Northern Michigan University received the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia magazine.

Northern Michigan University received the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia magazine.

The Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award recognizes an institution's programs and initiatives that significantly advance core values of student and employee mental health and well-being through campus priorities deserving of national recognition.

NMU will be featured, along with 37 other recipients, in the September 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.

"We are honored to receive the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia. This recognition reflects the work and shared commitment across the campus community at Northern Michigan University," said Dr. Angela Stebbins, assistant vice president for Holistic Wellbeing at NMU. "By signing the Okanagan Charter, NMU confirmed its commitment to embedding health and wellbeing into campus culture and leading health promotion through collaboration. This award is a meaningful example of that commitment in action. From expanding access to mental health resources and creating preventative programming to fostering connection, resilience and belonging, this award represents the dedication of many campus partners who have made the wellbeing of our students and employees a shared responsibility. It recognizes what we've built together, and it reminds us there is more we can accomplish."

Insight Into Academia magazine selected NMU because well-being has been made a campus-wide priority. Multiple departments and campus partners collaborate to support an initiative that promotes the well-being of students, faculty and staff. Through education, prevention, outreach, peer support and meaningful opportunities for connection, NMU fosters resilience and a strong sense of belonging. Mental health and well-being resources are available throughout campus and are designed to meet people where they are.

This commitment extends beyond students to include faculty and staff, recognizing that a healthy campus community benefits everyone. Rather than placing responsibility for well-being on a single office, NMU has integrated it into campus priorities, policies, partnerships, and daily experiences. Programs such as the Wellbeing Ambassador program, Critical Incident Stress Management for postvention response, GreenDot and the Wellbeing Advisory Committee reflect NMU's ongoing commitment to engaging the campus community and continually strengthening its culture of well-being.

"We know that institutions are not always recognized for their dedication to and prioritization of mental health and well-being services and support for their students and employees," says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. "We are proud to honor the colleges and universities that are standouts as the need for these resources continues to grow substantially."

For more information about the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, visit insightintoacademia.com.

Insight Into Academia magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in higher education excellence. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top programs at colleges and universities, headline news, and much more to help keep our readers informed and empower them to advance initiatives at their institutions.