Engineering Camps are now open for registration in collaboration with the Northern Arizona University College of Engineering! These camps are designed for current middle school students and run Monday-Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. No experience is required, and each camp is $290. Students can choose from exciting topics like Robotics and Video Design or Civil & Environmental Engineering and Semiconductors & Microelectronics.
Across Arizona, public educators know how to help their students succeed, but they often think they can’t make meaningful change without permission from the state. Permission Granted, a new tool co-developed by NAU’s Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy, aims to show schools there’s more flexibility than they think—and they can use it to their advantage to adjust bell schedules, launch career-readiness initiatives and more.
From first cue to final bow, Jacks take the lead
Students in NAU’s theater program don’t just perform—they also produce. Every theater production runs entirely on student power, with Lumberjacks stepping into the spotlight, building sets, programming lights, mixing sound, patching costumes, promoting shows and managing the chaos. It’s all about teamwork, community and hands-on learning.
VIDEO: The canoe bug hypothesis
Jut Wynne, assistant research professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, set sail on a 1,700-nautical-mile voyage across the South Pacific in search of new species of invertebrates that could help timestamp the movements of early Polynesians across the islands. Watch his journey and find out what he discovered.
Shaping the world one sound at a time
Jordan Strohmeyer is exploring how audio shapes our world. Through the Lumberjacks Thrive Externship program, he has made connections and gained an inside look at what the industry he wants to explore after graduation is like, finding inspiration at the intersection of art and science.
VIDEO: Run like a girl
Looking to swing your axe of service this year? Local nonprofit organization Girls on the Run is looking for coaches who can help teach perseverance, inner and outer strength and the joy of physical activity to girls in third through eighth grade. Watch a video to learn more about Girls on the Run, then visit NAU’s Axe of Service website to get involved.
For the Dorsey 5, being a Lumberjack is in their blood. From 2017 to 2023, Justin, Brandon, Brittni, Khalil and Tommie have graduated from NAU, creating a legacy of excellence—three were student-athletes (Khalil is now a cornerback for the Detroit Lions), and Brittni earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Learn how they’re continuing that legacy as alums.
Introducing the Maria and Steve Sanghi
College of Nursing
NAU announced today that it has named its College of Nursing the Maria and Steve Sanghi College of Nursing in recognition of a recent gift from the longtime NAU supporters. The investment will strengthen nursing education, expand student and faculty support and help address Arizona’s critical nursing workforce shortage.
One of the biggest mysteries of the Grand Canyon is how exactly water gets from the surface into the springs. We know the basics—it snows on the Kaibab Plateau, the snow melts into sinkholes and the water comes roaring out of springs below the North Rim. But what does the journey from the sinkholes through thousands of feet of rock look like? Researchers at NAU are mapping the area to find the answer.
For National Girls and Women in Sport Day on Feb. 4, hear from student-athletes across NAU Athletics about the first time they picked up a ball or club or laced on running shoes, their best moments wearing blue and gold and how their athletic careers are helping prepare them for their professional careers, in their sport or in an office.
Cultivating wellness for women farmers
Hidden underneath the tough exterior of women in agriculture lies a growing mental health crisis shaped by isolation, financial pressure and relentless farm stress. Gayle Gratop, a doctoral student at NAU and a farmer herself, is finding ways to offer support, filling in the gaps where existing systems fall short.
Why was Japan’s 2011 earthquake so deadly?
A new seafloor study coauthored by an NAU faculty member revealed one reason for this unusually devastating earthquake and tsunami. Learn what happened on the seafloor off Japan and how this study could help scientists understand and respond to other intense earthquakes and tsunamis.
View this email as a webpage. Jan. 20, 2026 We deliver top headlines to the Lumberjack community every Tuesday and Thursday during the academic year. For more, visit news.nau.edu. Honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy On Monday, the NAU…
A day in the life
After a long pause, HRM’s Job Shadow Program is back, immersing students in the nonstop rhythm of hotel and restaurant operations. During the winter break, students stepped into industrial kitchens, executive offices and behind front desks to witness how hospitality comes to life.
Change starts with you
You don’t need special skills to make a difference; all you need is the willingness to help. The volunteers at the Flagstaff Family Food Center have been helping change people’s lives for 34 years, distributing more than 7.4 million pounds of food to the northern Arizona community last year alone. In this month’s volunteer video highlight, see how you can be part of the change.
For NAU physicists, it’s snowflake season
When water molecules solidify and stick together in cold air, they form complex hexagonal formations known as snowflakes. As it turns out, fabricated gold, copper and iron nanocrystals do the same thing during lightning-fast chemical reactions. This new discovery by NAU researchers could give scientists better control over the nanomaterials they fabricate, leading to unprecedented breakthroughs.
