In 1984, Professor Gary Brunswick was one of many students sitting in the Superior Dome for commencement, awaiting that moment to have years of hard work recognized. Now, Brunswick will return to the same stage he once walked across to deliver the commencement speech on
Dec. 15.

An NMU alumnus with associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in business administration, Brunswick can still remember the excitement of being at the college finish line.

“I worked very hard when I was here at Northern,” Brunswick said in an interview. “For me, it was a major accomplishment to be able to finish. It was a very happy time for me. I was the first in my family to go to college.”

After graduating with a master’s in marketing from Marquette University, Brunswick took a teaching position at NMU in 1991. Being able to come back to NMU as a faculty member is something that Brunswick said he believes offers a unique perspective.

“I took the opportunity and have not regretted it since. I think Northern is a unique place in many ways,” Brunswick said. “The students here have a very strong work ethic and I enjoy that as a faculty member.”

Brunswick got into marketing because the fast-paced movement that had things changing all the time was fascinating. After 27 years of teaching, that feeling hasn’t changed.

“To me, marketing is constantly changing and evolving. Every day and every semester, a lot of marketing changes very dramatically. I’ve taught intro to marketing over 80 times now.” Brunswick said. “It never gets old.”

ASNMU President Cody Mayer said in an email the December commencement speaker is chosen by a committee of three ASNMU representatives and three Mortar Board representatives.

The graduating class then nominates a faculty
member.

“Students spoke very highly of Brunswick and indicated that he is part of the reason for their professional success,” Mayer said. “They unanimously selected Brunswick.”

In an NMU press release, Brunswick described the initial shock of first finding out who the students selected for December commencement.

“It took a few days for the email to really sink in, and I’m very honored to have been selected,” Brunswick said. “Earning a degree from NMU is a truly remarkable distinction.”