On Sunday, May 1, Finlandia University held its annual Spring Commencement Ceremony honoring 84 graduates in the Class of 2022. There was standing room only in the Hirvonen Hall Auditorium with more than 700 in attendance.
In his greeting, President Johnson opened with Finlandia’s Land Acknowledgment:
“Finlandia University was founded as Suomi College by Finnish Lutheran immigrants in 1896 on land ceded by the Anishnaabe people in the Treaty of 1842. We seek to honor and respect the sacred and enduring kinship [...]
In December, Finlandia welcomed students, faculty and staff along with alumni, friends and family to a series of events in commemoration of the institution’s 125th anniversary. In honor of its Finnish and Lutheran heritage, Finlandia celebrated Finnish Independence Day for the 104th time at the Finnish American Heritage Center following a Sunday worship service at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock.
The anniversary celebrations didn’t stop on Sunday. In the week following, the Finlandia University Gallery held the 31st Annual Contemporary [...]
Accompanying students as they uncover their vocation, or calling, is at the core of Finlandia University’s vision: to advance expansive learning that best prepares students for the 21st-century workplace and world. As an institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Finlandia focuses on helping students discern their purpose by asking big questions like, “who am I going to be?” along with “what am I going to do?”. The Seaton Center for Vocation & Career guides students in uncovering [...]
The Finlandia University Board of Trustees serves the university on a volunteer basis as they look to build upon the strengths of the century-old Upper Peninsula institution. Below are introductions to each of the board members.
Julie Badel, Chair of the Board
Former Partner (now retired), Epstein Becker Green
Julie Badel’s maternal grandparents immigrated from Kuusamo, Finland, in 1901. Fleeing the copper mines during the strike of 1913, her grandfather, Herman Hyrkas, moved his young family to Tapiola and began farming and working [...]
PatientSafe Solutions, an innovation leader in mobile Clinical Communication & Collaboration (CC&C) solutions, announced today that Kathleen Harmon, MS, RN, CENP (’86) has joined the company as Chief Clinical Officer. Bringing more than 30 years of nursing and executive experience to PatientSafe, Harmon will be responsible for setting the clinical vision for the company. Her unique, holistic and outcomes-driven approach will help transform care delivery through mobility initiatives that can improve an organization’s financial health, [...]
This summer the Finlandia University community was devastated to learn former president Bob Ubbelohde had passed away at the age of 75.
The former president is still fondly remembered on campus, especially by employees walking behind the Hoover Center to the area where he was often found and available for the kind of casual conversation you just can’t have in a board room. While those memories are exciting, Ubbelohde will always be remembered for two incredible accomplishments – Advancing Suomi College [...]
The Finnish Council of America elected John Niska as its new president this past May. Niska was raised on a beef and horse farm in Green, MI, just west of Ontonagon. His parents were bilingual and often spoke Finnish in his home, shared in Finnish customs and were very proud of their Finnish heritage. Niska went to Michigan State University for his undergraduate degree and worked in the education realm until his retirement from
In 2018 Finlandia University officially welcomed five new members to its Board of Trustees.
“This new cohort reflects those qualities that have marked those who have served in the past: a tenacious resolve and unyielding dedication to advance Finlandia’s vision and see it thrive,” Finlandia University President Philip Johnson said.
The latest additions bring to Finlandia’s governing body a promising blend of professional acumen, leadership experience and deep personal affinities.
Stephen Nikander
Stephen Nikander, the great grandson of Rev. Juho Kustaa Nikander, who served [...]
Decades of experience in finance and more than a century of family heritage to be assets to Finlandia
There was a buzz around campus in the summer of 2017 when one day, seemingly out of the blue, a person with a familiar name walked into North Wind Books. The staff at the bookstore couldn’t help but ask all kinds of questions. That’s when they discovered that Stephen Nikander is the great grandson of Juho K. (J.K.) Nikander, [...]
Finlandia University is saddened to announce the passing of former university president, Robert Ubbelohde.
Ubbelohde joined Finlandia, then Suomi College, in 1988 as the Dean of Faculty. Shortly after, he was appointed to President and Professor of Philosophy until his retirement in 2007. Ubbelohde was instrumental in converting Suomi College into Finlandia University, a baccalaureate degree granting institution.
“With each passing year in this office, my admiration and respect for those who came before me has only multiplied,” said Ubbelohde’s successor and [...]
