NMU interviews first candidate for provost job

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University is looking for a new provost and vice president for academic affairs. The first of the four candidates to make it to the interview stage has been visiting the campus this week.

Dr. Gersham Nelson is the dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Central Missouri. He had a public interview at the University Center.

Dr. Nelson says he’s actually had his eye on NMU for about 15 years now.

“Northern was among the very first institutions to recognize that we were living in a communication age and, therefore, introduce to its students the use of the laptop on campus,” he said.

The three other candidates will have public interviews within the next few weeks. Dr. Paul Lang, who had served as NMU’s provost since 2012, passed away two weeks ago.