The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees voted to confirm Ferris State University
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs as their new president.
Erickson, who has served as Ferris' provost and VPAA since 2009, was among four finalists
for the presidency who have spent the last few weeks at NMU participating in public
forums to meet with students, faculty, staff and community members.
Erickson will succeed current president David Haynes, who plans to return to the faculty
after his two-year appointment ends June 30. Erickson will assume the presidency on
July 1, becoming the university's 15th president.
Ferris State University President David Eisler congratulates Erickson on his appointment.
"Dr. Erickson has done a superb job as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs
at Ferris. He is ready for the challenge of leading Northern Michigan University as
its next president and am very delighted for him and his wife, Jan. We have been truly
fortunate to have a leader with his ability, capacity and integrity. As a friend and
colleague, we will truly miss him, but we are excited for him and wish him great success."
Eisler said Erickson's noted accomplishments have included making Ferris academically
nimble in its course offerings, developing a culture for effective academic leadership,
identifying methods for increasing retention and graduation rates while reducing student
debt, creating greater opportunities for academic success for all students and laying
the groundwork for sustained online growth.
In the announcement made by NMU today, Erickson said, "It means the world to Jan and
me to have the opportunity to return to the Upper Peninsula and work at such a wonderful
university. I am deeply honored to have been selected. I believe Northern has great
faculty, great staff and fantastic students, and I look forward to being their president."
Erickson is on the NMU campus this afternoon to greet the university community.
The other presidential candidates were Robert Ackerman, professor of law and former
dean at the Wayne State University Law School in Detroit; Greg Cant, founding dean
of the Offutt School of Business; and Cynthia Pemberton, provost and vice president
for Academic Affairs and professor of education at Dickinson State University in Dickinson,
N.D.
Located in Marquette, NMU is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university
of about 9,000 students and 180 degree programs that has grown its reputation based
on its nationally recognized academic programs, award-winning leadership programs
and cutting-edge technology initiatives.