Meet Earth’s biggest sodium seekers
While it’s easy for us humans to get plenty of sodium in our diets, some of the world’s largest land animals have access to a pinch too little. A new study from NAU researchers showed that elephants, rhinos, giraffes and other large plant-eaters can only get enough salt in a few specific areas of the world, limiting their population growth.
More than 2,600 students graduate in two ceremonies at the Skydome on Friday. Read on for everything you need to know, including parking and traffic patterns and how to get up-to-the-minute updates.
Making medicine better for all
As an undergraduate at NAU, Ashley Martinez took a chance and reached out to a faculty member who looked like her. A few years later, she’s thriving as a graduate researcher whose work could contribute to more effective and sustainable drugs, better vaccines and more. Martinez’s work continues thanks to the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program, one of the most prestigious awards in the nation.
Lumberjacks bring the Mother Road to Macy’s
NAU’s Lumberjack Marching Band just made history as the first college band from Arizona to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! See photos from the band’s trip to New York City, where they entertained locals in Central Park, braved the rain during a dress rehearsal and repped the Mother Road with a rendition of “Route 66.” Plus, watch a cute video clip of Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett cheering them on from the sidelines.
Predicting the fate of tropical forests via (rainforest) tea leaves
Researchers at Northern Arizona University and the Smithsonian went to the top of a Panamanian rainforest to simulate heat death in leaves and measure the effects on surrounding leaves. The results were encouraging: Tropical forests may be less sensitive to climate change than originally feared.
Paws in training
Karen Sealander, a professor in the Department of Educational Specialties, brings her dog to work every day, though not strictly for puppy snuggles. For more than 20 years, she has helped raise service dogs in training as a volunteer puppy raiser for the national nonprofit Canine Companions. From teaching them how to sit in a classroom full of people to training them to stay when an NAU food bot blocks their path, her work has infused NAU with a happy helping of puppy love.
Meet the Gold Axe winners
This year’s class is composed of 23 Gold Axe winners, including two President’s Prize winners, and 10 students who were honored as Distinguished Seniors of their colleges. See who won and what President Cruz Rivera said about their accomplishments.
NAU students built a camera. It’s going to Mars.
Four cameras built by students and faculty at Northern Arizona University will soon launch into deep space on a dual spacecraft bound for Mars. Two traditional cameras and two infrared cameras, designed and constructed by 35 NAU students over the course of three semesters, will capture images from the research mission ESCAPADE.
DYK you can watch the launch? Check back this weekend for a link to the livestream and the schedule.
For National STEM Day on Nov. 8, hear from four students in each of the four areas—science, technology, math and engineering—about what drew them to their majors and what they hope to do once they enter the workforce.
By celebrating Native American Heritage Month at NAU, “we honor our living presence, our resilience and the strength that continues to guide our peoples forward,” said Sheena Hale, director of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures. Browse this November’s events.
Every year, the fall festivities of Homecoming unite NAU students, alumni, faculty, staff and the local community. Get ready for a week of celebrating everything that makes Lumberjack life unforgettable, from a bonfire and pep rally to an exciting football game and more.
In 1976, Lumberjack William Alger was two classes away from graduating from NAU when an acceptance to pharmacy school whisked him away to California. The retired health executive, who first earned his doctorate then master’s, always vowed to return and finish his bachelor’s degree. Fifty-two years later, he’s finally ready to cross that commencement stage with the Lumberjack Class of 2025.
In an era dominated by digital media, some professors at NAU are embracing handmade zines as creative projects, offering students a tactile, artistic way to synthesize knowledge. Now, efforts are underway to curate a Zine Fest showcasing students’ self-published works and highlighting how zines hold powerful stories that deserve recognition beyond the classroom.
Give back at Sharon’s Attic
Looking to use some of your NAU volunteer hours this fall? Check out Sharon’s Attic Thrift Store, a nonprofit whose proceeds support transitional housing for people and families experiencing homelessness. Whether you’d like to exercise your creative muscles setting up a display or channel your inner Marie Kondo by helping to organize the store, your Axe of Service are appreciated at Sharon’s Attic.
How to think about ink
From ritual to rebellion, tattooing has been used across cultures and centuries to mark identity, tell stories and challenge norms. An anthropology class at NAU uses social science to think through what tattoos say about us and the worlds we come from.
