NMU holds reception to honor outgoing president David Haynes

Northern Michigan University’s outgoing president David Haynes will hand the university’s reigns to Fritz Erickson June 30.

A reception line filled the Peter White Lounge inside the University Center Friday afternoon as people came to say thanks to Haynes and his wife, Martha.

“In one way or the other, I’ve been around Northern for 40 years and I’ve worked in a lot of capacities, so a chance to get to visit with a lot of people who I don’t get to see as president as often as I did in other roles, so this is a great opportunity just to catch up with people from all around the U.P. and also people here on campus,” Haynes said.

Haynes said there are a number of great things about NMU, from its culture of caring to giving all students an opportunity to succeed.

He’s been talking to Erickson a lot this past month, and said Erickson will complement NMU’s ideals.

“We talk a lot and I told him he’s getting a great asset, a great jewel to work with, and he’s an incredibly talented scholar and he understand the institution and the purpose (of NMU),” Haynes said. “He’s going to be a great fit up here, he really is. Plus, he’s a lot of fun, he has a great personality.”

Haynes will still be a part of the NMU family—he will assist in the transition period between his tenure and Erickson’s, and will also go back to teaching full time.