors. Northern Arizona University’s accelerated Park Ranger Training Program is one of only six in the country. In just 16 short weeks, students earn a certificate that opens the metaphorical door to working in state and national parks throughout the U.S. This week, Jensen and his cohort will graduate. Thanks to this program, he will soon get to work his dream job in his favorite place on Earth. 

The NAU Review — Honoring the Gold Axe, President’s Prize and Distinguished Seniors, a statewide attack on Valley fever and how NAU promotes volunteerism

President Cruz Rivera honored 48 Gold Axe winners, five President’s Prize recipients and nine Distinguished Seniors for their hard work and commitment to their educations and their careers at NAU. “These students have shown incredible resilience and determination to arrive at this point in their academic and personal journeys, and they all have achieved a tremendous amount to excel in their studies and give back in such meaningful ways,” he told the crowd on Tuesday night. The recipients of the President’s Prize, which is the highest award for undergraduates at NAU, are Maylee Acosta, Matthew Billings, Clarreese Greene, Ariana Kelley and Rachell Krell.

The NAU Review — Giving Day, volunteers needed to minimize food waste and the Undergraduate Expo

Support what you love on NAU Giving Day

Give, show your pride and share your love for NAU alongside Lumberjacks throughout the world on Giving Day, our annual celebration of everything that makes NAU great. On Wednesday, wherever you are, don your True Blue and Gold, break out your LJs and donate to your favorite fund. Unsure of where to give? Take the NAU Giving Day online quiz and find the perfect fund to make an impact. 

The NAU Review — Strokes, Alzheimer’s disease and NAU’s student service day

A new study, co-authored by Pamela Bosch, Indrakshi Roy and Amit Kumar, found that people with lower socioeconomic status and people from ethnic minority populations have a greater likelihood of severe stroke than white Americans or those of a higher socioeconomic status. But it’s not just that—those groups also are more likely to have a more severe stroke incident at the time they are admitted to the hospital.

The NAU Review — Celebrating AAPI month, increasing cybersecurity preparedness and graduate research in three minutes

This April, join the NAU community in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Month. IMQ and other organizations will host a variety of events to celebrate and recognize these cultures on campus. With the increase in violence toward Asian and Pacific Islander people, it is especially important to honor and celebrate these countries and cultures.

The NAU Review — 10 ways NAU attacks wildfires, the next phase of quantum computing and HAPA’s annual lu’au

In 2020, federal fire agencies spent a whopping $2.2 billion—that’s billion with a “B”—fighting fires. That number has increased tenfold in the last few decades. For Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week, take a look at NAU’s diverse efforts to increase forest health, improve firefighting capabilities, help communities become more resilient and rebuild after a fire and better understand fire behavior.