Building bikes for local children, a fun-filled block party and casino night and a record-making football game that included a Hail Mary pass in the final seconds of the first half—Lumberjacks know how to do Family Weekend right! NAU Social was out over the weekend to capture all the fun.
• NAU Office of Inclusion announces September calendar of events on Sept. 16, 19, 24, 26
• More details to come — NAU Hispanic Heritage Month Football game to feature halftime performance by NAU’s Mariachi Los Madereros on Sept. 26
• NAU Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month Tailgate Party to be held at Walkup Skydome on Oct. 4
• Coconino Community College to present course on ‘Exploring Flagstaff’s Latino Heritage and Community’ with Eva Barraza on Oct. 9, 16, 23 and 30
Faculty behind the lens
What do NAU’s photography faculty do when they’re not teaching? Make art, of course! The new exhibit “Here, Together” showcases these Lumberjacks’ visual storytelling skills, with a wide array of captivating photojournalism, portraiture, landscapes and adventure shots. The exhibit is open to the public through Sept. 30.
The science behind every bite
The 36th Flagstaff Festival of Science promises to be a tasty treat. This year’s theme is Harvesting Knowledge, with talks, workshops, tours and other experiences uncovering traditional food science and its relevance to the environment, community health and culture. Here’s a list of some of the events at NAU.
Dementia is a growing public health concern throughout the United States, yet rural and underserved communities—particularly Native American populations—face unique barriers to early detection and care. A study headed by a psychology professor is building bridges to close the gap in the memory care desert that is northern Arizona.
The gray area of AI in academics
Artificial intelligence has quickly become part of the fabric of academic life, causing scholars to ask: When does innovation come at the expense of integrity? Two NAU faculty members and one Lumberjack alumna are part of a research team that’s examining the ethical gray area of AI usage in academic publishing.
Welcome back, Jacks!
It’s been a big week for new Lumberjacks. When they weren’t toting luggage around campus and saying goodbye to loved ones, they were enjoying a Welcome Week full of music, games, meet-and-greets and more. Flip through a few photo highlights and watch this Welcome Week video.
Protecting the Grand Canyon’s water from fire
The Dragon Bravo Fire could threaten the drinking water supply for millions of visitors and thousands of workers at the Grand Canyon, but not if Abraham Springer has anything to say about it. With rapid-response funding from the National Science Foundation, the NAU researcher is working with Grand Canyon National Park, the U.S. Geological Survey and other colleagues to protect Roaring Springs, the park’s sole water source.
Audrey O’Connell speaks to the camera
Fit it in a Minute
with Audrey O’Connell
Have you heard about the Training Development and Technology Adoption services? O’Connell, the lead technical training analyst, explains how the TDTA team creates training materials that support the NAU community. Can she fit it in a minute?
Gov. Katie Hobbs, an NAU social work graduate, met with NAU leaders to discuss how the university is confronting the state’s healthcare worker shortage through academic programs, research projects and infrastructure improvements.
Armed with sketchbooks, theory and a healthy dose of curiosity, a group of NAU students set out across the Alpine region—not just to admire the landscape, but also to decode the invisible forces that have shaped art in the area for centuries.
Two of Arizona’s best and brightest are headed to Flagstaff this fall. Cianna Brooks and Grace Smithson are part of the 20-person class of 2025 Flinn Scholars, a coveted merit-based award that covers eight semesters of tuition, fees, housing and meals and even provides funds for study abroad and professional development. Brooks and Smithson beat out 1,100 other high school seniors to score the Flinn Foundation-supported scholarship, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Learn more about these two impressive incoming students as they prepare for freshman year.
Beekeeping is about more than making honey. According to assistant teaching professor Patrick Pynes, it’s also a powerful way to support biodiversity, strengthen local ecosystems and connect with nature. Every summer, Pynes’ Introductory Beekeeping Workshop teaches northern Arizonans how to take up this fun, sustainable hobby.
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President José Luis Cruz Rivera has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education. Find out what this means for NAU’s leadership.
Robotic exoskeletons are the future of helping people with certain disabilities perform daily tasks, but they can be prohibitively difficult and expensive to develop. Mechanical engineering associate professor Zach Lerner, whose research has focused on developing this technology, led a team that created OpenExo, an open-source exoskeleton framework, which will open doors for researchers globally to help speed up life-changing robotic discoveries. Want to see the exoskeletons at work? Check out this video from NAU-TV.
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High notes and cool vibes abound at the annual Flagstaff Piano Festival. This year’s weeklong experience will bring together celebrated artists, young pianists, educators and music lovers between June 21-28.
How are you using GenAI?
NAU is integrating generative AI into its educational programs through innovative projects funded by the Office of the Provost’s TRAIL grants. These initiatives include using AI-enhanced ultrasound in physical therapy classes, AI tools in business analytics and AI-generated conversations with historical conservationists in environmental courses. The goal is to enhance learning experiences and better prepare students for a tech-driven future. (Editor’s note: Could you tell this summary was written by AI?)
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If an asteroid starts careening toward Flagstaff tomorrow, could it obliterate the city? That depends on whether it’s made of gravel, metal or something else entirely. With grant funds from NASA, two scientists at NAU—professor David Trilling and Ph.D. student Remington Cantelas—will use cutting-edge telescope technology to find and analyze 1,000 different asteroids that orbit near Earth to better understand what materials these celestial bodies are made of. In addition to helping scientists map out the solar system, their work could also help save Earth from destructive collisions.
Where to turn for help in the wake of a wildfire
With wildfires affecting communities throughout Arizona, residents need clear guidance and actionable steps to recover. NAU experts helped create a guide for individuals and communities navegating the aftermath of these devastating events.
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Lyndel Manson, a Northern Arizona University alumna and 8-year member of the Arizona Board of Regents; Flagstaff City Councilwoman Deborah Harris, who worked at NAU for several years in various roles; Emmett Burnton, a history teacher at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem and Arizona Teacher of the Year; and activist and former NAU anthropology professor Miguel Vasquez will be recognized with honorary doctorates. Each will provide the keynote address during one of NAU’s four commencement ceremonies.
Meet this third-generation Flagstaff resident whose unique approach in the classroom earned him the distinction of 2025 College of Education Teacher of the Year. Learn how he fell in love with teaching and what advice he gives future educators.
At NAU, coveted research positions aren’t just for graduate students. Each year, hundreds of undergraduates participate in, and even lead, research projects across dozens of subjects. The NAU and Flagstaff communities can learn all about their groundbreaking findings at the annual Undergrad Symposium, happening April 25. In preparation for the big event, we’re spotlighting a handful of student research projects in zooarchaeology, communication sciences and more.
Green Transportation Week, a new initiative from the Office of Sustainability, invites students, faculty and staff to celebrate Earth Day by leaving the car at home and finding alternative modes of transportation. Participate in events throughout the week of April 21-25 and win bikes, gift cards and a healthier lifestyle!
NAU students and senior citizens don’t have too many opportunities to interact with each other—but Honors College student Emma Patterson is changing that. Inspired by her relationship with her grandparents, Patterson launched a pen pal program connecting NAU students with residents at The Peaks as part of an independent study course. The writing club not only bridges generational gaps but also encourages students to see beyond seniors’ physical and mental limitations.
Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander culture
Azah Quach, manager of Louie’s Cupboard within the Lumberjack CARE Center, remembers feeling “huge culture shock” when she moved from Hawaii to the mainland. “I was suddenly in a space where I rarely saw anyone who looked like me, and I felt out of place in ways I hadn’t before,” Quach said. “That experience highlighted just how important it is to celebrate students from a wide variety of Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds.”
The social work professor received the National Association of Social Workers’ Transformational Educator of the Year. Find out what inspired her to become an educator and what this award means to her.
Helping students adjust to college life
A program for incoming students wants to make sure they feel at ease during their first year in college by showing them the ropes, helping them make friends and giving them a sense of belonging, all while learning leadership skills and supporting their fellow Lumberjacks.
A different kind of book report
When words fail, how do you express your thoughts and feelings? That’s a question Carla Wilson, an assistant teaching professor of women’s and gender studies, set out to answer with the Radical Sketchbook Project. Inspired by a similar project founded 20 years ago in New York City, Wilson’s class asks students to take what they’re learning and experiencing and communicate it in a creative way. Wilson said sending messages via sketchbook, rather than words, is a unique way to start conversations on complex issues.
Right now, the most effective carbon sink in the world is dirt—specifically the permafrost in boreal and tundra ecosystems in the northern parts of the world, which store twice as much carbon as is currently in the atmosphere. As the climate warms and increasingly severe wildfires disrupt those soils, this carbon can be released into the atmosphere. Biologist Xanthe Walker received a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation to determine just how serious this loss could be in the coming years.
The original Cretaceous influencer
Just how much did dinosaurs 65 million years ago affect the Earth as we know it? A lot, and NAU researchers just discovered one more way. New research led by ecoinformatics professor Chris Doughty shows that the evolution of fruit—and the evolution of fruit-eating primates, the early ancestors of humans—was influenced by the “ecosystem engineering” of large sauropods.
